Industry Representatives Research Articles

Lazy thermal annealing of material extrusion-based 3D-printed PLA specimens

AbstractMaterial extrusion (ME)-based 3D printing process is widely used nowadays, and the created parts can be used for rapid prototyping or as a finished part for industrial representatives, but the technology is also popular among home users. One of the greatest limitations of the parts created by ME is the mechanical anisotropy resulting from the extrusion process. The inter- and intra-layer adhesion makes the parts prone to early failure. By thermal post-processing, this kind of bond can be improved; however, that would need an investment of some new equipment/machines. In this article, a “lazy annealing” thermal post-processing method is presented, where the parts are cured on the 3D printer to increase their mechanical resistance. According to the results, even with this simple method, a significant increment can be achieved, but it has less effect on the infill patterns.

Nigeria’s industrial policy transformation in the era of Sino-African cooperation

This paper examines the changing nature of industrial policies in Africa within the context of Sino-African cooperation, utilizing Nigeria as a case study. It contends that sustained failures of industrial policies, attributed largely to the inability of ruling elites to enforce reciprocal control mechanisms are encouraging policymakers to consider incorporating Chinese investment into their industrial strategies. This integration is driving significant changes in Africa’s industrial policy practice, as national strategies are adjusted to attract and accommodate Chinese capital and technical support. This study leverages a variety of sources including interviews with Nigerian government officials involved in industrial policy design and implementation, industry representatives benefiting from industrial policies, policy documents, and media sources. The research aims to shed light on the dynamic interaction between international development cooperation and domestic policy transformations, illuminating the profound impact of Chinese involvement on Africa’s industrial policy landscape.

Consensus Definitions of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection and Disease in Transplant Patients Including Resistant and Refractory CMV for Use in Clinical Trials: 2024 Update From the Transplant Associated Virus Infections Forum.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease are important causes of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. For the purpose of developing consistent reporting of CMV outcomes in clinical trials, definitions of CMV infection and disease were developed and most recently published in 2017. Since then, there have been major developments, including registration of new antiviral agents. Therefore, the Transplant Associated Virus Infections Forum, which consists of scientists, clinicians, regulators, and industry representatives, has produced an updated version of these definitions that incorporates recent knowledge with the aim of supporting clinical research and drug development. This also includes an update regarding the definition of resistant and refractory CMV infections previously published in 2019. As the field evolves, the need for updates of these definitions is clear, and collaborative efforts among clinicians, scientists, regulators, and industry representatives can provide a platform for this work.

The association between governance mechanisms and engagement in commercialisation and entrepreneurship of Romanian public research institutes

This study investigates the connection between the governance structure of a public research institute (PRI) and its inclination towards entrepreneurship and patenting, in the form of spin-offs and granted patents, in Romania, an emerging economy. Employing a combination of negative binomial and Firth logistic regressions, the research examines the links between the composition of the board of directors (BD) and PRI's knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) and entrepreneurial efforts over a period of eleven years (2012–2022). The results show that gender diversity in the BD does not impact the establishment of new firms and patenting. Moreover, the likelihood of spin-off creation in female-led PRIs is lower than in male-led ones, while the general director's gender has minimal impact on the patenting process. On the other hand, BD diversity in terms of external directors, namely the industry representatives, strongly influences the entrepreneurial orientation of the PRI. The same connection is shown with the existence of technology transfer offices. Scientific excellence is slightly complementary with patenting. Finally, geographic location has a weak mixed effect on the creation of spin-offs and patenting. Our paper contributes to the industrial organisational literature, which has not paid enough attention to the role of research institutes in science commercialisation, especially in emerging economies.

A Proposal for a Carbon Fibre-Manufacturing Life-Cycle Inventory: A Case Study from the Competitive Sailing Boat Industry

The competitive sailing boat industry uses carbon fibre for high-performance purposes. Nevertheless, this material is known to cause environmental issues during its manufacturing. We can currently observe, based on the literature, difficulty integrating a reliable, justified, and transparent inventory of carbon-fibre production for LCA applications of high-performance composite materials. The current study aims to gain a better understanding of carbon fibre’s environmental impacts by suggesting a justified, reliable, and transparent inventory, based on the life-cycle assessment methodology. It also aims at providing a LCA of high-performance composites. An EcoInvent flows inventory is suggested, based on the literature presenting primary inventories. It is then discussed in terms of data quality, flows under study, and indicators calculated. Eventually, the inventory is used to assess the environmental impact of carbon fibre-reinforced composites applied to an industrial example representative of the competitive sailing boat industry: a hydrofoil mould. Regarding results on carbon fibres’ scale and impacts, indicators commonly highlighted by the literature, were calculated in this study (GWP = 72 kgCO2eq and CED = 1176 MJ), as well as other indicators. These indicators are two to five times higher than the inventories suggested in the literature, due to high heat-production value, production scales, or the quality of the fibre under study. The composite scale results show a major contribution from carbon fibre compared to other flows under study, highlighting the need to suggest a reliable inventory of carbon-fibre production.

Understanding the Barriers to Prostate Cancer Population-Based Early Detection Programs: The PRAISE-U BEST Survey.

We adapted the Barriers to Effective Screening Tool (BEST) survey to the PCa context. However, it has not been validated in this context. We translated it into all spoken languages in the EU27 and disseminated it to different stakeholders across the EU using a snowballing approach. We received 410 responses from 55 countries, of which 301 (73%) were from the 27 EU MSs. The most represented stakeholder group was urologists (218 (54%)), followed by general practitioners (GPs) (83 (21%)), patient representatives (35 (9%)), policy stakeholders (27 (7%)), researchers (23 (6%)), oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurses, and others (16 (4%)) and one industry representative. Among all respondents, 286 (69%) reported the absence of a population-based screening programme, mainly attributed to resource limitations and a lack of political and medical society support. Out of these 286 respondents, 196 (69%) indicated that opportunistic screening is being applied in their country, and 199 (70%) expressed their support for population-based screening programmes (which was highest amongst patient representatives and urologists and lowest amongst GPs and policy stakeholders). The highest scored barriers were lack of political support, insufficient operational resources, and inadequate participation. Suggested solutions to overcome these included awareness campaigns, consensus meetings, political lobbying and European guidelines (to overcome political support barriers), compatible IT systems (to overcome operational barriers), and easy access (to overcome participation barriers). Participants have noted the presence of opportunistic screening, and particularly urologists and patient representatives expressed their support for the establishment of a population-based PCa screening programme. Nevertheless, successful implementation of population-based screening programmes is complex; it requires political and medical society support, operational resources and capacity, awareness campaigns, as well as the development of protocols, guidelines, and legal frameworks.

Contrasting Affective responses and the Politics of the Energy Transition: Impact of the War in Ukraine on the Colombian Coal Industry

This piece explores the effects of the war in Ukraine on Colombia's coal industry and the contrasting affective responses of different actors. The stark contrast between environmental and Indigenous activists' anger and the industry representatives' optimism about the revival of coal exports evidences the tension between the climate policies of the current Colombian government and the longstanding pattern of export‐led economies in Latin America, a path difficult to break. Nonetheless, the situation enables a space to discuss how a ‘just transition’ would look for regions dependent on coal and, importantly, when that transition will be.

Industries, citizens, and non-governmental organizations’ positioning and arguments used in European Union initiatives for alcohol taxation and cross-border regulation

BackgroundThe European region has the highest daily alcohol consumption per capita and a high alcohol-related burden of disease. Policymaking at the European Union level is open to participation by interest groups, from public health organizations to alcohol industry representatives. This study aimed to map the interest groups present in the alcohol taxation and cross-border regulation initiatives and identify which arguments were used to support positions in favor or against them. MethodsWe used qualitative content analysis on the comments submitted on the official European Commission website during the 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022 participation periods. Interest groups were characterized considering their positioning, and arguments were identified and compared by position and type of initiative. ResultsOpponents of changes to the structures of alcohol excise duties and cross-border regulations were mostly representatives of the alcohol and agricultural industries, and the proponents were mostly health-related nongovernmental organizations. Opponents of these initiatives used a wide variety of arguments, from economic and trade to health arguments, while proponents focused mainly on health arguments, such as the effectiveness of alcohol taxation in preventing alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. ConclusionThis study highlights the wide range of arguments used by opponents around alcohol control policies, contrasting with the health-centered arguments of proponents. It further shows that there is a lobbying network at the European Union level, combining national and international representatives of industry and non-governmental organizations. These findings provide an opportunity for better preparation for upcoming discussions on alcohol control at national and regional levels.

Homes Heat Health protocol: an observational cohort study measuring the effect of summer temperatures on sleep quality

IntroductionQuality sleep is essential to our health and well-being. Summertime temperatures in the bedrooms of homes in temperate climates are increasing, especially in city apartments. There is very little empirical...

Implications for the Organization and Operation of Liberal Arts Curriculum by the Difference in Educational Consumers' Perception of the Identity and Content of Liberal Arts Education

The purpose of this study is to examine whether there are differences in the perception of the importance of liberal arts education by role and content for each educational consumer and to derive implications for how to reflect these differences in the organization and operation of the liberal arts curriculum. To achieve this, basic statistical analyses and one-way ANOVA were conducted on survey data collected from 1,720 students, faculty, graduates, and industry representatives in Busan, Korea. The results confirmed differences in perception among each educational consumer regarding which role of general education is considered more important. In particular, students perceived all roles of general education except for ‘complementing major education’ as less important compared to other consumer groups. Clear differences were also observed in the importance attributed to specific content areas by each group. While Faculty and industry representatives perceived the importance of humanities most highly, students and graduates prioritized employment-related areas such as practical skills, IT utilization skills, and foreign language abilities. Moreover, they perceived the importance of humanities and social sciences, which correspond to the traditional liberal arts and education areas, as less significant. Based on this difference in perception of the educational consumer groups, four implications for practitioners to consider in the process of development and implementation of liberal arts education were proposed.

On Improving the Innovation System in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: Prospects for the Implementation of the Startup Studio Model

Introduction. The relevance of the research topic in difficult military and political conditions is determined by the need to improve the innovation system in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Methods. When writing the article, a wide range of general scientific, private scientific and special research methods were used. Results. The generalization of advanced law-making and law enforcement experience in the implementation by special units for innovative development of the US Department of Defense of the concept of “Entrepreneurial University” (“University 3.0”), allowed us to positively assess the prospects for embedding the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the innovative model “startup studio”, focused on the development of promising innovative dual-use technologies, currently implemented by the Fund for Infrastructure and educational programs jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. The conclusion is substantiated that the integration of the Ministry of Defense into a proven financial model can enhance the attractiveness of cooperation between all parties to the partnership (investor, university, students, representatives of the defense industry, the state) in terms of the potential opportunity to participate in the defense order, career growth in the research structures of the defense industry and the military department, the use of the research infrastructure of Technopolis, additional investments through the ERA Foundation LLC, This will have a positive impact on improving the innovation development system of the Ministry of Defense and the state’s defense capability. Discussion and Conclusion. Recommendations have been developed to improve the model of innovative activity of small university enterprises – “startup studio”, adapted to the needs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, presented in the form of an author’s concept of a regulatory legal act.

Protocol for the development of a core outcome set for clinical trials in primary sclerosing cholangitis

BackgroundPrimary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive immune-mediated liver disease, for which no medical therapy has been shown to slow disease progression. However, the horizon for new therapies is encouraging,...

Clinical Simulation in the Regulation of Software as a Medical Device: An eDelphi Study.

Accelerated digitalization in the health sector requires the development of appropriate evaluation methods to ensure that digital health technologies (DHTs) are safe and effective. Software as a medical device (SaMD) is a commonly used DHT by clinicians to provide care to patients. Traditional research methods for evaluating health care products, such as randomized clinical trials, may not be suitable for DHTs, such as SaMD. However, evidence to show their safety and efficacy is needed by regulators before they can be used in practice. Clinical simulation can be used by researchers to test SaMD in an agile and low-cost way; yet, there is limited research on criteria to assess the robustness of simulations and, subsequently, their relevance for a regulatory decision. The objective of this study was to gain consensus on the criteria that should be used to assess clinical simulation from a regulatory perspective when it is used to generate evidence for SaMD. An eDelphi study approach was chosen to develop a set of criteria to assess clinical simulation when used to evaluate SaMD. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling based on their experience and knowledge in relevant sectors. They were guided through an initial scoping questionnaire with key themes identified from the literature to obtain a comprehensive list of criteria. Participants voted upon these criteria in 2 Delphi rounds, with criteria being excluded if consensus was not met. Participants were invited to add qualitative comments during rounds and qualitative analysis was performed on the comments gathered during the first round. Consensus was predefined by 2 criteria: if <10% of the panelists deemed the criteria as "not important" or "not important at all" and >60% "important" or "very important." In total, 33 international experts in the digital health field, including academics, regulators, policy makers, and industry representatives, completed both Delphi rounds, and 43 criteria gained consensus from the participants. The research team grouped these criteria into 7 domains-background and context, overall study design, study population, delivery of the simulation, fidelity, software and artificial intelligence, and study analysis. These 7 domains were formulated into the simulation for regulation of SaMD framework. There were key areas of concern identified by participants regarding the framework criteria, such as the importance of how simulation fidelity is achieved and reported and the avoidance of bias throughout all stages. This study proposes the simulation for regulation of SaMD framework, developed through an eDelphi consensus process, to evaluate clinical simulation when used to assess SaMD. Future research should prioritize the development of safe and effective SaMD, while implementing and refining the framework criteria to adapt to new challenges.

Enhancing Stakeholders’ Engagement in TVET Policy and Strategy Development in Ethiopia

This study investigates the depth of stakeholders’ engagement in the formulation of TVET policies and strategies and assesses the efficacy of awareness-building initiatives in Ethiopia. Anchored in a transformative worldview, this qualitative study utilizes a phenomenological research design and involves 35 participants selected for interviews from 33 organizations, including officials, industry representatives, and TVET deans. Moreover, two separate focus groups comprised of trainers were convened to engage in discussions about the subject matter, and a document analysis was made. The data collection was conducted by the researchers, assisted by a team of five individuals, with one representative from each region. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants. The findings reveal that key stakeholders, specifically the Ministries of Construction, Urban Development, and Tourism, lacked substantive engagement in the policy formulation process. Additionally, some ministerial level and major TVET policy and strategy implementers, like trainers and industries, did not have a clear awareness of the current TVET policy and strategy. Additionally, there is a notable absence of participation from regional agencies, associations, and industries in policy and strategy design. From the total list of 35 interviewed respondents, only 17% were engaged, whereas, from two sets of focus group discussions, none of the stakeholders were engaged in TVET policy and strategy development. The study concludes that Ethiopian TVET policy and strategy formulation suffer from insufficient stakeholders’ involvement and fragmented awareness initiatives. It is inferred that there is an imperative for the Ministry of Labour and Skills to foster awareness and dialogues at both the federal and regional spheres, incorporating feedback from pivotal stakeholders for future policy refinements.

Crisis Management and Sustainability in Tourism Industry: Obstacles and Recovery Strategies after the COVID-19 Crisis in Antalya, Türkiye

This study aims to examine how tourism enterprises can ensure their sustainability and elude the negative effects of the COVID-19 crisis via recovery strategies through semi-structured in-depth interviews, focusing on the tourism industry in Antalya, the first and most important destination in Türkiye, in terms of arrivals and nights spent. According to the findings, travel bans and quarantine measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on Antalya’s tourism sector. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortage of personnel in tourism industry, a persisting problem. In managing this crisis, businesses and the state have attempted various recovery strategies. Despite a recovery period since 2021, vulnerabilities in the national economy and increasing inflation rates since COVID-19 have triggered input and living costs. Furthermore, the Ukraine War has adversely affected the sustainability of tourism activities in Antalya. Moreover, due to new regulations regarding retirement in 2023, some middle-level managers in tourism sector have retired, leading to predictions of a potential crisis in upper-level management in the future. According to the study results, cooperation in tourism sector, public–private–university collaboration, and government support play significant roles in achieving full recovery from the crisis and ensuring sustainability in tourism sector activities. The study may contribute to the literature and help industry representatives and policymakers in terms of sustainability in tourism and crisis management recovery strategies.

Proceedings of the Clinical Microbiology Open 2023: discussions about pandemic preparedness.

The 4th Clinical Microbiology Open (CMO) took place in Carlsbad, California, on 10 and 11 February 2023. This event facilitated discussion between clinical and public health laboratory directors, government agencies, and industry representatives from the companies that make up ASM's Corporate Council. While many topics were discussed, much of the discussion focused on pandemic preparedness. There were four major questions addressed: (i) When is the perfect the enemy of good in pandemic testing? (ii) What other types of pathogens might cause another pandemic and how would this affect laboratory response? (iii) What research is needed to better understand the effectiveness of the pandemic response? (iv) What have we learned about the utility of self and at-home testing in future pandemics? This review serves as a summary of these discussions.

Making a Difference: 5 Years of Cardiac Surgery Intersociety Alliance (CSIA)

Informed by the almost unimaginable unmet need for cardiac surgery in the developing regions of the world, leading surgeons, cardiologists, editors in chief of the major cardiothoracic journals as well as representatives of medical industry and government convened in December 2017 to address this unacceptable disparity in access to care. The ensuing "Cape Town Declaration" constituted a clarion call to cardiac surgical societies to jointly advocate the strengthening of sustainable, local cardiac surgical capacity in the developing world. The Cardiac Surgery Intersociety Alliance (CSIA) was thus created, comprising The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ASCVTS), the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the World Heart Federation (WHF). The guiding principle was advocacy for sustainable cardiac surgical capacity in low-income countries. As a first step, a global needs assessment confirmed rheumatic heart disease as the overwhelming pathology requiring cardiac surgery in these regions. Subsequently, CSIA published a request for proposals to support fledgling programs that could demonstrate the backing by their governments and health care institution. Out of 11 applicants, and following an evaluation of the sites, including site visits to the 3 finalists, Mozambique and Rwanda were selected as the first Pilot Sites. Subsequently, a mentorship and training agreement was completed between Mozambique and the University of Cape Town, a middle-income country with a comparable burden of rheumatic heart disease. The agreement entails regular video calls between the heart teams, targeted training across all aspects of cardiac surgery, as well as on-site presence of mentoring teams for complex cases with the strict observance of "assisting only." In Rwanda, Team Heart, a US and Rwanda-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been performing cardiac surgery in Rwanda and helping to train the cardiac surgery workforce since 2008, has agreed to continue providing mentorship for the local team and to assist in the establishment of independent cardiac surgery with all that entails. This involves intermittent virtual conferences between Rwandan and US cardiologists for surgical case selection. Five years after CSIA was founded, its "Seal of Approval" for the sustainability of endorsed programs in Mozambique and Rwanda has resulted in higher case numbers, a stronger government commitment, significant upgrades of infrastructure, the nurturing of generous consumable donations by industry and the commencement of negotiations with global donors for major grants. Extending the CSIA Seal to additional deserving programs could further align the international cardiac surgical community with the principle of local cardiac surgery capacity-building in developing countries.

Analysis of public records of lobbying practices of the ultra-processed sugary food and drink industries in Chile: a qualitative study

Given the role of commercial determinants on sugar consumption and health, this study aimed to describe lobbying practices of the ultra-processed sugary food and drinks industries in Chile between 2014 and2022. Official meetings between ultra-processed sugary food and drinks industries and related commercial actors and Chilean government officials were obtained from the Chilean Lobby Registry. Relevant commercial names were initially identified based on their market share and expanded iteratively based on information from relevant meetings. Qualitative analysis followed a deductive-inductive approach using the Corporate Political Activity Model to identify and classify objectives, framing and action strategies. From 237 records identified, the Ministries of Health, Social Development, and Economy were the most frequently lobbied. Industry representatives sought to achieve their short- and long-term objectives by targeting a diverse range of authorities, including Ministers and Under-secretaries, using different strategies. Framing strategies focused on presenting sugary food and drinks industries as socially responsible and legitimate policy actors and criticised public health initiatives as 'bad solutions'. Action strategies aimed to influence policymaking and nurture corporate reputations. Extensive lobbying took place by the sugary food and drinks industries between 2014 and 2022, a period when major public health policies were being discussed in Chile. Lobbying strategies varied to meet industry objectives and targeted a diverse range of government institutions including high-ranking officials. Tighter regulations to stop inappropriate industry influence in public health policymaking are urgently required. Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (Chile)-PhD Scholarship. University College London-Open Access fees.

A tourist facility with a ban on children playing: The principle of non-discrimination and the statement of the Bulgarian court

Recently, both in Bulgaria and abroad, it is increasingly common to find accommodation, restaurants and entertainment facilities that advertise and offer a wide range of services. However, these are not intended for general consumers but only those who have reached maturity (excluding minors and the under-aged). According to press publications hotels and restaurants that pre-select their guests based on their age are mainly concentrated on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and in the mountains or they specialize in spa and balneo procedures. It turns out that consumers find it easier to stay with a pet, albeit at an extra cost, than go on vacation with their teenage children. Such practices adopted by representatives of the tourism industry raise some questions of a moral, ethical and legal nature. The current article traces the development of a specific administrative and judicial proceeding initiated to establish the presence of discrimination against consumers in a tourist facility – a restaurant. An overview of the claims and arguments of the claimant is made as well as an analysis of the reasons and considerations given by the competent administrative and judicial authorities. The author’s opinion on the issue is expressed.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis on the Road Bike Using Different Flow Models under Extreme Inlet Velocity

At high velocities, the aerodynamic forces acting on the road bike and rider become more pronounced, potentially affecting stability and control. Riders might experience increased resistance, requiring more effort to maintain balance and direction. This research employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to thoroughly examine the external aerodynamics of road bikes, focusing on pre-processing techniques and their impact on overall aerodynamic performance. The research applies CFD methods for geometry preparation, meshing, and material property definition within a structured workflow using a road bike model representative of the cycling industry via SimFlow software. Through systematic variations in extreme inlet velocities (40, 70, and 100 m/s) and the utilization of diverse turbulent models, k-ω Shear-Stress Transport (SST) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) with k-ε and k-ω, the study reveals intricate airflow patterns around the road bike. The results explain the complicated connection between turbulent models and inlet velocities and provide new information on critical aerodynamic parameters, such as pressure and maximum velocity of the road bike model.