High-Efficiency Can Be Achieved for Non-Uniformly Flexible Pitching Hydrofoils via Tailored Collective Interactions

New experiments examine the interactions between a pair of three-dimensional (AR = 2) non-uniformly flexible pitching hydrofoils through force and efficiency measurements. It is discovered that the collective efficiency is improved when the follower foil has a nearly out-of-phase synchronization with the leader and is located directly downstream with an optimal streamwise spacing of X*=0.5. The collective efficiency is further improved when the follower operates with a nominal amplitude of motion that is 36% larger than the leader’s amplitude. A slight degradation in the collective efficiency was measured when the follower was slightly-staggered from the in-line arrangement where direct vortex impingement is expected. Operating at the optimal conditions, the measured collective efficiency and thrust are ηC=62% and CT,C=0.44, which are substantial improvements over the efficiency and thrust of ηC=29% and CT,C=0.16 of two fully-rigid foils in isolation. This demonstrates the promise of achieving high-efficiency with simple purely pitching mechanical systems and paves the way for the design of high-efficiency bio-inspired underwater vehicles.

Collective efficiency of the soy cluster (Glycine max L.): Tamaulipas Case, Mexico

Objective: To analyze the collective efficiency (CE) of the soy cluster (Glycine max L.) in the southern region of Tamaulipas, Mexico.Design/methodology/approach: The Localization Coefficients and Gini indexes were calculated for the soy sector in thestate, based on information obtained from SIAP (2018). The Collective Efficiency Index was obtained from the soy cluster, through the application of a questionnaire to producers in the region for the measurement of external economies and joint actions in the agglomeration.Results: The indicators allowed identifying a high concentration of the soy sector in the southern region of Tamaulipas, in addition to the participation of a high proportion of the municipalities in production, production value, surface sown, and surface harvested. It was identified that the producers in the soy conglomerate have achieved a middle level of CE, with a higher presence of Joint Actions (JAs) than External Economies (EEs).Study limitations/Implications: It is a transversal study, because the CE was only studied in the soy cluster during a specific period.Findings/Conclusions: Although the soy cluster in the region evaluated offers its members various benefits, the maximum development of their CE has still not been attained, which is why there is still a need to continue strengthening the sector by the state government, through programs that promote individual and collective development of soy producers and organizations related with the sector located in the region.

The Importance of Set Plays in High Performance Football

The constant recording and evaluation of goal scoring characteristics are important and can present changes and evolutionary trends in football. The objective of this study was to analyze the importance of set plays actions for high performance football, checking the incidence of goals scored through these actions during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 169 goals scored in 64 matches played in the tournament were analysed. The data were obtained from the FIFA website database, through official summaries and videos of the goals scored. According to the results, 68 goals (40.2%) were scored in actions originating from set plays. This high number of goals scored shows that these actions can be an important means of determining victory in high performance football matches, especially between teams of the same level. Among the main reasons to explain the results, we can suggest the following: greater training and tactical improvement, causing a better collective efficiency of the teams in the execution of these actions; and the insertion of VAR technology, mainly causing a greater number of penalties.

All Should be “A” Teams

This chapter by James Goldrick examines the creation of a sophisticated learning and training system for the anti-U-boat war, which is one of the most significant elements of the Atlantic campaign, critical to the effectiveness of the escort units of the RN and RCN. This system's development took place as both services were forced to adapt rapidly to profound changes in their operational environments. That development faced many challenges, not only from a scarcity of resources, but from the necessity to develop sufficient understanding of the problem. The "master-apprentice" culture of professionalization managed through long service would not serve under the pressure of the oceanic small-ship war. The effort had to be industrialized. Acceptable levels of collective efficiency only became possible when the right equipment and training assets, sufficiently – even if barely – experienced personnel, and proven tactical doctrine could be brought together to provide the necessary fidelity within the training experience. From the outset, this would always be a much more complex and resource-intensive operation than the straightforward working-up of individual units.

Territorial innovation systems and strategies of collective efficiency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show the relevance of territorial innovation systems approach for non-central regions’ development strategies. The research made allowed to identify actions of collective efficiency to strengthen endogenous capacity for regional innovation, and also to detect some institutional weaknesses that inhibit the innovation dynamics in a particular rural region (Tagus Valley). Design/methodology/approach – The research followed an interpretive case study, of explanatory type. Data collecting method comprised semi-structured face-to-face interviews with business agents and local government members, direct observation of innovation activities and documentary analysis. Statistical methods to analyse the firms’ innovation behaviour, as well as owners and managers’ perceptions, were also used in order to improve the trustworthiness of the research. Findings – The results show that innovation is positively associated to a diverse set of institutional factors that shape a territorially embedded innovation system, in which the firms’ innovation activity is chiefly based on localized learning processes. Moreover, a path of smart and creative diversification area is detected, but there are substantial differences between firms belonging to agro-food supply chain. While food industries and wineries show very interesting levels of investment in innovation activities and external knowledge synergies, farmers/producers depend greatly from producers’ organizations. Research limitations/implications – Given the absence of generalizability and some speculative argumentation, further research needs to be done, especially about the critical role of higher education institutions to promote innovation. Practical implications – The paper provides empirical insights about the role of actors belonging to the governance layer inherent to the territorial innovation system in discussion. Originality/value – The paper fulfils an identified need to systematize institutional factors able to affect non-central regions innovation.