Innovation Award Research Articles

RACE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN UNMET NEEDS OF NONSPOUSAL CARE PARTNERS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract Research on unmet care needs of non-spousal informal care partners (ICPs) for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (P-ADRD) is limited. A secondary data analysis using linear and logistic regressions was employed to explore non-spousal ICPs’ unmet needs by gender and race using the Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment (JHDCNA 2.0©). The JHDCNA 2.0© includes six domains and 18 items assessing ICPs’ needs. Data included 413 ICPs of P-ADRD from two community-based studies: Maximizing Independence at Home Randomized Control Trial and Maximizing Independence at Home-Health Care Innovation Award, which enrolled dyads of P-ADRD and their ICPs. Of the 413 ICPs, 143 (34.6%) were White, 270 (65.4%) Black, with 343 (83.1%) female, and 70 (16.9%) male. Gender was not significantly associated with overall percentage of unmet dementia-related care needs. However, there was a race by sex interaction (p <.001); Black male non-spousal ICPs had the highest mean total percent unmet needs (33.48±13.87) while White female non-spousal ICPs had the lowest mean total percent of unmet needs (28.03±13.75). Being a Black non-spousal ICPs was associated with having higher odds of having unmet needs in specific categories such as behaviors 73% vs 61% (p =.015), substitute decision-making 29% vs 8% (p <.001), and decision-making documents 84% vs 71% (p =.002) compared to White non-spousal ICPs.This study highlights the importance of understanding the unique needs of non-spousal ICPs, particularly differences by race, to ensure access to resources and assistance for persons providing care to individuals living with ADRD.

The role of intellectual property on Enterprise-led Industry-University-Research Institution cooperation: case of innovation awards in China

The role of intellectual property on Enterprise-led Industry-University-Research Institution cooperation: case of innovation awards in China

Applying Community-Engaged Service Learning to Enhance Students’ Knowledge, Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

This study demonstrates methods to enhance students’ knowledge, civic engagement, and social responsibility in international business education, based on community-engaged service learning. Reflecting on best practices of engaging 127 students through community-engaged service learning, we show the power of aligning course learning outcomes with real-world challenges, beyond problem-based learning. This reflection highlights the role of community-engaged service learning in academic capability building, suggesting that integrating such approaches contributes to addressing complex global challenges and nurturing socially responsible leaders. The recognition of this approach, shortlisted for the 2023 AIB T&E SIG Teaching Innovation Award, underscores its impact.

Network governance of collaborative innovation: a bipartite network perspective

ABSTRACT Collaborative innovation is a growing field in public management studies. Considering the significant impact of buildings on society’s greenhouse gas emissions, how to promote the greening of buildings has become an important arena for public-private collaborative innovation. Using China’s Green Building Innovation Awards as the dataset, this study adopts a bipartite network perspective to distinguish between non-market organization (NMO)-firm and firm-firm collaborations. The findings extend collaborative innovation literature by revealing the nuanced effects of network embeddedness and provide implications for improving the effectiveness of ‘hands-on’ metagovernance by leveraging the facilitator role of NMOs and avoiding the over-embeddedness of firms.

What's new about hydration in dementia?

The aim of this study was to conduct a review of the literature published over the past 18 months and present the latest findings on hydration in individuals with dementia. A systematic review identified sarcopenia, polypharmacy, delayed oral transit, and poor rinsing ability as markers of eating-drinking-swallowing difficulties in early-stage dementia. A cross-sectional study found a high prevalence of dehydration (57-68%) among dementia patients, associated with hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dysphagia, and cognitive decline. An analysis of national dementia care guidelines showed that only the UK and Switzerland addressed assisted nutrition and hydration. "Jelly Drops," a hydrating product for dementia patients, received innovation awards. A study on US Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms highlighted inconsistent terminology for end-of-life nutrition and hydration, calling for clearer language to aid decision-making. The new hydration-related recommendations in the ESPEN 2024 guidelines for dementia reflect a more individualized, proactive, and comprehensive approach to managing hydration. These guidelines emphasize the importance of early detection, personalized interventions, and consistent monitoring to ensure that dehydration is identified and treated promptly. Furthermore, the current literature supports the need for a specific terminology for dementia management using nutrition and hydration to improve patients' health outcomes.

EEG background activity, seizure burden and early childhood outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy in Uganda: a prospective feasibility cohort study

Intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity. Continuous electroencephalography (EEG) is gold standard for neonatal brain monitoring; however, low-income country data is lacking. We examined EEG in a Ugandan cohort with NE to describe feasibility, background activity, seizure prevalence and burden, and associations with clinical presentation and outcome. Neonates with NE were recruited from a single hospital referral centre in Kampala, Uganda (Oct 2019-Oct 2020) and underwent EEG monitoring. Feasibility was assessed as to whether EEG monitoring of diagnostic quality could be achieved from days 1-5. Evolution of clinical presentation was assessed by Sarnat classification and daily Thompson score was performed. EEG background severity was graded at 12, 24, 48 and 72h after birth, and at time of Thompson score. Seizures were annotated remotely by experts and assessed for frequency, duration, burden, and status epilepticus. Early childhood outcome was assessed at follow up, and adverse outcome defined as death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 18-24 months of age. In this prospective feasibility cohort study, diagnostic quality EEGs were recorded for 50 of 51 recruited neonates (median duration 71.4h, IQR 52.4-72.2), indicating feasibility. Of 39 participants followed to 18-24 months, 13 died and 7 had NDI. Daily Thompson score and EEG background grade were strongly correlated across all timepoints (days 1-5). Thompson score of ≥7 was most predictive of moderate-severe EEG background abnormality (AUC 0.83). Prognostic accuracy of moderate-severe EEG background grade to predict NDI was high (AUC 0.74). Electrographic seizures were seen in 52% (26); median seizure burden was high at 264min (IQR 27.8-523.7, range 1.3-1374.1); half (13) had status epilepticus. EEG monitoring was feasible as a research tool in this sub-Saharan Africa setting. EEG background activity correlated strongly with scored neurological assessment and predicted adverse early childhood outcome. Seizure prevalence and burden, including status epilepticus, were high in this uncooled cohort with important potential longer-term implications for survivors. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant number OPP1210890; Wellcome Trust Innovator award (209325/Z/17/Z).

Innovation awards aims to advance MH solutions for youth

Observing a need to fund and advance transformative mental health care solutions for children and young adults across the country, Morgan Stanley announced earlier this year the third cohort of winners of its Alliance for Children's Mental Health Innovation Awards.

Kuit: An Enterprise's Commitment to Sustainability through Technological Development

This article is a case study that aims to show how Kuit, a social enterprise, addresses the challenge of technological management while meeting its social, environmental and economic business objectives. The study examines innovation through technological development as part of a business strategy to promote ethical and sustainable business practices, which are focused on the health and well-being of people through the production and distribution of kombucha. The relevance of the case study lies in showing the technological management strategy implemented by the founders of Kuit, which has led them to a process innovation and a patent application. This innovation has been recognized by the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco, with Kuit being one of the five finalists for the 2021 Jalisco Innovation Award. Innovation has allowed Kuit to be a sustainable company both technically and financially, fulfilling its social and environmental mission.

2025 IUPAC Awards in Analytical Chemistry—Call for nominations

Abstract The Analytical Chemistry Division of IUPAC is inviting nominations for two awards, including: · The IUPAC Emerging Innovator Award in Analytical Chemistry—an award to recognize outstanding work undertaken by an emerging analytical scientist that corresponds to the aims of the Analytical Chemistry Division. · The IUPAC Analytical Chemistry Medal—an award to recognize significant lifetime contribution to the aims of the Analytical Chemistry Division.

Unlocking the Potential of the CICERO Spinning Disk System: Exploring Diverse Applications

Abstract CrestOptics aims to make their products accessible to researchers, enabling a variety of applications, and to create products that are both efficient and user-friendly. The CICERO confocal spinning disk system embodies these principles, designed for easy integration into any imaging setup. Its compactness and flexibility make advanced fluorescence microscopy accessible to laboratories worldwide. This article will focus on the great versatility and strengths of the CICERO system, which is a complete widefield (WF) and spinning disk confocal (CF) solution. It will demonstrate its key features, namely its use on both inverted and upright microscopy configurations, its wide spectral range, the high resolution and sectioning power, and its large field of view (FOV). Microscopy Today has awarded CICERO a 2024 Innovation Award for these features.

A multi-modal framework improves prediction of tissue-specific gene expression from a surrogate tissue

Tissue-specific analysis of the transcriptome is critical to elucidating the molecular basis of complex traits, but central tissues are often not accessible. We propose a methodology, Multi-mOdal-based framework to bridge the Transcriptome between PEripheral and Central tissues (MOTPEC). Multi-modal regulatory elements in peripheral blood are incorporated as features for gene expression prediction in 48 central tissues. To demonstrate the utility, we apply it to the identification of BMI-associated genes and compare the tissue-specific results with those derived directly from surrogate blood. MOTPEC models demonstrate superior performance compared with both baseline models in blood and existing models across the 48 central tissues. We identify a set of BMI-associated genes using the central tissue MOTPEC-predicted transcriptome data. The MOTPEC-based differential gene expression (DGE) analysis of BMI in the central tissues (including brain caudate basal ganglia and visceral omentum adipose tissue) identifies 378 genes overlapping the results from a TWAS of BMI, while only 162 overlapping genes are identified using gene expression in blood. Cellular perturbation analysis further supports the utility of MOTPEC for identifying trait-associated gene sets and narrowing the effect size divergence between peripheral blood and central tissues. The MOTPEC framework improves the gene expression prediction accuracy for central tissues and enhances the identification of tissue-specific trait-associated genes. This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82204118 (D.Z.), the seed funding of the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province (2020E10004), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Genomic Innovator Award R35HG010718 (E.R.G.), NIH/NHGRI R01HG011138 (E.R.G.), NIH/NIA R56AG068026 (E.R.G.), NIH Office of the Director U24OD035523 (E.R.G.), and NIH/NIGMS R01GM140287 (E.R.G.).

Announcing the 2023 Hojjat Adeli Award for Innovation in Computing

Announcing the 2023 Hojjat Adeli Award for Innovation in Computing

Empowering Peer reviewers: How reviewer insights drive innovation at IOP Publishing

Laura Feetham-Walker, Reviewer Engagement Manager at IOP Publishing, recently won the Academic Publishing in Europe (APE) Innovation award for invigorating the peer review process with the launch of the Peer Review Excellence programme , a comprehensive training and recognition programme, and introducing co-review and reviewer feedback. In this paper, we discuss how IOP Publishing has implemented these innovations and how they can future-proof a process that has served the academic community for centuries. We also discuss how some of these innovations have already proven effective in counteracting the peer review crisis.

Antidepressant class and concurrent rTMS outcomes in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is frequently used as an adjunctive treatment with antidepressants for depression. We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of antidepressant classes when administered concurrently with rTMS for the management of major depressive disorder (MDD). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to April 12th 2024 for terms relating to medication, depression, and rTMS and appraised by 2 independent screeners. All randomized clinical trials that prospectively evaluated a specific antidepressant adjunctively with sham rTMS as a control in MDD were included. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023418435). The primary outcome measure assessed symptomatic improvement measured by formal depression scales. We used a random-effects model with pooled Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) and log odds ratios (OR). All studies were assessed for their methodological quality and bias using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool version 2 (RoB2). 14 articles from 5376 identified studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. There was only sufficient trial data to evaluate the effects of rTMS and combination therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Across studies, 848 participants (mean [SD] age:41.1 [18.7] years for SSRIs, 51.8 [3.8] years for SNRIs) prospectively examined the efficacy of antidepressant medication with rTMS. Combining rTMS with SSRIs led to significantly lower depression scores, (SMD [CI] of-0.65 [-0.98,-0.31], p=0.0002, I2=66.1%), higher response (OR=0.97 [0.50, 1.44], p<0.0001, I2=25.33%) and remission rates (OR=1.04 [0.55, 1.52], p<0.0001, I2=0.00%) than medication with sham rTMS. No additive benefit was found for SNRIs with rTMS (SMD of 0.10 [-0.14, 0.34], p=0.42, I2=0.00%; OR=0.12 [-0.39, 0.62], p=0.64, I2=0.00%; OR=-0.31 [-0.90, 0.28], p=0.86, I2=39.9%). The overall risk of bias for the included studies ranged from low to high, with 1 study having a high risk of bias. The combination of rTMS with SSRIs, but not SNRIs, significantly reduced depression severity, increasing response and remission rates. Some analyses demonstrated high heterogeneity, which was influenced by an SSRI trial with a high effect size. Overall, these results suggest that not all antidepressant combination therapies are alike, and SSRIs should be considered when initiating rTMS. Donald T. Stuss Young Investigator Research Innovation Award from the Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery and the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation through the Sunnybrook Foundation.

Unveiling the effects of innovation awards on organizational innovations: comparison of bottom-up and top-down innovations

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the effects of innovation awards on subsequent innovation behaviors in organizations. Specifically, the authors investigate whether winning an external innovation award helps diffuse the award-winning innovations and develop additional innovation projects in the organization. Furthermore, the authors study the contextual influence of innovators’ organizational hierarchy on experiencing and using the winning consequence.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected survey data from clinics and hospitals that participated in a state-level innovation award program sponsored by a large health-care insurer and provider in Midwestern states. The authors tested the hypotheses using ordinary least squares regressions and supplemented the method with a post hoc analysis using Fisher’s least significant difference test.FindingsThe authors find that awards help a “bottom-up” innovation (i.e., an innovation initiated by a lower-level employee) disseminate at a larger scale due to award-bestowed legitimacy and reputation, whereas a “top-down” innovation (i.e., an innovation initiated by a top manager) does not experience the same benefit. On the other hand, the organizations that won the innovation award with a “top-down” innovation showed a higher number of additional innovation projects after winning, as manager–innovators experienced a boost in their confidence to engage in further innovation projects.Originality/valueThis paper offers a unique and nuanced examination of how innovation awards influence organizational innovation. By bridging literatures on awards and innovation, the authors propose the mechanisms through which innovation awards confer legitimacy and reputation upon the award winners and their innovations. Furthermore, the authors add insights into the recent academic interests in employee-driven innovation by showing the different benefits of innovation awards depending on the innovators’ organizational hierarchies.

Correction to: The 2024 ISCB Innovator Award—Dr Su-In Lee

Correction to: The 2024 ISCB Innovator Award—Dr Su-In Lee

Analysis of the Implementation of Re-Thinking Strategic Leadership in MSMEs for Sheet and Bed Cover Products in the City of Bandung

MSMEs in the bed linen industry often face challenges in increasingly tight market competition and changing consumer dynamics. To remain relevant and competitive in an ever-changing market, MSME leaders need to rethink their leadership strategies. Rethinking in this context includes re-evaluating business models, marketing strategies, production processes, and relationships with customers. MSME leaders need to consider new strategies that enable them to face challenges and exploit opportunities in the bedsheets industry. Based on the results of observations and in-depth interviews with MSME owners who produce bed sheets and bed covers in the Bandung area, it is clear that most of the MSME players who produce bed sheets and bed covers, especially the owners, in this case who are the leaders, have implemented re-thinking strategic leadership, especially those in the bed sheet business who produce on a large scale. . Re-thinking strategic leadership in this case means that MSME bed sheet and bed cover players have re-evaluated business models, marketing strategies, production processes and relationships with customers. MSME owners of bedsheet and bedcover products in Bandung have adopted various strategies to understand and adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. They use e-commerce and social media platforms, prioritize environmentally friendly products, adopt health protocols during the pandemic, and adjust production processes according to environmental regulations. Their strategic leadership drives adaptation through market research, product innovation, sales channel diversification, improved customer service, operational efficiency, collaboration, pricing flexibility, and human resource development. Additionally, they apply long-term thinking through SWOT analysis, market trend monitoring, competitor research, and data analysis. Team collaboration and engagement are also enhanced through cross-functional teams, open communication, shared goals, and collaborative rewards. Technology and innovation are encouraged with training, support systems, feedback loops, and innovation awards. Systemic thinking and leadership development is carried out through outreach, training, open communication, and feedback. These MSMEs also have risk awareness with appropriate risk analysis and risk mitigation as well as regular performance measurements for evaluation and strategy adjustments. MSME leaders are also considering new strategies that will enable them to face challenges and exploit opportunities in the bedsheets industry. MSME leaders in the bed linen industry have implemented strategic leadership to direct their business in a direction that is in line with the company's vision and mission. Strategic leadership involves making smart decisions, identifying market opportunities, managing risks, and developing long-term strategies. Even though the results obtained, not all MSMEs producing bed sheets are as expected.

Davor Kržišnik received the Viance Innovation Award at the International Research Group on Wood Protection Conference

Davor Kržišnik received the Viance Innovation Award at the International Research Group on Wood Protection Conference

Honoring the 2024 ACCC Innovator Award Winners at National Conference

Honoring the 2024 ACCC Innovator Award Winners at National Conference

The Regenerative Vanua Journey: Rekindling the Connection and Regeneration of Vanua through Regenerative Agritourism Experiences

Summary This case study explores the journey of the not-for-profit Regenerative Vanua, which is an organisation operating in the South Pacific and is responsible for research, training and development support for regenerative agritourism and regenerative landscapes. Since its inception, Regenerative Vanua has developed the Regenerative Agritourism Pathway Recognition Program and the Regenerative Agritourism Framework, and in 2022 was awarded the Islands Innovations Award for the programs piloted in Vanuatu. Regenerative Vanua is now collaborating with the Global Agritourism Network, the Pasifika Agritourism Network, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, Pacific Island Food Revolution, the European Union, the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, and the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research to apply what has been learned in Vanuatu throughout the Pacific Islands. The first Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium – held in Vanuatu in June 2024 – spotlights the incredible work being done in the Pacific and allows the world to see that it is Pacific Islanders who are helping to lead us all into a regenerative future. Information © The Authors 2024