Research Capabilities Research Articles

Unlocking Potential in the Chemical Industry Sector: An Innovative SWOT Analysis Study

Purpose: The chemical industry sector stands at a pivotal juncture, with rapid technological advancements and evolving market dynamics driving the need for innovative strategies. This study aims to unlock the untapped potential within the chemical industry by employing a unique SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis approach. Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive SWOT analysis was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data was gathered through industry reports, market surveys, and financial analyses, while qualitative insights were derived from expert interviews and case studies. Findings/Result: The SWOT analysis revealed significant insights into the current state of the chemical sector. Strengths such as technological innovation and research capabilities were identified, along with weaknesses like regulatory challenges and environmental concerns. Opportunities in emerging markets and sustainable practices were highlighted, while threats including global competition and supply chain disruptions were also recognized. Originality/Value: This study offers a fresh perspective on the chemical industry's potential by combining traditional SWOT analysis with innovative methodologies. It provides actionable insights that industry stakeholders can leverage to drive strategic decision-making and unlock new growth opportunities. Paper Type: Empirical Study

A broadband hybrid blue energy nanogenerator for smart ocean IoT network

Blue energy represents a crucial renewable energy resource; however, its development has been limited by the low and variable frequency characteristics of sea waves. In this study, we present a novel approach, wherein a spring pendulum coupled hybrid energy harvester (SPC-HEH) is employed to address these limitations. The SPC-HEH integrates two electromagnetic generators (EMGs), two piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), and two multilayer-structured triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) into a vessel, enabling efficient wave energy harvesting. Notably, the integration of the lightweight PENG and TENG with the heavy EMG not only enhances the water wave energy harvesting capability of SPC-HEH but also optimizes its spatial utilization efficiency. Additionally, owing to the spring pendulum, the SPC-HEH is capable of simultaneously harnessing the wave kinetic energy of horizontal and vertical directions and realize the decoupling of vertical energy capture from horizontal energy capture. Remarkably, owing to its precise geometric design and efficient space utilization, the SPC-HEH achieves an impressive peak power density of 82.4 Wm−3. Finally, we demonstrate the practical applicability of the SPC-HEH by integrating it with a circuit as a self-powered ocean buoy for real-time monitoring of ocean temperature, wave frequency, ocean turbidity and other information. The remarkable potential of this system for integration into self-powered smart ocean IoT networks holds significant promise for advancing marine research and environmental monitoring capabilities.

Instructor’s Research Capabilities in A Government University in Guangdong Province

This research will determine the capabilities of the instructors of Guangdong University of Science and Technology. Through research, the academic administrator and instructor enhances and develops his or her own research capability level by joining and attending different training and development- thus, her strength. This workshop session involves sampling methods for qualitative and quantitative researches. It is for the researchers to select the most appropriate number of participants. Now that the researchers know the number of participants needed, making data collection instruments and disseminating it is the following stage. The instructors' unanimous agreement on their strength in writing the concept paper reflects a shared competency that extends beyond individual capabilities. It indicates a collective proficiency in navigating the complexities of research conceptualization. The instructors' unanimous agreement on their strength in writing the data gathering procedure reflects a robust and comprehensive expertise in the research process.

Project ECHO®: a global cross-sectional examination of implementation success

BackgroundOrganizations implement innovations to disrupt the status quo and create value. Within sectors such as healthcare, innovations need to navigate large scale system and organizational factors to succeed. This research explores the implementation of a global innovation– Project ECHO®. Project ECHO® is a validated virtual communities of practice model organizational teams implement to build workforce capacity and capability. Project ECHO® has experienced broad global adoption, particularly within the healthcare sector, and is experiencing growth across other sectors. This study sought to examine the state of implementation success for Project ECHO® globally, to understand how these implementations compare across geographic and sectoral contexts, and understand what enablers/barriers exist for organizational teams implementing the innovation.MethodsAn empirical study was conducted to collect data on 54 Project ECHO® implementation success indicators across an international sample. An online survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to all Project ECHO® hub organizations globally to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe 54 implementation success indicators measured in this survey revealed that the adoption of Project ECHO® across 13 organizations varied on a case-by-case basis, with a strong rate of adoption within the healthcare sector. Implementation teams from these organizations successfully implemented Project ECHO® within 12–18 months after completing Immersion partner launch training and operated 51 ECHO® Networks at the time of data collection. Implementation teams which liaised more regularly with ECHO® Superhub mentors often went on to launch a higher number of ECHO® Networks that were sustained over the longer term. This suggests that these implementation teams better aligned and consolidated their Project ECHO® pilots as new innovations within the local context and strategic organizational priorities. Access to research and evaluation capability, and a more automated digital client relationship management system were key limitations to showcasing implementation success outcomes experienced by the majority of implementation teams.ConclusionsThese findings make a valuable contribution to address a knowledge gap regarding how a global sample of organizations adopting Project ECHO® measured and reported their implementation successes. Key successes included pre-launch experimentation and expansion, Superhub mentorship, stakeholder engagement, and alignment to strategic priorities.

Toward Opportunity-Centered Institutional Logics: Evidence from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Science Equity Efforts

ABSTRACT In U.S. 4-year postsecondary institutions, predominant institutional logics — the embedded assumptions that guide organizational action — have traditionally focused on prestige seeking via acquisition of resources, reputation, and research capabilities. This focus can hinder the design and implementation of teaching approaches and structures that support equitable student experiences and outcomes, particularly for minoritized students. This study examined the institutional logics guiding the organizational behavior of four broadly accessible Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) computer science departments. All were participating in a multi-institutional network of HSIs designed to advance science equity efforts and postsecondary attainment for Latinx students in the discipline. A multiple case study of these four departments included 63 interviews with faculty and administrators, 69 observations of departmental activities, and extensive participant-observations of the network before, during, and after site visits. Data analysis revealed three themes — inclusivity, talent development, and cultural responsiveness — that indicate how departmental personnel employ institutional logics alternative to prestige-seeking institutional logics. The paper discusses the implications of these alternative institutional logics, characterized as opportunity-centered logics, to effect equity-focused institutional transformation, strengthening of HSIs’ capacities to serve Latinx and minoritized students, and inclusive efforts in science.

Impact of natural resource dependence on green technology development: Role of digital governance in mitigating resource-curse using big data

The pursuit of a green economy as a strategy to counteract the “resource curse' phenomenon represents a burgeoning paradigm shift. A sophisticated digital governance infrastructure is vital, serving as an integral mechanism for ensuring transparency, enhancing data efficacy, and fostering public involvement—all crucial components of sustainable environmental stewardship. In light of this context, our analysis examines the interplay between natural resource dependence and green technological innovation, as well as delineating the potential pathways interlinking the two, through an empirical assessment using provincial data from China spanning the years 2011–2021. Employing advanced techniques in big data text mining, we have devised a government digital transformation index calibrated to elucidate the impacts of digitalization on the twin variables of natural resource reliance and the propagation of green technologies. Our findings indicate a marked deleterious influence of natural resource dependence on the evolution of green technological initiatives at the regional level, a trend most pronounced in China's central and western provinces as well as in locales with comparatively low economic development metrics. Furthermore, our research ascertains that the impeding force of natural resource dependence on green technology ascension is primarily exercised through diminished regional research and development capabilities, stagnation of industrial structure progression, and limited openness to external economic integration. Finally, the study posits that the implementation of digital governance measures holds the capability to substantially mitigate the restrictive impact of natural resource dependence on green technology advancement. This underscores the imperative for a digital governance architecture that actively neutralizes and meticulously monitors the adverse outcomes associated with resource consumption.

Environmental Regulation Intensity and Low-Carbon Technology Progress in the Context of the Internet of Things

Abstract Whether the intensity of environmental regulation affects the progress of low-carbon technology is an important issue faced by the development of low-carbon economy in the new era. From a macro perspective, this article selects panel data from 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2000 to 2009 for analysis. The impact and mechanism of environmental regulation intensity on low-carbon technological progress are analyzed. The empirical results indicate that the increase in environmental regulation intensity has significantly promoted the progress of low-carbon technology in the region. The subsample test shows that this effect is greater in the eastern region than in the central and western regions, but there is no significant difference in the impact of environmental regulatory intensity on the progress of the two types of low-carbon technologies. The mechanism test shows that regional labor costs research and development capabilities have moderating effects on the above effects. These low-carbon technologies have been widely applied in various fields of the Internet of Things.

Problems and Path Reconstruction of Physical Education Talent Cultivation in the Context of the Digital Economy

The development of the digital economy presents new challenges for the cultivation of talents in physical education programs in higher education institutions. This paper analyzes the requirements for physical education talent cultivation in the context of the digital economy, including solid professional knowledge and skills, proficiency in digital technology application, new media operation capabilities, intelligent equipment operation abilities, innovative thinking and creativity, teamwork and communication skills, and a lifelong learning mindset. The paper also draws on successful applications of digital economy teaching in various Chinese universities, such as Peking University's "Digital Sports" course, Nanjing Sport Institute's "Integration of Sports and Education," Hunan Railway Science and Technology Vocational College's "Campus Sunshine Fitness Run," Beijing Sport University's "Virtual Football Tactical Simulation," Guangzhou Sport University's "Online Sports Dance Competition," and Shenzhen University's "Sports Simulation Game Classroom." The analysis identifies existing problems such as insufficient digitization of teaching resources, lack of digital innovation in practical teaching segments, weak integration of course design with the digital economy, inadequate cultivation of students' digital learning abilities, limited investment in digital equipment and facilities, and knowledge anxiety caused by rapid technological updates. The paper proposes ways to improve the cultivation model for physical education talents in the context of the digital economy: optimizing the curriculum system, enhancing teaching methods and resources, strengthening faculty development, and improving research and innovation capabilities.

Basic Research Capabilities Improvement Through Training of Supporting Research Tools

Basic Research Capabilities Improvement Through Training of Supporting Research Tools

How cAN we grow research in community-baseD NHS and SociaL CarE Services (HANDLE)?

Background Community-based NHS and social care services offer a wide range of health and social care services, including General Practice, care homes, hospices, community pharmacies, district and community nursing, and mental health services, which provide care from birth to the end of life. However, despite being fundamental to plans for health and critical social care, community-based NHS health services are poorly understood compared to hospital-based services. A scoping exercise failed to identify any specific research examining the barriers and facilitators of community-based NHS and social care services. Objectives 1) To develop a qualitative framework using semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives and experiences of the research staff and practitioners. 2) To explore how we can build research on community-based NHS and Social Care services using the perspectives and experiences of the research participants. 3) To make recommendations to clinicians, practitioners, policymakers, and funding organizations on how to build research in community-based NHS and Social Care Services. Methods With reference to the literature and input from the project team and key stakeholders, interviews will be conducted using a semi-structured topic guide. The interview guide will identify barriers and facilitators to researching community-based NHS health and social services. Outcomes The intended outcomes of this study could help in understanding and developing strategies to address workforce needs to increase the capacity and capability of research delivery. Further, to embed a research culture in community-based NHS and social care services by supporting collaborative work between primary, secondary, community, and social care to build research capacity and capability; reach underserved communities and increase local engagement and participation in research; and increase equality, diversity, and inclusion by adding research in community-based NHS and social care services where everyone lives.

Археологія і комп’ютер: інформаційні технології в археологічних дослід- женнях.

In the modern world, the use of information technology is a mandatory condition for the efficiency and successful implementation of various projects, including scientific ones. Archaeology, dealing with a vast number of artifacts discovered during archaeological research, has long needed an automated system for the systematization and processing of diverse materials. In the late 1950s, the gradual implementation of systems for calculating archaeological sources using the electronic computing machines (ECMs) of the time began. This process did not bypass Ukraine, where the first attempt to use such ECMs in archaeological research was made with the participation of M. Braichevskyi. Currently, with the widespread availability of modern information technology for scientists, these technologies find extensive application in archaeology, contributing to higher quality scientific research and, most importantly, transforming traditional archaeology into digital or public archaeology. The purpose of the article is to highlight the current state of implementation of modern information technologies in archaeological activities and to demonstrate their capabilities in archaeological research. The methodological basis of the research includes principles of historicism, objectivity, comprehensiveness, and systematicity, which are realized through the application of research methods such as analytical, synthetic, descriptive, chronological, synchronic, diachronic, and others. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that it is the first to highlight the current state of implementation of modern information technologies in archaeological activities, revealing the directions and methods of their use in archaeological research through specific examples. Conclusions. As a result of the analysis of the implementation of information technologies in archaeological research in the context of the realization of domestic researchers' databases, geographic information systems, and the creation of 3D reconstructions and models based on them, it is noted that the process of using digital tools is at an initial stage. This is due to the fact that new tools require archaeologists to have extensive knowledge of a wide range of software, which includes blocks of geographic information systems, 3D modeling, programs for creating electronic databases, and so on. However, in our reality, it is practically impossible to demand this from an archaeologist. Given the funding of archaeological research by the state or institutions, mastering a new profession for domestic specialists seems doubtful and can only be carried out on the exceptional enthusiasm of the researcher. Outsourcing appears more logical, where the archaeologist only provides scientific support while working with IT specialists to implement the scientific project. Such a situation can only be resolved in the long run by preparing future archaeologists and introducing a cycle of disciplines in information technology into educational and professional programs, where higher education students will master digital tools and software that can be used in the professional activities of an archaeologist.

Exploring ethical practice in NGOS on mental health research in Malawi.

In recent years, an increasing trend in mental health research has been to collaborate with non-governmental organizations [NGOs] and their constituents. However, ethical difficulties can arise as a result of such partnerships. Understanding the ethics-related practices of NGOs engaged in mental health research is therefore critical. This study addressed these questions in a Malawian context. The goal of this study was to investigate NGO's ethical practices in relation to mental health research by identifying characteristics that influence ethical practices and investigating staff conceptualization of ethics and mental health. Twenty individuals who work for different local NGOs took part in one-on-one interviews or a workshop about their engagement in diverse research initiatives. They pinpointed the areas that needed improvement, as well as the challenges and chances to create partnerships and increase research capability. The diversity in conceptualizing mental health was a key influence on research practices, with heterogeneity in definitions reflected in the use of cultural, spiritual, behavioural, or medical terms. Notably, there was also a greater emphasis on procedural ethics than ethics-in-practice. Collaboration dynamics and limited staffing capacity were cited as major ethical practice considerations. Each of these elements have an impact on NGOs' ethical behaviour when conducting mental health research. Participants in the study saw engagement with notions of both ethics and mental health as lacking or rudimentary in their institutions and felt that they needed to be improved through capacity building and stronger research involvement.

QCA Analysis of the Impact of Digital Economy on Export Technological Complexity: A Study Based on the Social and Economic Data of 31 Provinces in China

The digital economy, characterized by informatization and big data as key factors of production, and relying on digital technologies such as the internet and artificial intelligence, represents a new economic paradigm. Its potential to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing industries and to enhance the technological complexity of exports necessitates empirical testing. This paper examines the association between factors related to the digital economy and the technological complexity of exports, drawing upon socioeconomic data from 31 provinces and regions in China in 2021, and employing a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach. The findings suggest that the digital economy can indeed foster an increase in the technological complexity of exports. Human capital, research and development (R&D) capabilities, digital infrastructure, financial capital, government scale, and market size all exert a positive influence on the technological complexity of exports. The impact configurations of the digital economy on the technological complexity of exports can be classified into two main types: government-market driven R&D innovation, and digital infrastructure-led multifactor influenced. Within the latter category, four subtypes are distinguished: digital infrastructure single-factor dominance, digital infrastructure-led with weak market, digital infrastructure-led with insufficient government strength, and digital infrastructure-led with weak R&D. In areas with a higher level of digital economy, its influence on the technological complexity of exports is notably more positive. The construction of digital infrastructure and R&D capabilities are core conditions affecting whether a region can achieve a high level of technological complexity in exports. Concurrently, attracting human capital, increasing government support, and expanding market size are also factors that cannot be overlooked.

Unravelling the process of idea generation and assessment during the PhD trajectory: A case study approach

AbstractThe three missions of universities are education, research, and knowledge/technology transfer. At the micro‐level of the research and knowledge/technology transfer mission, we position researchers, as individuals who decided to pursue a scientific career in academia, with the PhD as the starting point. While existing literature acknowledges the supervisor's significance during this process from dependency to autonomy, this paper advocates for a closer examination of external factors such as the network, supervisor's experience, and work environment in idea generation. Ideas in this context encompass both curiosity‐driven and entrepreneurial concepts, often evolving from one to the other. Our research builds upon the theory of opportunity identification, drawing parallels between ideas and opportunities. The research asserts that PhD students primarily rely on their networks for idea generation due to limited prior knowledge and experience. Our findings underscore the dynamic interplay between PhD students, supervisors, and networks in the process of idea generation, advancing a comprehensive framework encapsulating the multifaceted influences on the trajectory from idea generation to execution in the context of PhD education. The framework is based on empirical evidence from a qualitative case study comprising 16 PhD students in a European H2020 project in the field of Photonics, illuminating the intricate relationship between supervisors' orientations (entrepreneurial or curiosity‐driven) and the types of ideas generated by PhD students. Practical implications highlight the need for tailored support and resources to foster independent research capabilities among PhD students, considering individual variations in supervisory support and networking opportunities.

The development of an analysis of quantitative measurements competence disparity scale for graduate students

Academic research competencies play the most essential role in graduation for graduate students, but there is still a lack of in-depth research on this matter. Since talent development suggestions are provided based on the survey results of capability gaps, this study aimed to develop a scale to examine the research competency disparity between graduation requirements and graduate students’ current levels of competency in the context of quantitative research in the education, arts and humanities, and business domains. It is named the “Quantitative Academic Competence Scale”. To explore the needs of graduate students regarding their academic research competence, we constructed a draft questionnaire with nine categories of competence; academic experts validated the scale. It was then administered to graduate students to explore their perceived disparities. A total of 457 participants assisted in filling out the questionnaire, from which 86 invalid samples were deleted, leaving 371 valid participants, giving an effective recovery rate of 81.2%. After collection and analysis, the analysis results found that the three graduate students’ academic research competences with the greatest disparity were English writing competence, research design and implementation competence, and data processing and analyzing competence. According to the results, graduate students should take more courses on English writing competence, research design and implementation competence, and data processing and analyzing competence to enhance their competencies. generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) suggests that research ability factors can be comprehensively considered. Based on the graduate students’ ability gaps, curriculum settings and training plans can be adjusted and more targeted (personalized) at teaching and guidance to help graduate students improve their academic performance and reduce weaknesses in their research capabilities.

Characterization of Two Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Glycan Loop of the Zika Virus Envelope Protein.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus associated with several neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in newborn children. Its distribution and mode of transmission (via Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes) collectively cause ZIKV to be a serious concern for global health. High genetic homology of flaviviruses and shared ecology is a hurdle for accurate detection. Distinguishing infections caused by different viruses based on serological recognition can be misleading as many anti-flavivirus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) discovered to date are highly cross-reactive, especially those against the envelope (E) protein. To provide more specific research tools, we produced ZIKV E directed hybridoma cell lines and characterized two highly ZIKV-specific mAb clones (mAbs A11 and A42) against several members of the Flavivirus genus. Epitope mapping of mAb A11 revealed glycan loop specificity in Domain I of the ZIKV E protein. The development of two highly specific mAbs targeting the surface fusion protein of ZIKV presents a significant advancement in research capabilities as these can be employed as essential tools to enhance our understanding of ZIKV identification on infected cells ex vivo or in culture.

Data Collection Module for a Centralized Electronic Health Records System

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) play a crucial role in modern healthcare, enhancing quality, safety, efficiency, and research capabilities. However, in Nigeria the full acceptance of such modern ways of managing healthcare delivery is marred with various challenges such as infrastructure, funding, technical expertise, and regulatory issues. This paper presents a proposed conceptual framework of a Data Collection Module for a Centralized EHR System in Nigeria, aimed at addressing data accessibility challenges faced by healthcare facilities for patients registering at their facilities. The module utilizes National Identification Numbers (NINs), barcodes, and biometric identification methods to collect and secure patient demographic data. It incorporates a web application, biometric software, and barcode/QR code software to ensure efficient data collection and verification. Our study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of employing biometric identification techniques in data collection modules, offering enhanced accuracy, reliability, security, and usability of patient data in a developing healthcare system like Nigeria.The proposed module has not been tested in a real-world environment, so more study is required to determine its viability, scalability, and effect on the standard and results of healthcare.

HOW CEO TECHNICAL BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES - THE MEDIATING ROLE OF DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES

The digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises has an important impact on both the economy and society and the enterprise itself, and the CEO has an important impact on the effect of the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises. The 20-Shenzhen A-share listed manufacturing companies from 2016 to 2021 are used as research subjects. The effect of the CEO's technical background on the digital transformation of these companies is studied empirically, and the dynamic capability is broken down into external perception capability and internal research and development capability to test their mediating effect. The research found that the technical background characteristics of the CEO significantly affect the effectiveness of digital transformation in manufacturing enterprises; the technical background characteristics of the CEO can influence the strategic decision and implementation of manufacturing enterprises; and the research conclusion enriches the related research on digital transformation and high-order theory in manufacturing enterprises and also provides theoretical reference for the training of the CEO of Chinese manufacturing enterprises.

Exploring Thesis Topic Choices in Undergraduate Chinese Language Studies

The paper discusses the importance of topic selection in research, emphasizing that the chosen topic determines the scope, depth, and content of the study. The appropriateness of the topic is crucial for the successful completion of a thesis. An ideal topic should have academic value, align with personal interests, and be suitable for the individual's research capabilities. The direction, difficulty, scale, and method of formulating the topic are all significant aspects worthy of in-depth discussion.Keywords: Topic Selection; Difficulty; Formulation; Evaluation

EpiCarousel: memory- and time-efficient identification of metacells for atlas-level single-cell chromatin accessibility data.

Recent technical advancements in single-cell chromatin accessibility sequencing (scCAS) have brought new insights to the characterization of epigenetic heterogeneity. As single-cell genomics experiments scale up to hundreds of thousands of cells, the demand for computational resources for downstream analysis grows intractably large and exceeds the capabilities of most researchers. Here, we propose EpiCarousel, a tailored Python package based on lazy loading, parallel processing, and community detection for memory- and time-efficient identification of metacells, i.e. the emergence of homogenous cells, in large-scale scCAS data. Through comprehensive experiments on five datasets of various protocols, sample sizes, dimensions, number of cell types, and degrees of cell-type imbalance, EpiCarousel outperformed baseline methods in systematic evaluation of memory usage, computational time, and multiple downstream analyses including cell type identification. Moreover, EpiCarousel executes preprocessing and downstream cell clustering on the atlas-level dataset with 707043 cells and 1154611 peaks within 2 h consuming <75 GB of RAM and provides superior performance for characterizing cell heterogeneity than state-of-the-art methods. The EpiCarousel software is well-documented and freely available at https://github.com/biox-nku/epicarousel. It can be seamlessly interoperated with extensive scCAS analysis toolkits.