Implementing an innovated liver ex-situ machine perfusion technology:The 2018 Joint International Congress of ILTS,ELITA and LICAGE

The 2018 Joint International Congress of ILTS,ELITA and LICAGE were held in Lisbon,Portugal on May 23–26,2018.The exciting and innovative program brought together 1144 experts in liver transplantation(LT)such as surgeons,physicians or basic scientists from 61 countries.The presentations included 110 invited speakers,181 oral presentations,and 545 posters.This editorial highlights some of the most innovative and impactful presentations in

Comparative Evaluation of the Regular Ovitrap vs an Innovated Larvitrap for <i>Aedes</i>Entomological Surveillance in Tapachula

Objective: The objective is to compare a regular ovitrap versus an innovated larvitrap for monitoring Aedes spp. populations. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 regular ovitraps and 20 innovated larvitraps were placed in pairs in 20 houses from the 5 de Febrero neighborhood in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. The innovation consisted in the incorporation of a valve in the lower part of a half tire to drain the contents in a 2 L collection container. The evaluation was carried out during five weeks, collecting eggs and larvae from the ovitraps and innovated larvitraps, respectively. Positivity indexes and insectary production of adult Aedes spp. mosquitoes were compared by collection type. Results: Average positivity index for the five weeks period were 60% for ovitraps and 91.25% for innovated larvitraps. During the five weeks, 4043 Ae. aegypti and 703 Ae. albopictus adult mosquitoes were produced in the insectary from the eggs collected from ovitraps, while from innovated larvitraps were 9014 Ae. aegypti, 1205 Ae. albopictus, and 15 Culex spp. Conclusion: Collection by the innovated larvitrap was more efficient, collecting 3.56 times more Ae. aegypti than with ovitraps, using approximately the same effort in time for replacing the filter paper from traditional 1 L ovitraps. Since the logistics for the storage and placement of larvitraps may still be a disadvantage in comparison with ovitraps, their use could be specifically intended in sentinel sites for mosquito population monitoring for entomological surveillance purposes.

An Empirical Study of the Senior Corporate Managers＇ Ability to Innovate

Senior corporate managers＇ innovation ability and spirit are very important in the growth process of corporate business development. This paper focuses on the innovation capacities of the senior corporate managers of listed companies in China and the complex relationship between firm performance and the operating environment to study and analyze the management and development of Chinese enterprises. Through relevant theoretical analysis and development of research hypotheses using the A-shares in Shanghai and Shenzhen listed companies announced in 2007 and 2008, the authors design an empirical model. The study found that in Chinese listed companies, the higher the innovation spirit of senior corporate managers, the better their business performances; the stronger the dynamic and complexity of the operating environment, the more the corporate managers＇ innovation ability will be developed.

IBM Innovate 2011揭示软件开发新风向 协作、优化、高效成核心关键

IBM Rational软件经过了多年的发展和演变,不断关注最终客户的实际需求,并试图通过改变和创新,帮助客户实现更多的商业价值。2011年6月6日,在美国佛罗里达州的中部城市奥兰多,IBM举行了一年一度规模盛大的Rational软件技术盛会——Innovate 2011。IBM软件Rational全球总经理Kristof Kloeckner、IBM高级副总裁兼软件与系统集团总经理Steve Mills以及IBM Rational首席软件经济学家Walker Royce等众多高层领导应邀参会并发表了重要讲话。

Verification test on an innovated method for the studies on inheritance of resistance to rice sheath blight

We have recently developed a systematic method for the study on the inheritance of resistance to sheath blight. The key of the system is an innovated method of inoculation and investigation along with the employment of the permanent population. This paper reported the procedure of the system and the result of its verification.

A Need to Innovate the Dutch Building Regulation

In 2008, two governmental committees presented their conclusions on strengthening the role of the private building sector in building control. In 2011, three new studies were commissioned by the government to address perceived problems. One of them was an integral study, executed by ERB （Foundation Expertcentre Regulations in Building）, RIGO （Research Institute for Real Estate） and TNO （Research Institute for Applied Technologies）, to innovate the whole building regulations system. It led to proposals to redefine responsibility and liability for all parties. This study states that by an effort of yearly ￡100 million, unnecessary costs up to ￡l billion can be avoided and a real quality push will take place in the building and real estate markets. The goals to reach are to minimize the administrative burden for the building owner and to enforce the construction industry to build conforming to the regulations. This paper discusses the ERB study and the given proposals. The ERB study demonstrated that a quality push is needed which potential will lead to less costs for building owners. It also shows that proven solutions, part of the regulations, might be of help for all parties involved.

Yunnan's Intent to Innovate

TOWARDS the end of last year, a Chinese magazine released a list of the country’s buzzwords of 2006. It was no surprise that ＂Innovation＂ ranked third. That year witnessed a nationwide campaign of sci-tech innovation that reached unprecedented heat. And this time, the flames spread inland, to places like the frontier province of Yunnan.

Organizational ambidexterity, open innovation and innovation outputs: How do followers and low-flyer EU countries innovate?

This study analyses the role played by organizational ambidexterity and open innovation in innovation outputs,considering business units with different levels of technological intensity(medium-high and high tech,and medium-low and low tech)for countries with different inno-vation profiles.The countries considered in this paper are i)Estonia and Slovenia as innovation followers;i)Slovakia,Hungary,Spain,Czech Republic,Italy,Portugal,Norway,and Croatia as moderate innovators;and ii)Bulgaria,Lithuania and Romania as modest innovators.In the empirical approach,the research hypotheses arise from the literature review and are tested using secondary data collected from the Community Innovation Survey(CIS)201o.The conceptual model is tested using the logistic regression method,which indicates suitable accuracy and reliability for empirical testing purposes.The evidence reveals that for innovation followers,ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of eco-innovation,marketing innovation,and product innovation.For moderate innovators,ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of product innovation,process innovation,and eco-innovation.Concerning modest in-novators,ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of product innovation,process innovation,and eco-innovation.With regard to open innovation,for innovation followers,this has a negative influence on product innovation in medium-high and high-tech companies.For moderate innovators,open innovation has a greater influence in process,organizational,and eco-innovation.In the case of modest innovators,open innovation is more significant for innovation outputs in product,organizational,and marketing innovation.Size is not always positively related to innovation outputs.

The Proof Dilemma of Porter’s Hypothesis:Analysis of Its Verification Difficulties

The Porter Hypothesis,proposed by Michael E.Porter,suggests that stringent environmental regulations can enhance corporate innovation and competitiveness,challenging the traditional view that regulations increase business costs.It argues that regulations motivate firms to innovate,leading to improved productivity,cost reductions,and new market opportunities.However,there are proponents and critics in academia regarding the hypothesis.Supporters claim regulations change corporate behavior,reducing agency costs and boosting research and development.Critics argue that if win-win situations exist,businesses would naturally pursue them without regulatory incentives.Key challenges in proving or refuting the hypothesis include its various versions,the difficulty in quantifying innovation and competitiveness,the complex interplay between regulation,innovation,and competitiveness,and the varying impacts across industries and regions.Additionally,the effects may require a long time to manifest,and the hypothesis’s applicability is influenced by evolving environmental policies and market environments.Despite mixed empirical findings,the Porter Hypothesis provides a valuable framework for understanding the relationships among environmental regulation,innovation,and competitiveness,but its validation requires a more comprehensive assessment.

Assessment of challenges and strategies for driving energy transitions in emerging markets:A socio-technological systems perspective

The pursuit of improved quality of life standards has significantly influenced the contemporary mining model in the 21st century.This era is witnessing an unprecedented transformation driven by pressing concerns related to sustainability,climate change,the just energy transition,dynamic operating environments,and complex social challenges.Such transitions present both opportunities and obstacles.The aim of this study is to provide an extensive literature review on energy transition to identify the challenges and strategies associated with navigating transformations in energy systems.Understanding these transformations is particularly critical in the face of the severe consequences of global warming,where an accelerated energy transition is viewed as a universal remedy.Adopting a socio-technological systems perspective,specifically through the application of Actor Network Theory(ANT),this research provides a theoretical foundation while categorising challenges into five distinct domains and outlining strategies across these different dimensions.These insights are specifically tailored for emerging market countries to effectively navigate energy transition while fostering the development of resilient societies.Furthermore,our findings highlight that energy transition encompasses more than a mere technological shift;it entails fundamental changes in various systemic socio-economic imperatives.Through focusing on the role of social structures in transitions,this study makes a significant and innovative contribution to ANT,which has historically been criticised for its limited acknowledgement of social structures.Consequently,we propose an emerging market energy transition framework,which not only addresses technological aspects,but also integrates social considerations.This framework paves the way for future research and exploration of energy transition dynamics.The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights to policymakers,researchers,and practitioners engaged in the mining industry,enabling them to comprehend the multifaceted challenges involved and providing practical strategies for effective resolution.Through incorporating the social dimension into the analysis,we enhance the understanding of the complex nature of energy system transformations,facilitating a more holistic approach towards achieving sustainable and resilient energy transitions in emerging markets and beyond.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease:Navigating terminological evolution,diagnostic frontiers and therapeutic horizon-an editorial exploration

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),once known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),represents a spectrum of liver disorders characterized by lipid accumulation within hepatocytes.The redefinition of NAFLD in 2023 marked a significant reposition in terminology,emphasizing a broader understanding of liver steatosis and its associated risks.MASLD is now recognized as a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma,and systemic complications such as cardiovascular diseases or systemic inflammation.Diagnostic challenges arise,particularly in identifying MASLD in lean individuals,necessitating updated diagnostic protocols and investing in non-invasive diagnostic tools.Therapeutically,there is an urgent need for effective treatments targeting MASLD,with emerging pharmacological options focusing on,among others,carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.Additionally,understanding the roles of bile acid metabolism,the microbiome,and dietary interventions in MASLD pathogenesis and management holds promise for innovative therapeutic approaches.There is a strong need to emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts in understanding,diagnosing,and managing MASLD to improve physicians’approaches and patient outcomes.

Improving innovation and entrepreneurship education in higher institutions: the impact of "Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation" education on undergraduates' entrepreneurial intentions

The exploration of the way"mass entrepreneurship and innovation"(MEI)education influences students'aspirations to become entrepreneurs has grown into an important area of analysis in studies related to higher education.This research intends to examine the consequences of MEI education on students'tendency towards entrepreneurship,and to put forward methods for augmenting the teaching of innovation and entrepreneurship in private higher educational establishments.To achieve this objective,questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed in the study,which involved a total of 197 students and five education experts.The statistical analysis of the questionnaire data revealed that MEI education was positively related to students'entrepreneurial intentions,and that both entrepreneurial experience and family entrepreneurial background played moderating roles in this relationship.The interview findings indicated that private universities could enhance educational reforms by designing talent training programs,developing diversified curricula,and developing more professional entrepreneurial platforms to encourage students'entrepreneurial intentions.This study offers fresh insights for improving and perfecting the mechanism of innovation and entrepreneurship education in private universities.

Influence mechanism of government subsidy on the green transformation of coal company in China

The optimization of government subsidies to enhance the efficiency of coal companies’green transformation constitutes a critical component in the pursuit of global sustainability.We investigate the influence mechanism of government subsidies on the green transformation using data from the listed coal companies in China from 2007 to 2022.According to our findings and hypothesis testing,previous government subsidies did not have a significant direct impact on coal companies’green transformation.Nevertheless,government subsidies can help coal companies transition to greener practices by promoting innovative green initiatives.Furthermore,we confirmed an indirect route:that government subsidies enable the adoption of low-carbon initiatives,which in turn could facilitate the transition of coal companies towards green practices.In addition,we discovered that the coal company’s digitization will improve this indirect route.Thus,we propose increasing the effectiveness of government subsidies in facilitating coal companies’transition to green practices by focusing on technological advancements and enhancing company digitalization.

Addressing inclusion,innovation,and sustainability challenges through the lens of economic geography:Introducing the hierarchical regional innovation system

The world is facing dramatic challenges related to environmental sustainability at an accelerating pace.In this context,the field of economic geography(EG)has been playing an important role in understanding both the socioeconomic and technological dimensions of these challenges,as it deals with a variety of complementary notions and perspectives.Departing from this lens,our aim is to explore a conceptual framework that can help us to understand environmental changes relating to multi-dimensional territorial development,notably in eco-nomic contexts where inequality is high,and stratification based on hierarchies regulate social and economic life.Based on the territory concept,we propose the original notion of a hierarchical regional innovation system(HRIS)that emphasises the pervasive role of hierarchies(powers)in regional innovation systems and illustrate its value with evidence and case studies from extant literature on sustainability transitions.The HRIS can help us understand and promote development paths considering the contribution of inclusive eco-innovations(another original conceptual amalgam).Through some empirical cases from other studies in low-carbon transitions,we show the application of the HRIS(and inclusive eco-innovation)framework.In conclusion,we provide incen-tives to explore new regional innovation systems,alongside the HRIS,adapted to different regions worldwide and centred on the inclusiveness of people and places.

Editorial for the Special Issue on Natural Medicine

As the world continues to search for innovative therapeutic solutions,the field of natural medicines has emerged as a vibrant area of research.The potential of natural products to treat a wide range of diseases,coupled with the relatively low sideeffects of such products,has captured the attention of scientists,clinicians,and the general public alike.This Special Issue on Natural Medicine aims to present the latest advancements in this exciting field,highlighting both fundamental research and clinical applications.The collection of articles in this Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of topics,ranging from medicinal chemistry to biological mechanisms,and from the study of single botanic compounds to complex plant formulas.We are particularly pleased to include a comprehensive review by Yi Wang et al.on the bioactivities,mechanisms,production,and potential application of bile acids in preventing and treating infectious diseases.This review not only summarizes the current landscape of bile acids research but also highlights several promising compounds for future investigations,such as the recent interest in ursodeoxycholic acid.In a related topic,Shishan Yu’s team has developed artificial bear bile using synthetic chemistry and enzyme engineering,providing a sustainable substitute for natural bear bile.This innovation meets medical needs while addressing animal welfare issues,representing a notable progression in the field.

Callfor Papersfor Special Issue Innovative Pharmaceutical Research Facilitated by Ai

Al is revolutionizing the current paradigm of pharmaceutical research,addressing the challenges encountered at all stages of the process.Al driven drug discovery is based on biomedical big data and new algorithms to identify drug targets,screen and optimize active compounds,analyze drug properties,and facilitate drug production and quality control.On this basis,we are organize this special issue entitled“Innovative Pharmaceutical Research Driven by Al”,to collect Research articles,Review papers,and Short communications,facilitating pharmaceutical research.

Innovation and Firm Co-ownership Network in China’s Electric Vehicle Industry

Firms are embedded in complex networks,where diverse ideas combine and generate new ideas.Shareholders of firms are of-ten seen as critical external resources that have significant influence on firm innovation.The current literature tends to focus on the rela-tionship between firms and their shareholders,while paying less attention to the connections between firms with the same shareholders.This article identifies two types of network spillover effects,intra-city network effect and inter-city network effect,by visualizing the co-ownership networks in China’s electric vehicle(EV)industry.We find that firms with the same shareholders,which are defined as co-owned EV firms,are more innovative than non-co-owned ones.Furthermore,there are two dominant types of firm co-ownership ties formed by corporate and financial institution shareholders.While corporate shareholders help exploiting local tacit knowledge,financial institutions are more active in bridging inter-city connections.The conclusion is confirmed at both firm and city levels.This paper theor-izes the firm co-ownership network as a new form of institutional proximity and tested the result empirically.For policy consideration,we have emphasized the importance of building formal or informal inter-firm network,and the government should further enhance the knowledge flow channel by institutional construction.

Message from animal models and experimental medicine for 2024-Striving for excellence with distinctive features

Since its inception,Animal Models and Experimental Medicine(AMEM)has received 632 articles in total from 52 countries and regions includ-ing China,Iran,the United States,India,Nigeria,Israel,Germany,Iraq,Italy,Japan,Australia,Bangladesh,Belgium,Brazil,and Canada,among others.AMEM has become an important international exchange plat-form for innovative research achievements in the field of laboratory animal science and basic medicine.

The Future of Environmental Engineering Technology:A Disruptive Innovation Perspective

Scientific and technological revolutions and industrial transformations have accelerated the rate of innovation in environmental engineering technologies.However,few researchers have evaluated the current status and future trends of technologies.This paper summarizes the current research status in eight major subfields of environmental engineering—water treatment,air pollution control,soil/solid waste management,environmental biotechnology,environmental engineering equipment,emerging contaminants,synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions,and environmental risk and intelligent management—based on bibliometric analysis and future trends in greenization,low carbonization,and intelligentization.Disruptive technologies are further identified based on discontinuous transformation,and ten such technologies are proposed,covering general and specific fields,technical links,and value sources.Additionally,the background and key innovations in disruptive technologies are elucidated in detail.This study not only provides a scientific basis for strategic decision-making,planning,and implementation in the environmental engineering field but also offers methodological guidance for the research and determination of breakthrough technologies in other areas.

Towards cultivar-oriented gene discovery for better crops

The continued expansion of the world population,increasingly inconsistent climate and shrinking agricultural resources present major challenges to crop breeding.Fortunately,the increasing ability to discover and manipulate genes creates new opportunities to develop more productive and resilient cultivars.Many genes have been described in papers as being beneficial for yield increase.However,few of them have been translated into increased yield on farms.In contrast,commercial breeders are facing gene decidophobia,i.e.,puzzled about which gene to choose for breeding among the many identified,a huge chasm between gene discovery and cultivar innovation.The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the shortfalls in current gene discovery research and to emphasise the need to align with cultivar innovation.The methodology dictates that genetic studies not only focus on gene discovery but also pay good attention to the genetic backgrounds,experimental validation in relevant environments,appropriate crop management,and data reusability.The close of the gaps should accelerate the application of molecular study in breeding and contribute to future global food security.