Innovative Measures Research Articles

Assessing Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Latin America

ABSTRACTThe agricultural sector in Latin America plays a vital role in ensuring food security while impacting the environment. However, there remains a lack of analysis regarding the inputs responsible for pollution within its sub‐technologies. Hence, this article aims to assess agricultural green total factor productivity (TFP) through a novel decomposition of the Luenberger–Hicks–Moorsteen (LHM) indicator. Utilizing panel data from 23 Latin American countries covering the period from 2000 to 2019, our study reveals that green TFP has achieved a consistent annual growth rate of 0.71%. Specifically, technical efficiency change (TEC) accounts for 0.26% of the TFP, with the technical change component (TP) and scale efficiency change (SEC) contributing 0.74% and 0.30%, respectively. These findings suggest that Latin American countries have increasingly utilized agricultural inputs more efficiently over time. The results provide valuable insights for developing innovative measures and effective policy strategies to promote sustainability in the agricultural sector.

Edridge Green Lecture 2022-demystifying clinical trials and regulatory approvals in drug development.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of clinical trial design and regulatory pathways essential for drug development, specifically in the context of retinal diseases. Key concepts include trial structure, efficacy and safety endpoints, and regulatory expectations from agencies like the FDA. It delves into recent regulatory advancements, such as the inclusion of low-luminance vision as a secondary endpoint and analyses case studies from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) trials. Approvals for key retinal drugs, such as ranibizumab and aflibercept, treatments for AMD and diabetic macular oedema, are discussed highlighting criteria like the 15-letter gain/loss in visual acuity as approvable/clinical meaningful efficacy endpoints. Insights into geographic atrophy (GA) and diabetic retinopathy trials showcase the evolving landscape, where anatomical endpoints and new drugs bring fresh challenges and opportunities. It also emphasizes the importance of academic-industry collaboration, citing instances of gene therapy development and innovative endpoint measures like the Multi-Luminance Mobility Test for retinal dystrophies. The overarching aim of this lecture was to demystify the process that spans the design of clinical trials to regulatory approval of drugs so that clinicians understand these complexities. In particular, it is important to understand the reasons behind selection of trial design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary efficacy endpoints and safety endpoints. Since this lecture, there have been important changes in this field including new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as lessons learnt from recent drug approvals that are included in this manuscript.

Faith in Crisis: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of the Role of Faith Community Leaders and Faith Community Nurses in Balancing Public Health Guidance and Spiritual Leadership During COVID-19 in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare and community dynamics. This study explores the roles of faith community nurses and faith community leaders in Johnson City, Tennessee, during the pandemic. Using an ethnographic qualitative approach, we interviewed pastors, FCNs, and other FC leaders to understand their strategies and challenges. FCNs provided crucial health education and addressed vaccine hesitancy, while FC leaders navigated health guidance and spiritual care. The findings highlight innovative measures such as virtual services and health protocols. This study underscores the critical role of FCs in public health, indicating the potential benefit for health training for faith leaders to enhance community resilience.

Exploration and Practice of Innovative and Entrepreneurial Talent Training Model in Medical Colleges under the Background of “New Medicine”

Innovation and entrepreneurship education has become one of the important directions of higher education reform, but innovation and entrepreneurship education in medical colleges generally lags behind other discipline universities or comprehensive universities. Actively exploring the training mode of innovation and entrepreneurship talents is of great significance for cultivating innovative medical talents needed by the country and society. At present, innovation and entrepreneurship education in higher medical colleges is facing many challenges, the most important of which include the lack of concept in innovation and entrepreneurship education, medical students’ weak awareness of innovation and entrepreneurship, and poor construction of innovation and entrepreneurship teaching staff. To address these challenges, we will introduce incentive measures for innovation and entrepreneurship education at the college level, and improve the guarantee and incentive mechanisms for innovation and entrepreneurship education; create an “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Platform” for teachers and students to exchange ideas on innovation and entrepreneurship; start building a high-quality team of innovation and entrepreneurship teachers, promote the continuous improvement of the quality of innovation and entrepreneurship education, and ensure the quality of medical talent training.

Tracking innovation via green patent classification systems: Are we truly capturing circular economy progress?

The transition to a circular economy (CE) is integral to the European Green Deal, where green technologies improve circularity across the supply chain. Emerging green patent classification systems can be used for finding and identifying trends in green technologies, as well as for tracking CE progress. The lack of harmonization in these systems for green and CE patents is reflected in differences within the emerging literature and what constitutes a CE framework, where metrics are overly-narrow. This creates challenges for strategic patent management in fostering CE innovation.This study evaluates how well patent classifications can be used to measure innovation in green technologies at the global level, and to indicate CE progress via these technologies at the European Union level. By comparing the International Patent Classification (IPC) system’s Green Inventory with the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, particularly the Y02W class (Climate Change Mitigation Technologies related to wastewater treatment or waste management) used by the EU, we first qualitatively establish the CPC has advantages in comprehensiveness, granularity, and lower risk of misclassification. Next, through an analysis of 1,634 patent abstracts within CPC Y02W filed from 2015-2021, we empirically assess the alignment between each of the 25 patent classes and the EU's 9 CE indicators, using Jacquard similarity index scoring (SIS) and ANOVA statistical tests for significance. We finally subsequently compare these abstracts with the 10 R-imperatives as a CE framework, also using keyword extraction.We identify gaps in the representation of certain CE indicators, and find that that some non-technological R-initiatives, such as repair and remanufacture, may be better captured by other CPC Y02 classes not currently included in EU monitoring. The study concludes that while the CPC Y02-tags provide a more detailed measure of green technology innovation globally and CE progress within the EU, further research is needed to refine the classification systems and ensure comprehensive monitoring of CE progress, particularly regarding non-technological innovations.

Probing the depths: assessing the efficacy of the two-tier deception-driven security model

In the age characterized by relentless cyber threats, the need for innovative and proactive security measures has never been more important. Deception is defined as the deliberate structure of tricks, traps, and false information to mislead and discourage threats, while providing timely warning signals and useful information to defenders. The two-tier deception-driven security model's implementation focuses on applying deception security techniques to deceive potential attackers and protect network resources, with an emphasis on a proactive defense approach. The study emphasized the deployment and deep testing of the model, which aims to assess its efficacy and feasibility in real-time practice. The study shows that the two-layered approach effectively defends the network within the multiple layers using a combination of decoys, honeypots, and deceptive network segments. The deception security model effectively prevents and confuses potential threats, improving the network's overall resilience and threat defense capabilities. The findings suggest that integrating deception techniques into cybersecurity frameworks can provide a robust layer of protection against evolving cyber threats. Furthermore, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on proactive cybersecurity strategies and offers practical insights for improving network defense mechanisms.

An integrated system theoretic accident model and process (STAMP)-Bayesian network (BN) for safety analysis of water mist system on tanker ships

A water mist on tanker ships is a specialized fire suppression system intended to mitigate fire hazards on board. This innovative safety measure disperses microscopic water droplets, creating a mist that rapidly absorbs heat and suppresses fires by reducing oxygen levels and cooling the surrounding area autonomously. This paper attempts to perform a comprehensive safety analysis of the water mist system on a tanker ship under the system theoretic accident model and process (STAMP) and Bayesian network (BN) robust modeling, which is capable of presenting a dynamic structure comprising complex elements. In the paper, whilst the STAMP is utilized to determine failure scenarios by establishing a hierarchical control and feedback model structure, the BN quantifies the probabilities of potential failures based on the outcomes of STAMP. A water mist system in tanker ships is analyzed under STAMP-BN modeling since it is an essential part of the ship, including an advanced system comprising elements of human, software, and hardware. The research results indicate that the failure probability of the water mist system has a failure probability of 3.93E-02. Besides its robust theoretical background, the research findings will provide a helpful reference for maritime safety managers, safety inspectors, technical inspectors, HSEQ managers, and ship crew on improving fire-fighting safety in tanker ships.

Ontological perception of a smart unified organizational compliance model to mitigate financial risk and promote sustainability in the manufacturing sector

This research intends to find out the compliance acts based on the manufacturing industry of Bangladesh and lead to the development of the integrated theory of compliance model. There are several compliance regulations, that are separately dealt with in any manufacturing organization. These compliance regulations are handled at various ends of the organization making the process quite scattered, time-consuming, and tedious. To fix this problem, the integration of organizational compliance regulations is brought under one platform. Researchers have applied the qualitative approach with multiple case studies methodology scrutinizing the in-depth interviews and transcripts. Furthermore, the NVIVO tool has been used to analyze, where the necessary themes of the Organizational Compliance Regulations are found. Therefore, we have proposed a conceptual framework to inaugurate a standalone combined framework, which is an innovative and novel measure.

High-precision non-contact online measurement and predictive analysis of geometric parameters in large industrial components

Obtaining precise geometric parameters is fundamental in industry but often proves challenging, particularly for large-scale and irregularly shaped industrial components. This study introduces an innovative measurement method enabling precise determination of chord length, arc length, and curvature radius in curved sections of such components, even within dynamic industrial environments. Our solution relies on the implementation of a LiDAR sensor and the utilization of data processing techniques, including outlier detection and removal, as well as customized digital filters. Additionally, we incorporate analytic geometry to address specific measurement challenges. Finally, Machine Learning techniques were applied to forecast time series data of the measurements. The proposed system was validated in a real-world wind turbine tower manufacturing environment, comparing them with manual measurements performed by experienced operators. This validation confirms its effectiveness of our approach, achieving the industry-required minimum tolerances of 5 millimeters, where precise geometric data acquisition is crucial to ensure product quality.

Enhancing smart readiness of buildings: bridging the knowledge gap to European citizens

ABSTRACT This study delves into the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), an innovative measure designed to assess and enhance the smart capabilities of buildings across Europe. Addressing the critical question, ‘How can the SRI be effectively documented, made more accessible to European citizens, continuously monitored, and financially supported to enhance its adoption and under-standing?’ This research aims to bridge the gap between the conceptual framework of SRI and its practical implementation for the benefit of European citizens. The study introduces the SRI FAQ Initiative, a pivotal effort aimed at demystifying the SRI through the compilation and dissemination of essential questions and answers. The establishment of the SRI Observatory is another significant outcome, documenting the ongoing development of SRI and providing annual out-looks for future advancements. The research employs a multifaceted methodology, incorporating field research, extensive literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and both digital and roundtable discussions.

A Study on Innovation Strategies to Wards Post Sales Services with Reference to -Hyundai

The study on innovative strategies towards after-sale support pertaining to Hyundai highlights the company's comprehensive approach to enhancing client contentment as well as loyalty through various innovative measures. Hyundai has implemented a multifaceted strategy that integrates advanced technologies, customer-centric services, and strategic partnerships to redefine the post-sales experience. Hyundai's Strategy 2025 roadmap is a cornerstone of its post-sales service innovation, focusing on transforming the company becoming a Provider of Smart Mobility Solutions. This strategy emphasizes the integration of Intelligent Mobility Equipment and Smart Mobility Services, aiming to offer personalized and seamless mobility experiences. Hyundai plans to leverage data analytics and car connectivity to provide tailored services, including maintenance, repair, financing, insurance, and charging, thereby enhancing customer value and satisfaction

The physical and virtual presence of the local state and citizens’ life satisfaction in urbanising China

China’s rapid and ongoing urbanisation has led to the expansion of the local state. The state, traditionally exhibited as physical institutions of government, has emerged virtually in recent years based on intricate network infrastructure systems, such as social media platforms. Scholars contend that a strong physical state infrastructure enhances government function and can increase citizens’ life satisfaction; in contrast, the state’s virtual presence is unlikely to exert a substantial independent impact because of its reliance on the state’s physical infrastructure. In this research, we calibrated innovative measures of the state’s physical and virtual presence. Combined with data from the 2018 Urbanisation and Quality of Life Survey conducted in 40 sampling sites undergoing rural–urban transition, we further assessed how the local state’s physical and virtual presence is associated with citizens’ self-reported life satisfaction in the context of China’s national new-type urbanisation. Our results, based on three-level mixed-effects regressions, indicate that the local state’s bricks-and-mortar institutions do not correlate with citizens’ life satisfaction; rather, the establishment of a web-based, cost-effective, transparent, and coordinated virtual presence is associated with a higher level of life satisfaction among citizens. At a time when the Chinese central government emphasises its commitment to ‘people-centred’ urbanisation, the findings offer insight into the strategies that local governments could employ to improve governance quality and enhance citizens’ well-being.

Design of an Innovative Method for Measuring the Contractile Behavior of Engineered Tissues.

Hypertrophic scarring is a common complication in severely burned patients who undergo autologous skin grafting. Meshed skin grafts tend to contract during wound healing, increasing the risk of pathological scarring. Although various technologies have been used to study cellular contraction, current methods for measuring contractile forces at the tissue level are limited and do not replicate the complexity of native tissues. Self-assembled skin substitutes (SASSs) were developed at the "Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX" and are used as permanent full-thickness skin grafts. The autologous skin substitutes are produced using the self-assembly method, allowing the cultured cells to produce their extracellular matrix leading to a tissue-engineered substitute resembling the native skin. The level of contraction of the SASSs during the fabrication process is patient-dependent. Thus, because of its architecture and composition, SASS is an interesting model to study skin contraction in vitro. Unfortunately, standard measurement methods are unsuited for SASS contraction assessment, mainly due to incompatibilities between the SASS manufacturing process and the current contraction force measurement methods. Here, we present an innovative contraction measurement method specifically designed to quantify the contractile behavior of tissue-engineered substitutes, without disrupting the protocol of production. The method uses C-shape anchoring frames that close at different speeds and magnitudes according to the tissue contractile behavior. A finite element analysis model is then used to associate the frame deformation to a contractile force amplitude. This article shows that the method can be used to measure the contraction force of tissues produced with cells displaying different contractile properties, such as primary skin fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. It can also be used to study the effects of cell culture conditions on tissue contraction, such as serum concentration. This protocol can be easily and affordably applied and tuned to many regenerative medicine applications or contraction-related pathological studies. Impact Statement The protocol presented in this article is a new and simple method to quantify contraction forces present in tissue-engineered substitutes. Using finite element analysis, it allows for the measurement of a contraction force rather than a surface reduction as usually provided by other tissue contraction measurement methods. The results shown are in correlation with the current literature relevant to tissue contraction. It can be easily implemented, and hence, this method will open up new avenues to study tissue contraction of living substitutes engineered with various cell types and to optimize culture conditions.

INOVAÇÕES NA CORREÇÃO DE MANIFESTAÇÕES PATOLÓGICAS EM EDIFÍCIOS: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA.

Buildings must provide the user with physical and visual comfort, in addition to structural safety. However, it is common for pathological manifestations to appear at any stage of construction or use of the building. In order to indicate appropriate therapy, it is necessary to know the origin of the problem whose study procedures are part of the branch of Building Pathology. The main instructional methods that professionals involved in the area validate are specified in the IBAPE National Building Inspection Standard, which establishes criteria and procedures related to building inspection. In the search to solve such problems, innovative measures found in Brazil. In this sense, this study aimed to present innovative measures aimed at correcting pathological manifestations in buildings. In the methodology used, it is an integrative review of the literature, based on scientific articles, periodicals and current legislation on the respective topic. Data collection was carried out through databases such as Scielo, Google Scholar, among others, from 2019 to 2023. In the results, it was evident that the correction of pathological manifestations in buildings is a vital area in civil engineering and in construction, focusing on the identification, analysis and resolution of structural and functional problems that arise over time. Innovation in this field can significantly improve the durability, safety and functionality of buildings..

Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Patient Reported Outcome: A cognitively accessible measure of functional performance.

To evaluate the structural validity, internal reliability, and measurement invariance of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Patient Reported Outcome (PEDI-PRO), a measure of functional performance of discrete tasks required to participate in everyday life situations important for adulthood. This was a cross-sectional study with 306 young people aged 14 to 22 years (mean 18 years 10 months, SD 2 years 5 months) with developmental disabilities (43.1% autism spectrum disorder only, 23.9% intellectual disability, 17.6% other disability, 11.4% both autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, 3.9% missing) completed the PEDI-PRO. Following COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) criteria, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis, applied a Rasch rating-scale model, examined Cronbach's alpha, Rasch person reliability and separation coefficients, and differential item functioning (DIF). Structural validity was good for the daily activities and mobility domains, and acceptable for the social/cognitive domain. The 3-point Likert response scale functioned as intended. All domains demonstrated acceptable internal consistency on all criteria. One or two items in each domain demonstrated DIF, but the impact on all domain scores was less than 1.0 threshold. The cognitively accessible design and innovative conceptual measurement framework probably contributed to these promising findings. The PEDI-PRO addresses a gap in high-quality patient-reported outcome measures that assess priority outcomes for young people with developmental disabilities.

Editorial: Innovation measurement for scientific communication (IMSC) in the era of big data

Editorial: Innovation measurement for scientific communication (IMSC) in the era of big data

Intricate roles of estrogen and estrogen receptors in digestive system cancers: a systematic review.

Gender disparities are evident across different types of digestive system cancers, which are typically characterized by a lower incidence and mortality rate in females compared to males. This finding suggests a potential protective role of female steroid hormones, particularly estrogen, in the development of these cancers. Estrogen is a well-known sex hormone that not only regulates the reproductive system but also exerts diverse effects on non-reproductive organs mediated through interactions with estrogen receptors (ERs), including the classic (ERα and ERβ) and non-traditional ERs [G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER)]. Recent advances have contributed to our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying ERs in digestive system cancers. In this comprehensive review we summarize the current understanding of the intricate roles played by estrogen and ERs in the major types of digestive system cancers, including hepatocellular, pancreatic, esophageal, gastric, and colorectal carcinoma. Furthermore, we discuss the potential molecular mechanisms underlying ERα, ERβ, and GPER effects, and propose perspectives on innovative therapies and preventive measures targeting the pathways regulated by estrogen and ERs. The roles of estrogen and ERs in digestive system cancers are complicated and depend on the cell type and tissue involved. Additionally, deciphering the intricate roles of estrogen, ERs, and the associated signaling pathways may guide the discovery of novel and tailored therapeutic and preventive strategies for digestive system cancers, eventually improving the care and clinical outcomes for the substantial number of individuals worldwide affected by these malignancies.

State Regulation of Employment in Kazakhstan: Labor Market and Ways of Development

State regulation of population employment (hereinafter – SREP) is critical in ensuring national stability and prosperity. The present study aims to explore avenues for enhancing SREP in Kazakhstan and formulate actionable implementation proposals. The methodology employed encompasses scientific abstraction, comparative analysis through induction and deduction, communication analysis, statistical data analysis, and an integrated approach to generate comprehensive insights. The study reveals a 1-3% increase in the workforce and self-employed individuals over the past three years, which signifies moderate but consistent growth in labor participation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary 2% rise in unemployment in 2022, a setback followed by a reduction to 1% by the end of 2023, indicating a gradual improvement in labor market conditions. The study proposes innovative measures aimed at fostering job creation, especially in emerging sectors such as information technology and the “green” economy, emphasizing the need for strategic investment in these areas. Furthermore, recommendations are provided to support entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are pivotal for sustainable employment growth. The findings of this research indicate that the proposed measures have the potential to enhance employment levels and contribute to overall economic growth significantly. The contribution of this study lies in identifying effective strategies for further development and enhancement of SREP to increase employment opportunities and promote economic resilience in Kazakhstan. Future research will examine the impact of legislative changes on employment, the implications of automation and digitalization, and provide a comparative analysis of successful international employment regulation practices.

Similarity measure for complex non-linear Diophantine fuzzy hypersoft set and its application in pattern recognition

As a hybrid fuzzy extension of the complex non-linear Diophantine fuzzy set, the complex non-linear Diophantine fuzzy hypersoft set was developed by fusing it with the hypersoft set. To address multi-sub-attributed real-world similarity problems within complex non-linear Diophantine fuzzy ambiance, this study proposes distance measures and five innovative similarity measures such as Jaccard similarity measure, exponential similarity measure, cosine similarity measure, similarity measure based on cos function, and similarity measure based on cot function for complex non-linear Diophantine fuzzy hypersoft set. Furthermore, based on proposed similarity measures, a highly effective algorithm is provided for handling decision-making issues exquisitely in the pattern recognition field, along with an illustrative example of mineral identification. Then, to demonstrate the validity, reliability, robustness, and superiority of the proposed notion and algorithm, a detailed comparative study with proper discussion has been presented in the study.

Carbon Neutral Strategies in the Case of Google Inc: A Case Study of Carbon Offset Mechanisms and Renewable Energy Projects

Abstract: Facing the serious challenge of global climate change, Google Inc. has adopted a series of innovative strategies to reduce its carbon footprint and promote corporate sustainability. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of how Google reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainable development through a series of innovative measures, including large-scale investment in renewable energy, improving data center efficiency, implementing carbon offset projects, and promoting technological innovation in the field of transportation. These actions demonstrate Google's commitment to environmental protection and provide a model for other companies to follow. The study evaluated the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of Google's strategies through a cost-benefit analysis. The results show that despite technical challenges and market uncertainty, Google's environmental investments can bring significant economic benefits in the long term while having a positive impact on the environment. These strategies help Google achieve its carbon neutrality goals and provide momentum for the global transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of socio-cultural factors in promoting environmental strategies. Google has raised public awareness of climate change and enhanced social support for environmental actions through community involvement and educational programs. These findings reveal the need for companies to adopt environmental protection measures in the context of globalization and provide practical guidance for other organizations to implement sustainable development strategies.