With the rising global consumer demand for green and healthy food, the tea industry is facing unprecedented competitive pressure. Therefore, how to build tea enterprises with sustainable competitiveness has become a key issue facing the industry. This paper firstly reviews the concept of traceability systems and their evolution and, based on the theory of enterprise competitive advantage, explores the influence mechanism of traceability as a strategic resource on the long-term competitiveness of tea enterprises; secondly, it analyzes the multi-dimensional role of traceability on enterprise competitiveness from five aspects, namely, quality and safety control and guarantee, brand image shaping and trust construction, market dynamics response and consumer feedback, risk response and product recall, as well as technological innovation and efficiency enhancement; finally, combined with the above analysis, this paper constructs a theoretical framework for the competitiveness of tea enterprises, integrates the impact of traceability in different dimensions, and proposes a multi-level competitiveness enhancement model. Through this framework, tea enterprises can more comprehensively understand and grasp the close relationship between traceability and the long-term competitive advantage of enterprises and then make strategic adjustments according to their own actual situation so as to realize sustainable competitiveness enhancement in the future market competition.
Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign osteoblastic tumor of bone that usually affects children and young adults. They are usually located on metaphysis or diaphysis of long bones. Their clinical, anamnesis and radiological findings are typical. Intra-articular OO however has different properties due to its placement within joints. Sclerosis around the lesion is either minimal or non-existent, but synovitis can be seen in the joint. For this reason, they are usually diagnosed later. In this case series, we diagnosed three cases (2 ankles and 1 hip joint) that were diagnosed with osteochondral lesions previously and had in chronic pain which did not respond to several treatments in different centers with intra-articular OO and treated them with radiofrequency ablation using computerized tomography. Knowing the radiological properties of intra-articular OO and being aware of this condition during differential diagnosis of joint pain cases will be useful to diagnose this rare pathology.
We reviewed the research on super-hydrophobic materials. Firstly, we introduced the basic principles of super-hydrophobic materials, including the Young equation, Wenzel model, and Cassie model. Then, we summarized the main preparation methods and research results of super-hydrophobic materials, such as the template method, soft etching method, electrospinning method, and sol-gel method. Among them, the electrospinning method that has developed in recent years is a new technology for preparing micro/nanofibers. Finally, the applications of super-hydrophobic materials in the field of coatings, fabric and filter material, anti-fogging, and antibacterial were introduced, and the problems existing in the preparation of super-hydrophobic materials were pointed out, such as unavailable industrialized production, high cost, and poor durability of the materials. Therefore, it is necessary to make a further study on the application of the materials in the selection, preparation, and post-treatment.
Water splitting has been one of the potential techniques as a clean and renewable energy resource for the fulfillment of world energy demands. One of the major aspects of this procedure is the exploitation of efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts due to the fact that the water oxidation procedure is accompanied by a delayed reaction. In this research, ZnO-CoFe2O4 nanostructure was successfully synthesized via the green method and green resources from cardamom seeds and ginger peels for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The modified Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with ZnO-CoFe2O4 is effective for the electrochemical water oxidation interaction since it has sufficient electrical strength and excellent catalytic performance. The creation of rice-like and small granular structures of ZnO-CoFe2O4 nano-catalysts was confirmed by characterization methods such as XRD, FESEM, EDS and MAP. According to the achieved results, in the electrolysis of water, with in-cell voltage of 1.40 V and 50 mA cm–2 for current density in a 0.1 M KOH electrolyte and OER only has 170 mV overpotentials.
Hydroponics is a modern agricultural system that enables year-round plant growth. Biochar, derived from apple tree waste, and humic acid were investigated as a replacement for the Hoagland nutrient solution to grow strawberries in a greenhouse with three replications. Growth parameters, such as leaf area, the average number of fruits per plant, maximum fruit weight, and the weight of fresh and dry fruits, were measured. A 50% increase in fresh and dry fruit weight was observed in plants grown using biochar compared to the control. Additionally, the use of Hoagland chemical fertilizer led to a 25% increase in both fresh and dry weight. There was a 65% increase in the number of fruits per plant in the biochar-grown sample compared to the control. Moreover, biochar fertilizer caused a 100% increase in maximum fruit weight compared to the control and a 27% increase compared to the Hoagland chemical fertilizer. Biochar had a higher pH compared to the Hoagland solution, and such pH levels were conducive to strawberry plant growth. The results indicate that biochar has the potential to enhance the size and weight of fruits. The findings of the study demonstrate that biochar, when combined with humic acid, is a successful organic hydroponic fertilizer that improves the quality and quantity of strawberries. Moreover, this approach enables the more efficient utilization of garden waste.
In the context of contemporary global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change, food security assumes particular significance, being an integral part of national security. This study aims to investigate the interplay between food security and national security systems, with a focus on identifying gaps in the literature and determining directions for further research. The study conducted a systematic literature review on food security and national security systems employing a rigorous and transparent process. The qualitative analysis is grounded in the quantitative one, encompassing studies from Scopus. The examination of the selected peer-reviewed articles revealed several methodological and thematic limitations in existing research: i Geographic imbalance: There is a predominant focus on developed countries, while food security issues in developing countries remain insufficiently studied; ii Insufficient explication: There is a lack of research dedicated to managerial and economic aspects of food security in the context of national security; iii Methodological constraints: There is a predominance of quantitative methods and retrospective/cross-sectional studies. Recommendations include developing comprehensive strategies at both global and national levels to enhance food stability and accessibility.
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