Initial Stage Research Articles

A Low Dose of Rapamycin Promotes Hair Cell Differentiation by Enriching SOX2+ Progenitors in the Neonatal Mouse Inner Ear Organoids.

To investigate the impact of rapamycin on the differentiation of hair cells. Murine cochlear organoids were derived from cochlear progenitor cells. Different concentrations of rapamycin were added into the culture medium at different proliferation and differentiation stages. Rapamycin exhibited a concentration-dependent reduction in the proliferation of these inner ear organoids. Nevertheless, organoids subjected to a 10-nM dose of rapamycin demonstrated a markedly increased proportion of hair cells. Furthermore, rapamycin significantly upregulated the expression of markers associated with both hair cells and supporting cells, including ATOH1, MYO7A, and SOX2. Mechanistic studies revealed that rapamycin preferentially suppressed cells without Sox2 expression during the initial proliferation stage, thereby augmenting and refining the population of SOX2+ progenitors. These enriched progenitors were predisposed to differentiate into hair cells during the later stages of organoid development. Conversely, the use of the mTOR activator MHY 1485 demonstrated opposing effects. Our findings underscore a practical strategy for enhancing the generation of inner ear organoids with a low dose of rapamycin, achieved by enriching SOX2+ progenitors in an in vitro setting.

Palliative Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review.

Background: As a person nears the end of their life, culture and ethnicity increasingly drive preferences and priorities for care. Understanding these preferences and priorities is fundamental to health care professionals' goals to respect decision making and support the individual throughout this phase of life. Across Africa, several countries are in the initial stages of implementing palliative care services in their burgeoning health care systems. Moving forward, it is imperative to consider cultural similarities and differences when compared with the Western world, where the field of palliative care evolved, to create a tailored palliative care approach that is consistent with African culture. In palliative care, understanding cultural preferences and priorities requires communication between the patient and the provider and is a crucial step toward a successful implementation in Africa. A paternalistic patient-provider relationship is the current leading model in sub-Saharan Africa.1 Aim: This narrative review explores the prevalence of paternalism and explores its appropriateness and necessity in the current application of palliative care in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: This narrative review was conducted using four databases as well as hand searching of relevant articles sourced from references of already selected articles. A total of 730 articles were identified. Fourteen articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria set for this narrative review. Results: In sub-Saharan Africa, the leading patient-provider relationship was determined to be paternalistic. Reasons for this were language, education, cultural norms and expectations, lack of time, and benevolence. Conclusions: The implementation of palliative care often relies on communication of patient desires and goals. Consideration is needed to determine how a provider can appropriately know these factors in a paternalistic relationship.

Effects of Invasive Smooth Cordgrass Degradation on Avian Species Diversity in the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve, a Ramsar Wetland on the Eastern Coast of China

Invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has been expanding rapidly through the coastal wetlands of eastern China and these changes negatively affect local birds. In the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve (henceforth referred to as DMNNR), rapid degradation of spartina occurs after an increase in milu (Elaphures davidianus; hereafter elk) numbers and ecological hydrological engineering. We evaluated the impact of such degradation on the abundance and species diversity of birds in the DMNNR during 2017–2021. We found that the area covered by S. alterniflora decreased significantly in the study area at a rate of 310 ha per year and by 62% during 2017–2021 (p < 0.01). With this decrease in the S. alterniflora area, the species richness and abundance of birds first increased and then decreased. Songbird density clearly decreased but species richness did not significantly do so. This research demonstrated that during the initial stages of vegetation degradation, there was a positive effect on bird diversity. With the increasing vegetation degradation increases, both songbirds and waterbirds experience negative impacts. The DMNNR is an important stopover site for waterbirds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, and additional measures are needed to control vegetation degradation and to restore the native habitats for birds.

Gene expression plasticity followed by genetic change during colonization in a high-elevation environment.

Phenotypic plasticity facilitates organismal invasion of novel environments, and the resultant phenotypic change may later be modified by genetic change, so called 'plasticity first.' Herein, we quantify gene expression plasticity and regulatory adaptation in a wild bird (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) from its original lowland (ancestral stage), experimentally implemented hypoxia acclimation (plastic stage), and colonized highland (colonized stage). Using a group of co-expressed genes from the cardiac and flight muscles, respectively, we demonstrate that gene expression plasticity to hypoxia tolerance is more often reversed than reinforced at the colonized stage. By correlating gene expression change with muscle phenotypes, we show that colonized tree sparrows reduce maladaptive plasticity that largely associated with decreased hypoxia tolerance. Conversely, adaptive plasticity that is congruent with increased hypoxia tolerance is often reinforced in the colonized tree sparrows. Genes displaying large levels of reinforcement or reversion plasticity (i.e. 200% of original level) show greater genetic divergence between ancestral and colonized populations. Overall, our work demonstrates that gene expression plasticity at the initial stage of high-elevation colonization can be reversed or reinforced through selection-driven adaptive modification.

Corrosion Behavior of the 2024 Aluminum Alloy in the Atmospheric Environment of the South China Sea Islands

The 2024 aluminum alloy, a structural material commonly used in aviation aircraft bodies, is susceptible to serious corrosion in marine atmospheric environments. This paper comprehensively studies the corrosion behavior of the 2024 aluminum alloy in the South China Sea atmosphere. Weighing, morphology observation, phase analysis, electrochemical testing, and other methods were used to study the corrosion law and corrosion mechanism of the 2024 aluminum alloy. The main conclusions are as follows: At the initial stage of exposure, pitting corrosion occurred on the surface of the 2024 aluminum alloy. After 3 months of exposure, the self-corrosion current density increased from 0.456 μA·cm−2 to 8.338 μA·cm−2. After 6 months of exposure, the corrosion developed into general corrosion. The main component of the corrosion product was Al2O3·3H2O. The product covered the surface to form a loose corrosion product layer, which had an inhibitory effect on corrosion. The self-corrosion current density was reduced to 2.359 μA·cm−2. After 12 months of exposure, the corrosion product layer fell off and became thinner, and the self-corrosion current density increased to 2.849 μA·cm−2. The corrosion kinetics conformed to the functional equation W = 0.00346t0.73891, indicating that the corrosion products have a certain protective effect on the matrix.

A study on site selection of wind power plant based on prospect theory and VIKOR: a case study in China

PurposeWith the continuous development of the wind power industry, wind power plant (WPP) has become the focus of resource development within the industry. Site selection, as the initial stage of WPP development, is directly related to the feasibility of construction and the future revenue of WPP. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to study the siting of WPP and establish a framework for siting decision-making.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, a site selection evaluation index system is constructed from four aspects of economy, geography, environment and society using the literature review method and the Delphi method, and the weights of each index are comprehensively determined by combining the Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and the entropy weight method (EW). Then, prospect theory and the multi-criteria compromise solution ranking method (VIKOR) are introduced to rank the potential options and determine the best site.FindingsChina is used as a case study, and the robustness and reliability of the methodology are demonstrated through sensitivity analysis, comparative analysis and ablation experiment analysis. This paper aims to provide a useful reference for WPP siting research.Originality/valueIn this paper, DEMATEL and EW are used to determine the weights of indicators, which overcome the disadvantage of single assignment. Prospect theory and VIKOR are combined to construct a decision model, which also considers the attitude of the decision-maker and the compromise solution of the decision result. For the first time, this framework is applied to WPP siting research.

Possibilities of using the virtual simulator "Vimedix 3.2" in the process of training in the specialty "ultrasound and diagnostics"

Background. In recent years, it is important to change the methods and programs of teaching many disciplines, including ultrasound diagnostics, with the inclusion of various virtual and simula-tion devices. The practical experience of using such technologies in the teaching process is rather short, therefore, there are few original works devoted to this topic in Russian and foreign literature.Aims. To determine the possibilities and algorithm of using virtual simulator of ultrasound re-search in the process of teaching the discipline of "ultrasound diagnostics" on the basis of the results of work with it. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using simulator in comparison with traditional teaching methods.Material and methods. The results of using the virtual simulator "Vimedix 3.2" in the educa-tional process were analyzed. Simulations of transabdominal ultrasound examination of abdominal cavity organs, transthoracic echocardiography, triplex scanning of main vessels were performed on it. The study involved 26 residents in the specialty "ultrasound diagnostics", as well as 47 physicians who were trained at professional retraining courses.Results. The use of a virtual simulator at the initial stage in the training process can eliminate many of the problems that residents and trainees encounter in clinical sites. The use of a simulator in the testing process seems to be less favorable than a practical examination using ultrasound scanners and real patients.Conclusions. It is advisable to use the simulator at the initial stage to practice the research methodology. It is recommended to develop and use additional teaching materials and programs in training. The advantages of the virtual simulator are comfort of work at the initial stage of training, short time of its mastering, availability of an extensive database of pathological cases. The identified non-critical deficiencies require correction during further training in the clinic.

Prima Donnas in Kevlar zones. Challenges to the Unconventional Warfare efforts of the U.S. Special Forces during Operation Enduring Freedom

ABSTRACT When Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) commenced in October 2001, the U.S. Special Forces (SF) were the first U.S. military unit on the ground in Afghanistan, utilising their Unconventional Warfare (UW) capabilities. Despite their significant role at the initial stage of the military campaign, SF began to encounter numerous challenges from as early as 2002 and throughout OEF. Based on an analysis of forty-five master’s theses authored by SF officers, this paper discusses the structural-organisational and cultural-conceptual challenges. These obstacles led to the marginalisation of SF’s UW efforts. Scholarship on special operations forces (SOF) often regards the period of the so-called global war on terrorism (GWOT) as U.S. SOF’s golden age focusing predominantly on the activities of SOF units linked to the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command rather than on SF. By examining the challenges faced by SF, this article aims to contribute to a more nuanced discussion of SOF efforts during GWOT.

Evaluating Tomato Performance: A Novel Approach of Combining Full and Deficit Irrigation with Saline Water

The tomato is a vital component of agriculture and is the second-most important vegetable globally. Maintaining a high tomato production requires both water quality and quantity. Water-scarce regions like Saudi Arabia still lack an understanding of the impact of deficit irrigation and the use of a blend of saline and freshwater, especially their nuanced impact across growth stages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of six different irrigation amounts: full irrigation with 100% ETc (FI), regulated deficit irrigation with 60% ETc (DI), and deficit irrigation with 60% ETc, except for the initial (DI-int), development (DI-dev), mid-season (DI-mid), and late-season (DI-lat) stages. This was performed with three different water qualities: fresh (FW), saline (SW), and fresh-saline blend (1:1) (MW) water. FW and MW enhanced the growth, physiology, morphology, yield, and quality, while SW had the lowest values. DI reduced these parameters and lowered yields by 13.7%, significantly improving water use efficiency (WUE) by 44% and fruit quality. DI-mid or DI-lat slightly improved yields while remarkably decreasing WUE and fruit quality. DI outperforms deficit irrigation in all growth stages except one, and countries with limited freshwater resources can benefit from a mix of fresh and saline water with a 60% ETc deficit irrigation, resulting in greater water savings.

Middle-range theorising supporting and supported by action research: focusing on practitioner preparedness

Increased demand for actionable knowledge in operations- and supply chain management has fuelled the interest in collaborative, action-oriented research design as well as modes of theorising that generate adaptable and actionable frameworks. Whilst action research (AR) design as well as middle-range theories (MRT) offer guiding principles herein, they are researcher centric in nature. It is taken for granted that practitioners that enter such an endeavour have a certain level of knowledge or experience prior to the initial stages of formalising the research problem. Practitioners in non-academic, operations management-intensive industries or craftsmanship-based industries, such as construction or carpeting (often in the SME range) are often neither prepared nor equipped with the principles necessary to convey their managerial challenges into collaborative research design. This risk limiting or even hindering altogether such participation. This paper elaborates on combining the logic of AR and MRT. By conceptualising a preparatory phase for initiating practitioner engagement, complementing the conventional AR cycle, a four-step approach is presented: (1) Identifying a joint interest; (2) Teaching – Awakening interest in the topic through MRT frameworks; (3) Accepting buy-in to the AR cycle and determining the problem; and (4) Proposing MRT frameworks for analysis and entering the traditional AR cycle.

Examining the trajectory of meaning violation and its bidirectional relationship with perceived posttraumatic growth.

Despite extensive theoretical discussions on the dynamic process of meaning violation (MV) and restoration, empirical research on this topic remained lacking. This study aimed to explore the trajectory of MV and the bi-directionality between MV and perceived posttraumatic growth (PPTG). This study employed a 3-wave longitudinal design spanning over 3months, and a sample of participants from China who experienced any distressing event within the past 3months was considered eligible. Participants (N=215; aged 18-38years old) were instructed to assess MV and PPTG regarding a chosen event. A latent growth model was used to examine changes in MV over time and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to analyze bidirectional associations between MV and PPTG. Results revealed that, at the within-person level, MV at T1 negatively predicted PPTG at T2, while PPTG at T2 negatively predicted MV at T3. These results indicate that the sense of MV may have impeded PPTG in the initial stages, whereas PPTG might serve as a predictor for diminished MV at later stages. At the between-person level, a positive relationship between these two constructs was observed, suggesting that individuals who experienced higher levels of MV, in general, also tended to report greater PPTG. These findings reflect the complex and dynamic nature of meaning reconstruction processes and provide empirical evidence for the meaning-making model.

Enhancing Wireless Security and Privacy: A 2-Way Identity Authentication Method for 5G Networks

The communication network would have potential uses dependent on the infrastructure once the fifth generation (5G) network is fully commercialized. Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) authentication is a well-known mechanism for safeguarding the confidentiality of wireless device users. Fifth-generation computer technologies are very advanced in certification based on geolocation, regular confirmation, and authentication mechanisms. The clonable authentication feature solves the issue of authentication using duplicate modules. In highly dynamic environments, the problem poses a risk to privacy protection, adaptiveness, self-organization, information leakage, and the reliability of services. The article introduces a 2-way identity authentication method (2WIAM) using a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) to address the issue above. The suggested technique for detecting module clones depends on user-provided authentication and geolocation data. The 2-way mutual authentication used in the suggested technique is a clever way to combine the many wireless technologies accessible to a given network node and enable the creation of wireless on-demand service providers and networks. The initial stage involves immediate passcode authentication, and the second is verifying the identity of the mobile equipment and any shifts or copies in its physical position. A new-cross authentication is then carried out to determine the identity of the clone's physical counterpart. In prior authentication situations, the choice to provide authorization or ban the clone was made fairly and objectively. The experiment results show that the users' privacy is protected, enhanced adaptiveness and the amount of data lost is limited.

Comparative Analysis of Diabetic Prediction Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a severe worldwide health problem, and its prevalence is quickly growing. It is a spectrum of metabolic illnesses definite by continually increased blood glucose levels. Undiagnosed diabetes can lead to a variety of difficulties, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and other vascular abnormalities. In this context, machine learning (ML) technologies may be mainly useful for early disease identification, diagnosis, and therapy monitoring. The core idea of this study is to detect the strong ML algorithm to forecast it. For this numerous ML algorithms were chosen i.e., support vector machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes (NB), K nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and decision tree (DT), according to this work. Two, Pima Indian diabetic (PID) and Germany diabetes datasets were used and the research was implemented using Waikato environment for knowledge analysis (WEKA) 3.8.6 tool. This research discussed performance matrices and error rates of classifiers for both datasets. The outcomes showed that for the PID database (PIDD), SVM works improved with an accuracy of 74% whereas for Germany RF and KNN work improved with 98.7% accuracy. This study can helps healthcare facilities and researchers in understanding the value and application of ML algorithms in predicting diabetes at an initial stage

Impacts of COVID-19 on Food Access: An Examination of People’s Food Shopping Methods Change

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the food insecurity issue across the nation, especially for vulnerable population groups. As an important way to access food, online grocery shopping has gained substantial popularity during COVID-19. However, it is not clear how COVID-19 impacted both the in-store and online grocery shopping simultaneously and how the impacts varied among different population groups. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 on food access, we conducted two rounds of online survey during the initial and middle stages of COVID-19 in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In addition to the factors that have been examined in the literature, we examined how travel behavior, food environment, and lifestyle change affected both in-store and online shopping during COVID-19 when compared with before COVID-19. Analysis results suggest that the methods people used for grocery shopping varied with different stages of COVID-19 and among different population groups. Changes of people’s daily life and travel behavior during COVID-19 are found to be associated with people’s grocery shopping method selection. While people with better food environment were more likely to keep in-store grocery shopping, as the pandemic progressed, food environment became less important as a factor influencing the adoption of online grocery shopping. Food assistance program participants had a higher demand for the online grocery shopping service. However, the barriers associated with redeeming their benefits online prohibited them from becoming new online grocery shoppers during COVID-19. The study provides important insights into planning of food provision and formulating effective intervention strategies during future shocks.

Psychological status of residents at the onset of nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in low- and medium-risk areas of China.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a dual threat to public physical and mental health, prompted an investigation into the psychological well-being of residents in low- to medium-risk areas of China during the initial stages of the pandemic. We administered WeChat-based questionnaire surveys and employed chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression to analyze correlations between residents' age, gender, education, symptoms, COVID-19 close contact history, information sources, and anxiety, depression, and attitudes toward lockdown measures. We received 10,433 valid questionnaires, revealing 26% anxiety and 19.5% depression. Support for lockdown measures reached 98.2%. Factors such as female gender, self-diagnosed pneumonia symptoms, close contact history, and higher education levels increased anxiety risk. Having a doctorate posed a severe anxiety risk, at 4.5 times (P = .019, 95% CI 1.29-15.73). Older age acted as a protective factor, reducing severe anxiety risk to 0.98 and 0.22 times (P < .001, 95% CI 0.14-0.34). Females with a master degree or below and those receiving COVID-19 information from multiple channels faced higher depression risk. Pneumonia symptoms were a risk for all anxiety and depression degrees. Attitudes toward lockdown measures had no significant impact on psychological status, nor did any of the analyzed factors affect residents' overall attitude toward lockdown. Our findings underscore the need for increased psychological counseling, particularly for young females with lower educational backgrounds or self-suspected infection symptoms, to mitigate mild to moderate anxiety and depression in future epidemics or pandemics. The public, especially those of working age with doctorates or higher education, bears the highest risk of severe anxiety. Lockdown measures enjoy strong support in low- to medium-risk areas of China.

A Novel Food Bore Protein Hydrogel with Silver Ions for Promoting Burn Wound Healing.

Hydrogels have emerged as a promising option for treating local scald wounds due to their unique physical and chemical properties. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ovalbumin/gelatin composite hydrogels in repairing deep II-degree scald wounds using a mouse dorsal skin model. Trauma tissues collected at various time points are analyzed for total protein content, hydroxyproline content, histological features, and expression of relevant markers. The results reveal that the hydrogel accelerates the healing process of scalded wounds, which is 17.27% higher than the control group. The hydrogel treatment also effectively prevents wound enlargement and redness of the edges caused by infection during the initial stage of scalding. The total protein and hydroxyproline content of the treated wounds are significantly elevated. Additionally, the hydrogel up-regulates the expression of VEGF (a crucial angiogenic factor) and down-regulates CD68 (a macrophage marker). In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the potential of multifunctional protein-based hydrogels in wound healing.

Implementation of PSMA PET/CT and alignment of ordering to SNMMI appropriate use criteria in a large network system.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) provides appropriate use criteria (AUC) for prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PSMA PET/CT) which include guidance on imaging in newly diagnosed prostate cancer and in patients with biochemically recurrent (BCR) disease. This study aims to examine trends in PSMA implementation and the prevalence and outcomes of scans ordered in scenarios deemed rarely appropriate or not meeting SNMMI AUC. We retrospectively identified patients who were diagnosed with presumptive National Comprehensive Cancer Network unfavorable intermediate, high, or very high risk prostate cancer, patients who underwent staging for BCR, and all patients staged with PSMA between July 2021 and March 2023. Positivity was validated by adherence to a predetermined reference standard. The frequency of PSMA use increased in initial staging from 24% to 80% and work-up of BCR from 91% to 99% over our study period. In addition, 5% (17/340) of PSMA scans ordered for initial staging did not meet AUC and 3% (15/557) of posttreatment scans were deemed rarely appropriate. Initial staging orders not meeting SNMMI AUC resulted in no positivity (0/17), while rarely appropriate posttreatment scans were falsely positive in 75% (3/4) of cases. Urologists (53%, 17/32) comprised the largest ordering specialty in rarely appropriate use. The frequency of PSMA use rose across the study period. A significant minority of patients received PSMA PET/CT in rarely appropriate scenarios yielding no positivity in initial staging and significant false positivity post-therapy. Further education of providers and electronic medical record-based interventions could help limit the rarely appropriate use of PET imaging.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Based Game Development ``Memory Game'' for Training Functions Alzheimer and Dementia Cognitive

Smart games, especially crossword puzzles can be an effective tool in aiding cognitive and physical exercise by stimulating the brain and strengthening brain connections, which can help prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. This research aimed to develop a crossword puzzle game into a digital version in Bahasa Indonesia with Artificial Intelligence (AI) features. The benefit of this game product can be used as a cognitive therapy for Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers. The research method used is game development using the Game Development Life Cycle (GDLC) model with stages of initiation, pre-production, implementation/development, testing, launch, and maintenance. Implementation of digital version using Unity 3D game engine with AI feature of hint generating. This research was carried out for 8 months. Game testing results were carried out by testing the functionality of game features and the results were that all features functioned well. The innovation and importance of this work was to implement the memory crossword puzzle game design into a digital version in Bahasa by implementing artificial intelligence methods for the hints feature. This work will inspire developers to do greater work on Bahasa and implement various features based on AI methods.&#x0D; Keywords: digital memory games, artificial intelligence, crosswords, game development

Genome-Based Identification and Characterization of Bacteriocins Selectively Inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus in Fermented Sausages.

The bacteriocin-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SL47 was isolated from conventional fermented sausages, and the bacteriocin SL47 was purified using ethyl acetate, Sephadex G-25 gel chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Bacteriocin SL47 was identified by HPLC-MS/MS combined with whole-genome sequencing, and the results showed it consisted of plantaricin A, J, K, and N. Further characterization analysis showed that the bacteriocin SL47 was highly thermostable (30min, 121°C), pH stable (2-10), sensitive to protease and exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial ability against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The mechanism of action showed that the bacteriocin SL47 increased cell membrane permeability, and 2 × minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) treatment for 40min caused apoptosis of Staphylococcus aureus F2. The count of S. aureus in the sausage that was inoculated with L. plantarum SL47 and bacteriocin SL47 decreased by about 64% and 53% of that in the initial stage, respectively. These results indicated the potential of L. plantarum SL47 and bacteriocin SL47 as a bio-preservative in meat products.

Value co-creation in group enterprises: an evolutionary game theory-based analysis

Information barriers exist between subsidiaries in a group enterprise, where each subsidiary acts independently, and hinder rational allocation and utilisation of resources. This study proposed a value co-creation model consisting of heterogeneous subsidiaries in a group enterprise and consumers. By constructing a three-party evolutionary game model, we discussed the impact of information leakage risk, punishment intensity, consumer experience, and reputation on the strategy evolution process, which means the proportion of strategy choices for the three entities over time. We analysed and verified the evolutionary process of the value co-creation system in different scenarios. This study revealed the ‘butterfly effect’ of value co-creation within the group enterprise, highlighting how different combinations of decision-making probabilities among the three entities in the initial stage can result in diverse outcomes, even when starting from identical conditions. The study also found that under certain conditions, group subsidiaries may sacrifice their own interests for the overall interests of cooperation. This study yielded the counterintuitive conclusion that in a stable state, the choice of cooperation strategies between subsidiaries is not directly related to their willingness to share knowledge.