Innovative Concept Research Articles

Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a common, potentially life-threatening obstetric complication and a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for over a quarter of maternal deaths. Effective treatment largely depends on early recognition of hemorrhage and prompt medical intervention. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to present current knowledge about PPH, predict its occurrence, and implement appropriate treatment. Analyzing current information, understanding risk factors, and recognizing PPH can prevent many maternal deaths in the future. Materials and methods: A systematic review of scientific and medical literature from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Results: PPH remains a serious global mortality issue. In recent years, many studies have described the challenges in diagnosing and treating PPH. Innovative treatment concepts have been presented, and knowledge of various novel methods can provide clinicians with alternatives that can be applied as a last resort in hemorrhage cases that do not respond to conventional methods. Conclusions: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is still a serious obstetric complication. Innovative approaches and research on diagnostic and therapeutic methods allow for the refinement of guidelines, the establishment of international protocols, and actions that lead to quicker diagnoses and more appropriate responses.

Producer Welfare Benefits of Rating Area Yield Crop Insurance

Index-based insurance is an innovative concept for evaluating agricultural risks and payouts, which uses an index instead of traditional on-site loss assessment. Area yield insurance, as an index-based approach, is an effective strategy to mitigate moral hazard and adverse selection issues. This study aims to develop area yield insurance as a new insurance plan in Iran for two major crops: wheat and barley. It utilized kernel and joint kernel distributions to price the insurance and assessed producer welfare benefits by comparing the certainty equivalence (CE) of farmers’ utility with and without the policy. Data were collected from East Azerbaijan Province, including county-level yield data for irrigated and rainfed wheat and barley from 1975 to 2019 and 446 individual-level yield data from 2015 to 2019. A two-stage method was used to model yield risk: the first stage fits a trend model, while the second estimates the yield distributions with the detrended data. The results showed a significant difference in premiums calculated by the two distributions, with joint kernel distribution offering the best empirical fit and reasonable premiums. The findings indicate that area yield crop insurance provides positive welfare benefits and should serve as a viable alternative or complement to existing yield insurance plans. The successful implementation of this policy in various countries suggests it can be a suitable risk management program for developing countries like Iran.

Physical performance, durability, and carbon emissions of recycled cement concrete and fully recycled concrete

This study introduces innovative concepts for closed-loop recycling waste concrete to produce fully recycled concrete (FRC). Multiple test methods and characterization techniques were used to evaluate the physical properties and durability of four types of concrete (normal concrete, recycled aggregate concrete, recycled cement concrete and FRC). The fresh density, compressive strength, ultrasonic characteristics, chloride resistance, water adsorption properties, carbonation behaviors, and microstructure characteristics of these concretes were investigated. The water absorption behavior of FRC can be divided into three stages, with the initial stage having a water absorption rate three times that of ordinary concrete. It was found that carbonation depth varied among different concrete types, influenced by binder quality, which can affect the porosity and mechanical properties. Overall, recycled cement concrete and FRC demonstrate considerable potential for reducing carbon emissions, with total emissions of 59.152 kgCO2/m3, representing an 85 % reduction compared to ordinary concrete.

A millimetre-scale capacitive biosensing and biophysical stimulation system for emerging bioelectronic bone implants.

Bioelectronic bone implants are being widely recognized as a promising technology for highly personalized bone/implant interface sensing and biophysical therapeutic stimulation. Such bioelectronic devices are based on an innovative concept with the ability to be applied to a wide range of implants, including in fixation and prosthetic systems. Recently, biointerface sensing using capacitive patterns was proposed to overcome the limitations of standard imaging technologies and other non-imaging technologies; moreover, electric stimulation using capacitive patterns was proposed to overcome the limitations of non-instrumented implants. We here provide an innovative low-power miniaturized electronic system with ability to provide both therapeutic stimulation and bone/implant interface monitoring using network-architectured capacitive interdigitated patterns. It comprises five modules: sensing, electric stimulation, processing, communication and power management. This technology was validated using in vitro tests: concerning the sensing system, its ability to detect biointerface changes ranging from tiny to severe bone-implant interface changes in target regions was validated; concerning the stimulation system, its ability to significantly enhance bone cells' full differentiation, including matrix maturation and mineralization, was also confirmed. This work provides an impactful contribution and paves the way for the development of the new generation of orthopaedic biodevices.

Authoritarian innovations: a fresh perspective on the state's role in labour governance

How do we understand the efforts of governments across the political spectrum to undermine trade unions in ways that do not involve overt repression? This article introduces a special issue that examines this question through the lens of authoritarian innovations, a political science concept that draws analytical attention to practices that purport to embody democratic principles but actually undermine democratic participation. As applied to the labour and industrial relations field, the concept of authoritarian innovations refers to new governance practices that appear to advance labour rights but, in fact, weaken or subvert workers’ genuine, democratic and collective participation in the workplace, in labour institutions, and in the broader polity. As this article argues, this concept allows us to move beyond broad-brush assessments of the labour governance practices associated with different kinds of political regimes to a recognition that democratic and authoritarian states alike may act in ways that appear democratic but are, in reality, quite the opposite.

Brexit and labour governance: Authoritarian innovations in the United Kingdom

The concept of authoritarian innovations encourages a focus on authoritarian change at the meso-level of governance. At the same time, this article argues that such meso-level change can be best understood by taking into account macro-level (authoritarian) developments. In the UK, Brexit has generated a broader macro-level authoritarian innovation, creating cumulative effects at the level of politics, governance and jurisdiction. This macro-level development is reflected in authoritarian innovation at the meso-level of labour governance. The article first explains how Brexit relates to three key drivers for authoritarian innovations in labour governance, namely, general authoritarian inclination, neoliberal policy and electoral populist motivations. It then analyses the main authoritarian innovations in labour governance adopted since Brexit, namely, the approach to the legacy of EU protective standards and new policy measures limiting the right to strike. Using a discourse on democracy, acting against the ‘undemocratic EU’ and relying on ‘the referendum mandate’, UK governance post-Brexit is characterised by reducing pluralist processes and even parliamentary debate, enabling these authoritarian innovations. At the same time, due to the inherent contradictory forces inspiring Brexit, the long-term impact of Brexit on labour governance will likely remain modest.

“Fiddler on the Roof ” as a Tool for Teaching About How Religions Change Through Time

ABSTRACTThis article reflects on the difficulty that many students have in appreciating that religions change over time. It describes an assignment that can be used to teach this important religious literacy skill. The assignment focuses on changing norms on courtship, marriage, and family formation in Jewish communities at two different times and two different places. Students reflect on norms in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia at the turn‐of‐the century using the film version of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. They then view a documentary about the making and reception of the musical that centers the social movements of 1960s America, and they also read secondary literature on changing marriage norms in turn‐of‐the century Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and in 20th century Jewish communities in America. The assignment turns on concepts of tradition and innovation, showing how often innovation plays a role in things deemed “traditional”.

Defining Innovation: A Comprehensive Analysis of Types, Levels, and Strategic Interactions

Background: This article explores the multifaceted concept of innovation, examining its various forms— product, process, market, organizational, technological, and paradigm - and their interactions across different levels, including individual, organizational, sectoral, national, and international. The study highlights the critical role of innovation as a driver of economic and social development, particularly in the digital age where technological change is rapid and pervasive. Materials and Methods: This literature review systematically analyzes the synergies between different types and levels of innovation, exploring how these combinations can amplify organizational and market impacts, ultimately fostering a sustainable competitive advantage. Results: The findings highlight that innovation rarely occurs in isolation; rather, it emerges from complex interrelations that significantly enhance its overall effectiveness. These interactions are pivotal in driving successful innovation outcomes. Conclusion: This review contributes to a deeper understanding of innovation by synthesizing insights from various studies, offering valuable implications for both academic research and business practices.

Toward a solution to retailer food waste? Influences of ordinary transgression on symbolic associations and the relationship with the brand

While the concept of transgression is clearly of interest in marketing literature, its “ordinary” nature remains largely unknown. Yet, in the face of societal challenges, ordinary acts of transgression by brands are becoming increasingly common. This article focuses on the innovative concept of auto-transgression. It examines the case of a supermarket breaking with its own distribution standards to reduce food waste. A study carried out in collaboration with a national chain (896 consumers) shows that, although socially engaging, transgression can ultimately have a negative effect on brand relations. The ambivalence of its contrasting influence on symbolic associations – loss of legitimacy and gain of enterprising character – makes it necessary to think strategically in order to encourage the positive associations of these new, more virtuous standards, particularly those affecting food consumption.

On the Potential of Manufacturing Multi-Material Components With Micro/Nanocellular Structures Via the Hybrid Process of Electromagnetic Forming Injection Foaming

Abstract Multimaterial design with a combination of solid and foam structures offers a promising avenue for reducing component weight while enhancing their functionalities. However, the complexity of multistage manufacturing processes poses significant challenges to adopting such approaches. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an innovative concept known as Electromagnetic Forming Injection Foaming (EFIF), which integrates injection molding, forming, and foaming processes into a single hybrid process. This process begins with a simultaneous filling-forming phase, followed by supercritical fluid (SCF) assisted foaming controlled by electromagnetic forming. Through a series of experimental and analytical studies, this work investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of EFIF. First, the impact of pressure drop rate and pressure drop on cell size and density is examined through a specialized experimental setup enabling performing injection, forming, and foaming processes in a single operation. The potential influence of electromagnetic forming on foam injection molding is explored through experiments focusing on the effects of a polymer layer between sheet metal blank and the electromagnetic coils. Additionally, an analytical study evaluates the EFIF process by calculating expected pressure drop rates under different processing conditions and their influence on cell nucleation rates. The results showed the possibility of achieving pressure drop rates up to 1.5 × 105 bar/sec, resulting in nucleation rates up to 1.77 × 109 nuclei/cm3sec. Overall, this paper highlights the potential of EFIF to merge existing technologies into a scalable solution for manufacturing multimaterial components with micro- to nanocellular polymer foams.

Expected value of generalized trapezoidal bipolar fuzzy number to solve a multi-item marketing planning inventory model with allowable shortages

Decision makers often grapple with the complexity of multi-faceted real-life problems, where uncertainty arises from both positive and negative states of mind. This duality reflects the decision maker’s optimistic and pessimistic perspectives during the decision-making process. To address this, our paper introduces innovative concepts and frameworks for generalized bipolar trapezoidal fuzzy numbers.We propose novel arithmetic operations on these fuzzy numbers, computing the negative α-cut and positive β-cut methods. Furthermore, we uniquely compute the convex combination of expected values from both the positive and negative membership parts.These theoretical advancements are applied to a practical case study: a multi-item marketing planning inventory model with allowable shortages. Our proposed method’s efficacy is highlighted through detailed numerical illustrations, sensitivity analyses and comparative studies complemented by compelling graphical presentations

From Angiosomal to Bi-Angiosomal and Extra-Angiosomal Pedicled Perforator Flaps: Optimizing the Use of Local Tissues in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

The use of free-style and propeller perforator-based flaps has been popularized for the reconstruction of moderate size defects in the trunk and extremities, while their application in the field of abdominal reconstruction is seldom reported. The purpose of this report is to describe the authors experience with the use of pedicled perforator-based flaps in abdominal wall reconstruction, presenting the innovative concept of transition from angiosomal to bi-angiosomal and extra-angiosomal perforator flaps and showing applications of the different flap designs according to the multiple clinical scenarios. A total of 15 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with angiosomal, bi-angiosomal, and extra-angiosomal pedicled perforator-based flaps harvested from the surrounding abdominal subunits for superficial or full thickness defects of the abdominal wall of moderate and large dimensions. The defects were consequent to soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) resection in 11 and 4 cases, respectively. Operative data, post-operative course, and complications were recorded. Moreover, at 12 months follow-up, patients were asked to rate the esthetic and functional outcomes of the reconstructive procedure on a 5-point Likert scale. Ten angiosomal perforator flaps (4 DIEP, 4 SCIP, 1 SEAP, and 1 LICAP flaps) and 5 bi-angiosomal and extra-angiosomal conjoined perforator flaps including different vascular territories (3 bilateral DIEP, 1 bilateral SEAP, and 1 ipsilateral DIEP-SEAP flap) were successfully transferred in 15 patients. In two patients, microsurgical anastomoses were performed to guarantee proper vascularization of the additional cutaneous territory. Mean age was 59.3 years. Defect sizes ranged from 98 to 408 cm2 (mean size was 194.7 cm2). Mean operative time was 280 min. Flap surface ranged from 108 to 336 cm2 (mean surface was 209.3 cm2). No major complications were registered. One bi-angiosomal bilateral DIEP flap suffered from partial necrosis and required an additional flap reconstruction. All patients underwent a 12-month follow-up except one, who did not show for clinical follow-up but responded at the Likert scale at clinical follow-up at 9 months. Overall patients' satisfaction was high, with mean esthetic and functional ratings of 4.27 and 3.87. The use of local tissues is an under-utilized solution in the field of abdominal wall reconstruction. Angiosomal, bi-angiosomal, and extra-angiosomal perforator flaps proved to be a reliable option to provide the transfer of a significant amount of tissue and offer like with like reconstruction while maximizing flap survival.

How to stay competitive: An innovative concept to assess the business competitiveness using online restaurant reviews

Nowadays customers would make decisions by reading online reviews and comparing differences in restaurants before visiting. Therefore how restaurants take advantage from such information is important to attract customers and stay competitive. Many researchers believe that increasing business performance could improve competitiveness. However, with changing customer requirements and business environment, it is challenging to understand which attributes matter the most to customers and how to improve considering competitors. Therefore this study proposed assessing restaurant competitiveness using online reviews. After crawling 38,479 online reviews employing Python, deep learning-based BERT is developed to measure attribute performance and understand the competitiveness through McKinsey Matrix. Then, the competitiveness was analyzed from a temporal dynamic view to present how attributes are changing importance. Notably, the asymmetric effects between attribute performance and satisfaction were considered. Results demonstrated encouraging accuracy in measuring restaurant competitiveness and explained how asymmetric McKinsey Matrix could help formulate efficient competitiveness enhancement strategies.

Design of metamaterial thermoelectric generators for efficient energy harvesting

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are widely recognized as clean energy solutions that can convert low-grade waste heat into electricity through a temperature gradient. Despite their significant potential, challenges such as low conversion efficiency and high costs have limited their practical applications. In this paper, we present an innovative metamaterial design concept for TEGs with significantly improved efficiency. A Finite Element Model is validated using Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 bulk samples fabricated via the drop-cast method. This model can predict open-circuit voltage and output power as a function of an arbitrary metamaterial design using the commercial software ANSYS®. Four different metastructure designs, including 2D Triangular Honeycomb, Re-entrant, body-centered cubic (BCC), and triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures, are systematically investigated. Through experiments and numerical analysis, the effects of annealing temperature, porosity, and unit cell numbers (UCNs) on the performance of TE legs are explored. It is found that 2D Triangular Honeycomb and BCC structures outperform other configurations due to their capacity to maintain a higher thermal gradient. Optimizing their porosity and UCNs can further enhance the output power. Compared to the traditional designs with bulk TE legs, implementing a 2D metastructure design with 30 % porosity and UCNs of 4 × 4 × 4 can lead to approximately a 100 % increase in power output.

EnergyShare AI: Transforming P2P energy trading through advanced deep learning

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is an innovative concept poised to transform energy demand management and utilization. EnergyShare AI is a powerful peer-to-peer energy exchange system that operates on a P2P model that integrates advanced machine learning with distributed energy sharing. This paper presents EnergyShare AI, a technology that connects consumers and prosumers through solar arrays, energy storage systems (ESS), and electric vehicles (EVs). Using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithms, Energy Share AI significantly improves energy management efficiency and substantially reduces costs. Our approach offers several advantages over traditional linear integer programming models, particularly in optimizing bidirectional energy transfer involving EVs and highlighting the critical role of ESS and photovoltaic (PV) systems in facilitating efficient P2P energy trading. Our research results show that successful P2P exchange can lead to significant cost savings and improved sustainability, thereby increasing the amount of energy transferred between different household profiles and stages of human development.

Mapping the Landscape of Global Anticancer Organometallics Research: A Systematic Review

Aim: Due to interdisciplinary research, many innovative concepts have been merged that seemed to be impractical. Recently, medicinal organometallic chemistry has made remarkable progress, but the latency of these compounds has not been fully exploited. This systematic review has examined the published literature on anticancer organometallic chemistry across countries, science fields, and organizations involved in organometallics research for cancer. Method: The study data related to anticancer organometallics were searched from Scopus between 2085 and 2022. Biblioshiny and VOS Viewers were used to analyze and visualize patterns in scientific literature derived from Scopus. Results: Publications on organometallic compounds have been found to contribute to, on average, 1.02% per year, accounting for 94.3% of the total scholarly work published in the last two decades since 2003. However, research productivity has been found to be steadily improved, with 81.5% of all publications produced between 2011 and 2022. The countries possessing the highest published work have been found to be China, the UK, and Germany. The leading institutions, the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have topped the list of organizations with the most publications. Although the use of medicinal organometallics for cancer has become widespread over the last two decennaries, there has been a notable influx of groundbreaking scientific publications in recent years. Conclusion: The findings of this study may enable researchers to envision potential future scenarios for scientific collaborations involving the utilization of organometallics in the treatment of cancer. This study may provide aspiring and current researchers with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively pursue their research endeavors for scientific collaborations investigating the use of anticancer organometallics in the medicinal field. The areas, such as ruthenium with reactive oxygen species and angiogenesis, represent opportunities for future investigation and innovation.

Near-zero emission trigeneration system coupling molten salt methane pyrolysis with solid oxide fuel cell based on carbon capture and utilization: Thermodynamic and exergoenvironmental evaluation

Natural gas-based energy systems have garnered widespread attention for their potential to facilitate the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources. Among these, methane pyrolysis technology stands out as a promising pathway. Consequently, a novel methanol-electricity-carbon trigeneration system featuring methane pyrolysis coupled with chemical looping combustion, methanol synthesis, and solid oxide fuel cell unit was designed. To validate this innovative concept, thermodynamic model of the process was developed. Compared to conventional single-generation system, the proposed system demonstrated superior thermodynamic performance, with energy efficiency of 69.51 %, representing improvement of 28.78 %. Sensitivity analysis indicated that optimal carbon utilization-to-storage ratio of 0.68 effectively balanced environmental benefits with energy conversion efficiency. Additionally, the CO2 capture rate and emission of the proposed system reached impressive 99.24 % and 2.15 kg/MWh, respectively, confirming its carbon mitigation potential. Based on this, exergoenvironmental analysis demonstrated that rb,k of the novel system was 21.14 %, indicating room for further environmental impact reduction. Moreover, due to the high rb,k of 16.61 % for the preheater-2 identified as a key component for optimization. Finally, the economic analysis verified the system’s feasibility, showing the annual net income of 6774.06 k$. This novel concept highlights the potential of natural gas-based systems in optimizing carbon utilization and energy efficiency, contributing to a more environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure.

STREΑMING: A Comprehensive Approach to Inclusive STEM Education

This article introduces the innovative concept of STREAMING, which integrates Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, A.I, Mathematics, Intelligence & Emotional Intelligence, Inclusion, and Gamification to create a comprehensive and inclusive educational framework. By examining existing literature, this narrative review highlights the potential of STREMING to enhance educational practices and ensure equal opportunities for all students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Key findings from various studies emphasize the effectiveness of inclusive STEM high schools, the benefits of integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and the impact of gamification on student engagement and learning outcomes. The review demonstrates that STREAMING can foster a more inclusive, engaging, and effective educational environment, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex and technologically advanced society.

Multi-scaling allometry in human development, mammalian morphology, and tree growth

Various animal and plant species exhibit allometric relationships among their respective traits, wherein one trait undergoes expansion as a power-law function of another due to constraints acting on growth processes. For instance, the acknowledged consensus posits that tree height scales with the two-thirds power of stem diameter. In the context of human development, it is posited that body weight scales with the second power of height. This prevalent allometric relationship derives its nomenclature from fitting two variables linearly within a logarithmic framework, thus giving rise to the term “power-law relationship.” Here, we challenge the conventional assumption that a singular power-law equation adequately encapsulates the allometric relationship between any two traits. We strategically leverage quantile regression analysis to demonstrate that the scaling exponent characterizing this power-law relationship is contingent upon the centile within these traits’ distributions. This observation fundamentally underscores the proposition that individuals occupying disparate segments of the distribution may employ distinct growth strategies, as indicated by distinct power-law exponents. We introduce the innovative concept of “multi-scale allometry” to encapsulate this newfound insight. Through a comprehensive reevaluation of (i) the height-weight relationship within a cohort comprising 7, 863, 520 Japanese children aged 5–17 years for which the age, sex, height, and weight were recorded as part of a national study, (ii) the stem-diameter-height and crown-radius-height relationships within an expansive sample of 498, 838 georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees spanning diverse geographical locations, and (iii) the brain-size-body-size relationship within an extensive dataset encompassing 1, 552 mammalian species, we resolutely substantiate the viability of multi-scale allometric analysis. This empirical substantiation advocates a paradigm shift from uni-scaling to multi-scaling allometric modeling, thereby affording greater prominence to the inherent growth processes that underlie the morphological diversity evident throughout the living world.

Modern topical drugs-new developments in galenics and pharmacology

The importance of topically applied pharmaceuticals, especially for the treatment of dermatological diseases, is still essential. Thanks to detailed knowledge of the organisation and function of the physicochemical barrier of the skin, new galenic concepts have increasingly been developed to market maturity in recent years. Colloidal drug carrier systems in particular, but also targeted physicochemical modifications of matrices are used to optimise the cutaneous bioavailability of topically applied drugs. In addition, new molecules are increasingly becoming available for the development of these preparations or drugs known from systemic therapy are being formulated into topicals. Against this background, dermatopharmacology is also developing more and more into ahighly specialised science in this area, which is producing innovative concepts for the therapy of special indications. In addition to the classic small-molecule drugs, biotechnological molecules are increasingly finding their way into application, so that amodern age of dermatopharmacology has dawned, which will open up previously unimagined possibilities for topical therapy now and in the coming years.