Types and functions of international economic relations and international business

Проведено аналіз сучасних видів і методів здійснення міжнародної економічної діяльності, що дозволить уточнити та поглибити сутність міжнародного підприємництва і скласти класифікацію функцій його здійснення. Розглянуто останні дослідження провідних науковців щодо визначення поняття міжнародного підприємництва, запропоновано визначення міжнародного підприємництва, як сукупність певних угод, за допомогою яких переміщують товари, послуги та ресурси через державні кордони на міжнародному рівні. Встановлено, що кожне міжнародне підприємство, яке приймає участь у міжнародній підприємницький діяльності, відноситься до певної правової форми і діє відповідно до норм цивільного і торгового права своєї держави.The analysis of modern types and methods of international economic activity is carried out. This allowed to clarify and deepen the essence of international entrepreneurship, made it possible to classify the functions of implementing international entrepreneurship. The last researches of leading scientists on definition of the concept of international business are considered. The definition of international ent repreneurship as a set of definite agreements with which to move goods, services and resources across national borders at the international level is proposed. It has been established that every international enterprise that participates in international business activities is part of a certain legal form and acts in accordance with the norms of civil and commercial law of its state

On the Stability of Approximation for Hamiltonian Path Problems

We consider the problem of finding a cheapest Hamiltonian path of a complete graph satisfying a relaxed triangle inequality, i.e., such that for some parameter β > 1, the edge costs satisfy the inequality c({x, y}) ≤β (c({x, z}) + c({z, y})) for every triple of vertices x, y, z. There are three variants of this problem, depending on the number of prespecified endpoints: zero, one, or two. For metric graphs there exist approximation algorithms, with approximation ratio 3/2 for the first two variants and 5/3 for the latter one. Using results on the approximability of the Travelling Salesman Problem with input graphs satisfying the relaxed triangle inequality, we obtain for our problem approximation algorithms with ratio in(β 2 + β,3/2 β 2) for zero or one respecified endpoints, and 5/3 β2 for two endpoints

Origin of Ubiquitous Stripes at the Graphite–Water Interface

Seibert S, Klassen S, Latus A, Bechstein R, Kühnle A. Origin of Ubiquitous Stripes at the Graphite–Water Interface. Langmuir. 2020;36(27):7789-7794

Reoptimization of the Shortest Common Superstring Problem

A reoptimization problem describes the following scenario: given an instance of an optimization problem together with an optimal solution for it, we want to find a good solution for a locally modified instance. In this paper, we deal with reoptimization variants of the shortest common superstring problem (SCS) where the local modifications consist of adding or removing a single string. We show the NP-hardness of these reoptimization problems and design several approximation algorithms for them. First, we use a technique of iteratively using any SCS algorithm to design an approximation algorithm for the reoptimization variant of adding a string whose approximation ratio is arbitrarily close to 8/5 and another algorithm for deleting a string with a ratio tending to 13/7. Both algorithms significantly improve over the best currently known SCS approximation ratio of 2.5. Additionally, this iteration technique can be used to design an improved SCS approximation algorithm (without reoptimization) if the input instance contains a long string, which might be of independent interest. However, these iterative algorithms are relatively slow. Thus, we present another, faster approximation algorithm for inserting a string which is based on cutting the given optimal solution and achieves an approximation ratio of 11/6. Moreover, we give some lower bounds on the approximation ratio which can be achieved by algorithms that use such cutting strategie

When good signatures go bad: Applying hydrologic signatures in large sample studies

Hydrologic signatures are quantitative metrics that describe streamflow statistics and dynamics. Signatures have many applications, including assessing habitat suitability and hydrologic alteration, calibrating and evaluating hydrologic models, defining similarity between watersheds and investigating watershed processes. Increasingly, signatures are being used in large sample studies to guide flow management and modelling at continental scales. Using signatures in studies involving 1000s of watersheds brings new challenges as it becomes impractical to examine signature parameters and behaviour in each watershed. For example, we might wish to check that signatures describing flood event characteristics have correctly identified event periods, that signature values have not been biassed by data errors, or that human and natural influences on signature values have been correctly interpreted. In this commentary, we draw from our collective experience to present case studies where naïve application of signatures fails to correctly identify streamflow dynamics. These include unusual precipitation or flow regimes, data quality issues, and signature use in human‐influenced watersheds. We conclude by providing guidance and recommendations on applying signatures in large sample studies

A proposal for the retrospective identification and categorization of older people with functional impairments in scientific studies : recommendations of the Medication and Quality of Life in Frail Older Persons (MedQoL) research group

When treating older adults, a main factor to consider is physical frailty. Because specific assessments in clinical trials are frequently lacking, critical appraisal of treatment evidence with respect to functional status is challenging. Our aim was to identify and categorize assessments for functional status given in clinical trials in older adults to allow for a retrospective characterization and indirect comparison of treatment evidence from these cohorts. We conducted 4 separate systematic reviews of randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials in older people with hypertension, diabetes, depression, and dementia. All assessments identified that reflected functional status were analyzed. Assessments were categorized across 4 different functional status levels. These levels span from functionally not impaired, slightly impaired, significantly impaired, to severely impaired/disabled. If available from the literature, cut-offs for these 4 functioning levels were extracted. If not, or if the existing cut-offs did not match the predefined functional levels, cut-off points were defined by an expert group composed of geriatricians, pharmacists, pharmacologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and epidemiologists using a patient-centered approach. We identified 51 instruments that included measures of functional status. Although some of the assessments had clearly defined cut-offs across our predefined categories, many others did not. In most cases, no cut-offs existed for slightly impaired or severely impaired older adults. Missing cut-offs or values to adjust were determined by the expert group and are presented as described. The functional status assessments that were identified and operationalized across 4 functional levels could now be used for a retrospective characterization of functional status in randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Allocated categories only serve as approximations and should be validated head-to-head in future studies. Moreover, as general standard, upcoming studies involving older adults should include and explicitly report functional impairment as a baseline characteristic of all participants enrolled

Handlungsempfehlungen für die planerische Steuerung der Krankenhausversorgung in Nordwestdeutschland

Umstrukturierungen in der Krankenhauslandschaft, insbesondere Schließungen sowie Zusammenlegungen kleinerer Klinikstandorte zu Zentralkliniken jenseits Zentraler Orte, stellen Herausforderungen an die wohnortnahe Versorgung und eine zukunftsfähige Raumstruktur. Die Förderung und der Erhalt gleichwertiger Lebensbedingungen sowie die Sicherung der Daseinsvorsorge im Hinblick auf ein leistungsfähiges und effektives Standortsystem der Krankenhaus- und Gesundheitsversorgung sind infrage gestellt. Es bedarf einer stärkeren raumordnerischen Steuerung sowie einer vorausschauenden, länderübergreifenden und kriterienbasierten Krankenhausplanung. Ein Ansatz zur Effizienzsteigerung ist die Stärkung der sektorenübergreifenden und interdisziplinär fachübergreifenden Versorgung. Für die Gestaltung der künftigen Krankenhauslandschaft sind neben raumordnerischen Kriterien insbesondere die Anforderungen der verschiedenen Nutzer/innengruppen zu berücksichtigen. Zudem bedarf es digitaler Daten für detaillierte Versorgungs- und Erreichbarkeitsanalysen als Planungsgrundlage.Current development trends in the restructuring of the hospital landscape, in particular the mergers of smaller hospitals into central hospitals beyond the central-places system, pose challenges for a sustainable spatial structure. The objectives of spatial planning and development are to ensure the provision of public services, the promotion and preservation of equal living conditions, and an efficient and effective system of hospital and health care locations. This requires spatial planning and governance, which should be based on the central-place system, as well as on a forward- looking, cross-state and criteria-based hospital planning. One approach to increase efficiency is an intersectoral and interdisciplinary care. In addition to regional planning criteria, the requirements of the various user groups are important for the designing of the future hospital landscape. In addition, digital data is required for detailed supply and accessibility analyses as a basis for planning

Hydration layers at the graphite-water interface: Attraction or confinement

Söngen H, Morais Jaques Y, Zivanovic L, et al. Hydration layers at the graphite-water interface: Attraction or confinement. Physical Review B. 2019;100(20):205410