Innovative Directions Research Articles

Transformative Learning and Non-Formal Education

The article presents the results of a study aimed at identifying and analyzing the conceptual frameworks and dynamics of the steadily growing research interest in the transformative potential of non-formal education. The main research question addresses the leading features of the identified conceptual and thematic interlink, correlation between non-formal education and transformative learning, as it has developed over the past 2 decades. The methodology of the study combines bibliometric analysis and literature review of a broad range of selected samples of articles, scientific reports and books (based on data available in Scopus) after 2000. The analysis of the data has clearly demonstrated that, during the period under review, the interrelationships between transformative learning and nonformal education has been in the focus of research increasing quantitative dimensions and an expanding holistic conceptual scope. The latter relates primarily to the field of lifelong learning by adults and young adults with a focus on education for sustainable development. These conclusions give ground to expectations that non-formal education will continue to set innovative directions for transformative learning and development.

Innovation, Impacts and Future Direction of Sustainable Universities: The Case of the University of Minho - Portugal (Braga-Guimarães)

Human wellbeing is closely linked to the health of the environment. Around the world, 24% of deaths can be traced back to avoidable environmental factors, according to the World Health Organization. People need clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink, and places to live that are free of toxic substances and hazards. As we begin to experience the long-term consequences of exponential industrial growth and energy use, we must act to reverse these effects and prevent further damage, ensuring we have healthy places to live for generations to come. Objectives of this work are to show the implementation in our University of methods of water and waste management, since early 2017.

Next-Generation Photodetectors beyond Van Der Waals Junctions.

With the continuous advancement of nanofabrication techniques, development of novel materials, and discovery of useful manipulation mechanisms in high-performance applications, especially photodetectors, the morphology of junction devices and the way junction devices are used are fundamentally revolutionized. Simultaneously, new types of photodetectors that do not rely on any junction, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio and multidimensional modulation, have also emerged. This review outlines a unique category of material systems supporting novel junction devices for high-performance detection, namely, the van der Waals materials, and systematically discusses new trends in the development of various types of devices beyond junctions. This field is far from mature and there are numerous methods to measure and evaluate photodetectors. Therefore, it is also aimed to provide a solution from the perspective of applications in this review. Finally, based on the insight into the unique properties of the material systems and the underlying microscopic mechanisms, emerging trends in junction devices are discussed, a new morphology of photodetectors is proposed, and some potential innovative directions in the subject area are suggested.

Research on Green Technology Innovation in Manufacturing Firms from ESG Perspective

This study investigates the research of manufacturing enterprises in green technology innovation from the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) perspective. Green technology innovation is one of the key factors to promote enterprises to realize environmentally sustainable development. Based on previous research on: first, manufacturing companies should conduct environmental impact assessment and management to assess the environmental impact of product life cycle and take measures to reduce the negative impact. Second, renewable energy applications are an important direction for green technology innovation, and manufacturing companies can shift to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to reduce their dependence on traditional energy sources. Third, circular economy and product design are also the focus of research, through product design to reduce resource use and waste, and introduce the concept of circular economy to promote the recycling of materials and energy. Fourth, supply chain sustainability is also a key area of green technology innovation, where manufacturing companies need to consider aspects such as partner selection, raw material sourcing and transportation to ensure a sustainable and environmentally friendly supply chain. Finally, data-driven and smart manufacturing can optimize the production process through the application of technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence to improve resource utilization efficiency and energy consumption efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions and waste generation.

Addressing Power and Thermal Challenges in Advanced Packaging for AI CPUs/GPUs: Insights into Multi-die Stacking Technology

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has propelled the demand for high-performance computing systems, leading to significant challenges in power and thermal management in advanced packaging for AI CPUs/GPUs. This research paper explores various strategies and technologies to address these challenges. It examines the principles and types of multi-die stacking technology, power optimization techniques, and advanced thermal management solutions. Furthermore, the paper discusses the integration of power and thermal management strategies and their synergistic effects. Case studies and numerical analyses highlight the effectiveness of these approaches in improving energy efficiency, performance, and reliability in AI semiconductor devices. The paper also identifies emerging technologies, such as heterogeneous integration and chiplet-based architectures, and outlines future directions for innovation in advanced packaging. Overall, by leveraging comprehensive research and collaboration, the semiconductor industry can drive the development of advanced packaging solutions that meet the growing demands of AI workloads and enable transformative advancements across industries and applications.

Systematic analysis of various RNA transcripts and construction of biological regulatory networks at the post-transcriptional level for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundAlthough chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, airway remodeling, and protease-antiprotease imbalance have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the exact pathogenesis is still obscure. Gene transcription and post-transcriptional regulation have been taken into account as key regulators of COPD occurrence and development. Identifying the hub genes and constructing biological regulatory networks at the post-transcriptional level will help extend current knowledge on COPD pathogenesis and develop potential drugs.MethodsAll lung tissues from non-smokers (n = 6), smokers without COPD (smokers, n = 7), and smokers with COPD (COPD, n = 7) were collected to detect messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and identify the hub genes. Biological regulatory networks were constructed at the post-transcriptional level, including the RNA-binding protein (RBP)-hub gene interaction network and the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. In addition, we assessed the composition and abundance of immune cells in COPD lung tissue and predicted potential therapeutic drugs for COPD. Finally, the hub genes were confirmed at both the RNA and protein levels.ResultsAmong the 20 participants, a total of 121169 mRNA transcripts, 1871 miRNA transcripts, 4244 circRNA transcripts, and 122130 lncRNA transcripts were detected. There were differences in the expression of 1561 mRNAs, 48 miRNAs, 33 circRNAs, and 545 lncRNAs between smokers and non-smokers, as well as 1289 mRNAs, 69 miRNAs, 32 circRNAs, and 433 lncRNAs between smokers and COPD patients. 18 hub genes were identified in COPD. TGF-β signaling and Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be involved in the development of COPD. Furthermore, the circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA networks and the RBP-hub gene interaction network were also constructed. Analysis of the immune cell infiltration level revealed that M2 macrophages and activated NK cells were increased in COPD lung tissues. Finally, we identified that the ITK inhibitor and oxybutynin chloride may be effective in treating COPD.ConclusionsWe identified several novel hub genes involved in COPD pathogenesis. TGF-β signaling and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were the most dysregulated pathways in COPD patients. Our study constructed post-transcriptional biological regulatory networks and predicted small-molecule drugs for the treatment of COPD, which enhanced the existing understanding of COPD pathogenesis and suggested an innovative direction for the therapeutic intervention of the disease.

Application of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process – multi-layer fuzzy inference system in product design evaluation

To enhance profitability of production cycle, any manufacturer needs effective product design and evaluation procedures. This study proposed a novel approach combining fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and multi-layer fuzzy inference system (MFIS). It is based on consumer online comments to improve product design. This method possesses several advantages over traditional design evaluation methods. It can quickly acquire consumer preferences, effectively handle multi-criteria decision problems and integrate uncertain and fuzzy information. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process–Multi-layer Fuzzy Inference System (FAHP-MFIS) involves the following steps: screening of factors, hierarchical modeling, quantification of qualitative factors, and conversion of these factors into quantitative values. It is a knowledge-based system that uses logical rules. The quantity and levels of input variables directly correlates with the quantity of logical rules. However, with multi-factor and multi-level inference, the establishment of a rule base becomes impractical due to the overwhelming number of rules. To address this issue, the Taguchi orthogonal table is applied to reduce the number of logical rules. Taking a household oxygen generator for medical devices as an example, the proposed model is applied in real-time. In the first stage, web crawlers are used to collect user reviews of the household oxygen generators on large e-commerce platforms. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) models are used to screen for principal and sub-factors in the second stage. Then, sub-factors of the FAHP screening are used as inputs, and the principal factors are used as outputs. In the third stage, priority indicators are established based on principal factors such as Appearance, Basic Function, and Advanced Function. Established evaluation models are then used to rank the selected designs. The results show that the higher the priority index value of the product design scheme, the better the scheme, and vice versa. This study holds significant reference value in aiding enterprises to enhance the efficiency of their manufacturing cycle and determining the direction of product design and innovation with improved pace and accuracy. Moreover, it can be applied to other fields such as supply chain management, risk assessment, and investment decisions.

Development of ultrathin nanoflakes of Ni–Co LDH films by hydrothermal route for energy storage application

For energy storage systems, high capacitance, long cycling life, superior energy density, and ultrafast charge-discharge rates are important characteristics to meet the energy demands of various modern areas. Recently, the combination of Nickel (Ni) and Cobalt (Co) binary hydroxides has been recognized as a class of new materials due to their excellent electrochemical activity, high capacitance, excellent redox reversibility, spatial structure, and good electrical conductivity. Herein, Ni–Co layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared from different Ni–Co precursors under optimized preparation conditions by hydrothermal technique for supercapacitor application. As-obtained Ni–Co LDH exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacitance of 700.42 F/g was achieved at a current density of 1 A/g. Moreover, the Ni–Co LDH electrode showed a superior specific energy density of 19.69 Wh/kg and a specific power density of 2.8 Wh/kg. These excellent electrochemical results illustrate the potential of utilizing Ni–Co LDH materials for supercapacitor application and provide innovative direction for the development of future high-performance energy storage systems.

Multifunctional Nanoclay-Based Hemostatic Materials for Wound Healing: A Review.

Bleeding to death accounts for around 30-40% of all trauma-related fatalities. Current hemostatic materials are mainly mono-functional or have insufficient hemostatic capacity. Nanoclay has been recently shown to accelerate hemostasis, improve wound healing, and provide the resulting multifunctional hemostatic materials antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and healing-promoting due to its distinctive morphological structure and physicochemical properties. Herein, the chemical design and action mechanism of nanoclay-based hemostatic, antibacterial, and pro-wound healing materials in the context of wound healing are discussed. The physiological processes of hemostasis and wound healing to elucidate the significance of nanoclay for functional wound hemostatic dressing design are outlined. A summary of the features of various nanoclay and product types used in wound hemostatic dressings is provided. Nanoclay can be antimicrobial due to the slow release of metal ions and has an abundant surface charge allowing for high affinity for proteins and cells, which can activate the coagulation reaction or facilitate tissue repair. Nanoclay with a microporous structure can be used as drug carriers to create composites critical for inhibiting bacterial growth on wounds or promoting the regeneration of vascular, muscle, and skin tissues. Directions for further research and innovation of nanoclay-based multifunctional materials for hemostasis and tissue regeneration are explored.

Innovative activity in the context of the federal districts of the Russian Federation: current state and directions of development

In modern realities the development of the country is impossible without the introduction of innovative developments in production. Therefore, identifying the level of innovation activity in the context of all federal districts makes it possible to assess the capabilities of each subject of the country and based on this monitoring to form an innovation development strategy. Considering certain indicators which characterize the productive component of the innovation potential, the author conducted a comparative assessment of the federal districts of the Russian Federation, identified trends and directions of development. Conclusions are drawn about the problems and opportunities of innovative development. The purpose of the study is to determine the innovative activity development direction of the Russian Federation in the main federal districts. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were identified: to assess the volume of innovative goods produced by federal districts; to define the costs of this activity; to find the factors constraining innovative development.

A study on the influence of teacher certification concept on the construction of art majors in universities based on big data analysis

Abstract The development of the data era has put higher requirements for college art courses, but the imperfect evaluation system of practical teaching of college art courses has become a stumbling block to the flourishing development of college art. Based on the decision tree model, this paper proposes constructing the optimal decision tree using pruning techniques. The optimized decision tree is adopted to explore the differences in the construction of art majors in universities under the condition of normal major certification and feedback on the influence of normal major certification on art majors through the evaluation results. From the analysis of the three index examples, the mean values of cognitive evaluation, pedagogical evaluation, and effectiveness evaluation of art courses were 2.527, 4.756, and 3.267, respectively, indicating the best evaluation in the pedagogical evaluation of art courses, but the cognitive evaluation was slightly lower. Normal major certification significantly influences the construction of art majors in colleges and universities. The decision tree model can also guide the innovation direction of college art courses more intuitively through data so that the evaluation system of college art courses can enjoy the development dividend of the new technology era.

Research on Cost Management of Logistics Enterprises Under the Between Big Data, Intelligence, Mobile Internet and Cloud Computing

In 2013, the concept of "Great wisdom moving Cloud" was first proposed at the China Internet Conference. Under the national technology innovation strategy, Dazhiyun has gradually become a powerful technology engine for economic development and enterprise transformation and upgrading. With the advent of the era of "big wisdom moving cloud", the traditional enterprise cost management has been unable to meet the current financial management requirements, how to form a cost leading advantage has become the core task of cost management. Big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, Internet of Things and other related technologies provide technical support for enterprise cost management innovation. However, under the background of "big wisdom moving to cloud", there are still many shortcomings in enterprise cost control, such as backward cost management concept, backward related supporting system, lack of professional talent quality, data collection distortion, etc. Enterprises should take the initiative to introduce information technology. To develop in the direction of technological innovation and management innovation, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Advances in Mesenchymal stem cells regulating macrophage polarization and treatment of sepsis-induced liver injury.

Sepsis is a syndrome of dysregulated host response caused by infection, which leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction. It is a familiar reason of death in critically ill patients. Liver injury frequently occurs in septic patients, yet the development of targeted and effective treatment strategies remains a pressing challenge. Macrophages are essential parts of immunity system. M1 macrophages drive inflammation, whereas M2 macrophages possess anti-inflammatory properties and contribute to tissue repair processes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), known for their remarkable attributes including homing capabilities, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and tissue regeneration potential, hold promise in enhancing the prognosis of sepsis-induced liver injury by harmonizing the delicate balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization. This review discusses the mechanisms by which MSCs regulate macrophage polarization, alongside the signaling pathways involved, providing an idea for innovative directions in the treatment of sepsis-induced liver injury.

Innovative approaaches in criminalistics and forensic

The world changes every day. New means of committing criminal offenses require innovative and modern methods of their disclosure. It is important to introduce the newest, innovative means and methods of activity to forensic science and forensic examination. In the conditions of war in Ukraine, new fields of both criminalistics and forensic examination are developing due to the commission of a large number of military criminal offenses. Help in the investigation is provided by colleagues from other countries who use innovative methods and techniques, implemented in various countries of the world. The problems of introducing innovations in criminalistics and forensic examination were studied by such scientists as M.V. Danshin, V.A. Zhuravel, I.I. Kogutych, V.O. Konovalova, V.Yu. Shepitko, V.V. Yusupov and others.
 Modern trends in the formation of innovative directions in the system of forensic knowledge indicate the need to expand the boundaries of forensic knowledge and use innovative scientific knowledge from various applied and fundamental sciences developed in different countries of the world.
 It is worth noting the existence of related scientific research, where forensic knowledge and knowledge of chemistry are applied in European countries. Data on new digital technologies should also be used in forensics and forensics to detect and investigate criminal offences. During the war, joint investigative groups were created, which include criminalistics and forensic experts from such European countries as Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia and Romania. Therefore, innovative approaches to the formation of many sciences are used all over the world today.
 The science of criminalistics and forensic examination did not bypass this process. The system of criminalistics and forensic examination is constantly developing in connection with changes in scientific knowledge from fundamental and applied sciences in the world. There are proposals to create new subdivisions of the science of forensics, namely, aerocriminalistics, criminalistic advocacy, forensic graphology, etc., to change the meaning of existing terms, introducing innovative approaches. Today, the content of the science of criminalistics and forensic examination is understood differently in different countries. International cooperation is also important for Ukrainian scientists and forensic experts, which has become especially necessary in the conditions of the war in Ukraine.

Research and application of deep learning in Metaverse

The Metaverse, an immersive and interactive virtual environment, has garnered significant attention and presents numerous opportunities for technological advancements. The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Metaverse can lead to transformative changes across various industries and applications. This paper delves into AIs role in the Metaverse, specifically focusing on deep learning and reinforcement learning techniques to address challenges faced by different applications with in- sufficient data. An overview of AI within the Metaverse is provided, along with an exploration of the connection between the Metaverse and the Digital Twin concept. The establishment of the Metaverse environment and AI- driven activities are examined, emphasizing their applications in virtual environments and interactions. Moreover, innovative deep learning training directions leveraging the Metaverse for various applications are proposed, including autonomous vehicles, surgical medical robots, nuclear decommissioning robots, and industrial design and experimentation. Finally, the paper summarizes and looks forward to the full text.

Waste management practices at Corvinus University of Budapest

The best practices of a university waste management considering innovation, impact, and future direction of sustainable universities involve a comprehensive approach that considers not only the environmental impact of waste but also the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. This is especially true for higher education institutions that are meant to educate most future business and social leaders of a country or a region, as is the case at Corvinus University of Budapest. The first step in waste management is to minimize the amount of waste generated. Corvinus achieve this by promoting a culture of sustainability on campus and encouraging students, faculty, and staff to adopt eco-friendly habits, such as using reusable bags, bottles, and containers, and minimizing the use of single-use items and encouraging the use of digital documents instead of paper. After reducing waste generation, the next step is to reuse and recycle as much as possible.Corvinus set up recycling stations that accept a wide range of materials, such as plastics, paper, and electronics. Additionally, Corvinus works with local organizations to donate gently used items, such as furniture and IT, instead of sending them to landfills.Corvinus track their waste generation and disposal to identify areas for improvement and evaluate the effectiveness of their waste management programs. By regularly monitoring and reporting on their waste management practices, Corvinus set goals for improvement and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.Corvinus collaborate with industry, government, and community groups to find new and innovative solutions for waste management. This include partnering with local waste management organizations to develop sustainable waste management practices, as well as working with local businesses to reduce waste generation. Overall, a successful waste management program at a sustainable university requires a multifaceted approach that incorporates education, outreach, partnerships, technology, and monitoring. By implementing these best practices, universities can reduce their environmental impact, engage students, and staff in sustainable practices, and demonstrate their commitment to creating a more sustainable future.

Transforming museums with technology and digital innovations: a scoping review of research literature

Purpose This study aims to survey the existing body of knowledge about digital innovation within museums. Academic and practitioner interest in digital innovation has been piqued as technological advances that enable the rapid personalisation of information to cater towards increasingly sophisticated end-user expectations. Yet, the literature on digital innovation in the museum environment appears fragmented and lacks theoretical grounding. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on a systematic scoping review of 199 articles published during 2010–2021, this paper provides an initial indication of the size and scope of current research literature on digital innovation of museums. Findings This literature review elucidates the status quo and future directions of digital innovation in museum space. An integral conceptual framework is proposed to provide a comprehensive lens to steer future research and practice in this area in a theoretically grounded and systemic manner. Originality/value This study mixes both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the literature to produce an up-to-date understanding of extant research by illuminating inspiring processes, foregrounding commonly encountered challenges, framing theoretical and practical implications and proposing avenues for future research.

Review on Chinese agricultural science and technology research from a low-carbon economy perspective: hotspots, evolution, and frontiers

Against the background of global climate change, agricultural science and technology play a vital role in achieving a low-carbon economy and sustainable development. Based on the research data of agricultural science and technology in Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, adopting the bibliometric method, a knowledge graph was drawn using CiteSpace software; this paper analyzes the hotspot distribution, structural relationship and evolution process context while also comparing the difference between China and abroad from 1998 to 2023. The results indicate that existing research is mainly distributed in the following core modules, namely, agricultural science and technology, industrialization, modern agriculture, low-carbon agriculture, etc. The evolution of the research context features three stages: the traditional agricultural, current agricultural, and high-quality agricultural stages respectively. Research in China and abroad demonstrates both overlaps and differences in terms of knowledge structure, and such differences are related mainly to the concept of low-carbon agriculture, a variety of research perspectives, and the agricultural science and technology system. To expand the knowledge structure, deepening the research on, respectively, the evaluation and measurement of agrarian carbon footprint, micro-production entities, and strengthening international agricultural science and technology cooperation are innovative directions for future studies. This article systematically reviews agricultural scientific research from the perspective of a low-carbon economy, providing a reference point for the green and low-carbon transformation of agriculture in every country.

Clinical aspects of the use of a vascularized mucoperiosteal palatine flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects

Dental implantation, as a high-tech innovative direction in modern dentistry, can significantly increase the effectiveness of complex rehabilitation of patients with partial and complete loss of teeth. Methods for surgical treatment of patients with soft tissue deficiency in the area of dentition defects must meet the following requirements: minimally invasive; biological feasibility; predictability; the validity of the patterns of changes in the state of soft tissue structures of the maxillofacial during surgical intervention; the need to restore the morphological and functional components of the donor and recipient beds; the most careful attitude to the bone and soft tissue components of the alveolar crest of the jaws for subsequent dental implantation. The article presents the results of a multi-stage method for restoring soft tissue deficiency in 29 patients aged 37 to 60 years with terminal and included defects in the alveolar part of the lower jaw in the distal region using the developed surgical method for eliminating soft tissue deficiency with a vascularized muco-periosteal flap modeled in the projection of the hard palate. The effectiveness of the developed surgical technique is confirmed by clinical data characterizing the intensity of the postoperative inflammatory process, taking into account the developed criteria indicators, as well as morphological indicators of soft tissues in the projection of the apex of the alveolar part of the lower jaw in the area of dentition defects before and 3, 6, 9, 12 months after surgery. It was established that on the 30th day from the moment of surgical manipulations, the intensity of clinical manifestations of the postoperative inflammatory process in the studied patients was completely absent, and by the 12th month, the increase in the thickness of the soft tissue component in the region of the apex of the alveolar part of the lower jaw in the intervention area increased by 133.3%, at the same time, the value of soft tissue growth ranged from 2.2 mm to 3.7 mm. The analysis of the obtained results revealed the high efficiency of the developed method, allowing to expand the indications for dental implantation.

How Do Start‐up Acquisitions Affect the Direction of Innovation?*

A start‐up engages in an investment portfolio problem by choosing how much to invest in a “non‐rival” project and a “rival” project that threatens an incumbent. Anticipating its acquisition, the start‐up distorts its investment portfolio in order to raise acquisition rents. This may improve or worsen the direction of innovation and consumer surplus. The bigger the difference in social surplus appropriability across the two projects, the more likely it is that the direction of innovation improves and consumers benefit from an acquisition. These results also hold if the acquirer takes over the research facilities of the start‐up.