Search Results (95)

The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) is expected to be a major legal breakthrough in an attempt to tame AI’s negative aspects by setting common rules and obligations for companies active in the EU Single Market. Globally, there is a surge in investments to encourage research, development and innovation in AI that originates both from governments and private firms. The EU recognizes that the new Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 is difficult for start-ups and SMEs to cope with and it announced the release of tools, in the near future, to ease that difficulty. To facilitate the active participation of SMEs in the AI arena, we propose a framework that could assist them to better comply with the challenging EU AI Act during the development life cycle of an AI system. We use the spiral SDLC model and we map its phases and development tasks to the legal provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. Furthermore, the framework can be used to promote innovation, improve their personnel’s expertise, reduce costs and help the companies avoid the proposed substantial fines described in the Act. Full article

As global challenges escalate—economic shocks, environmental issues, and evolving work expectations—the four-day workweek (4DWW) is gaining traction as a sustainable and viable alternative. This study investigates the transition from a traditional 5-day workweek to a 4DWW in the context of private companies in the Baltic States, supplemented by the insights from informal interviews with 17 representatives across Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and an in-depth case study of a Latvian wholesale company. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates document analysis, structured interviews, and quantitative assessment of key performance indicators over an 8-year period. The findings elucidate the phased transition process, detailing the multifaceted challenges encountered at individual, operational, and strategic levels. The study evaluates the impact of the 4DWW on organizational productivity, employee well-being, and environmental outcomes. Results indicate that, while the 4DWW can sustain or enhance operational efficiency and substantially improve work-life balance and stress reduction, these benefits are not uniformly observed across all economic sectors. This paper not only advances the literature on workweek restructuring by clarifying the algorithm for transitioning to a 4DWW but also underscores its potential as a sustainable business practice. The results offer valuable decision-making insights for private companies considering similar transitions, while also highlighting the need for context-specific strategies and policy support—including relevant legislative frameworks in the Baltic region—to ensure successful implementation. Full article

Background: Social demographic changes contribute to increased life expectancy and disability. The ability to maintain independence depends on receiving appropriate support. This study aimed to analyze the needs of individuals over 75 years of age living in a home environment. Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed support needs from the perspectives of the patient, caregiver, and researcher. The following research tools were used: Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: The average total number of needs reported by the patients was 5.0 ± 2.9, by caregivers 6.63 ± 2.98, and by researchers 5.76 ± 3.43. The most frequently reported unmet needs were related to Accommodation, Company, and Eyesight/Hearing/Communication. A higher number of met needs (p = 0.006) and total needs (p = 0.011) was observed in individuals aged 85 and older and in seniors who had a caregiver (p < 0.001). Lower functional ability was an indicator of a higher number of met needs (p < 0.001). Cognitive function did not affect the number of reported needs. A correlation was found between the number of needs and depressive symptoms. The total number of needs reported by patients was significantly lower than the number reported by healthcare personnel and caregivers. Conclusions: The CANE questionnaire enabled the identification of individual care needs in the elderly. Although unmet needs were in areas that could be easily addressed, elderly individuals did not receive adequate support. Researchers and caregivers identified more met and unmet needs than the elderly individuals themselves. Full article

The purpose of this study was to examine whether supplementation of ultra- and nanofiltered colostrum-based products, combined with egg yolk extract, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), quercetin, alpha-ketoglutarate, white button mushroom, and celery seed extracts (the formula was patented by 4Life Research Company, USA and named as AgePro), modulate the functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells in vivo. We found that this supplement, taken orally in two capsules twice a day for 30 days, significantly enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NK cells. This was evidenced by the increased NK cell-mediated killing of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled K562 human myeloid leukemia cells. As expected, this effect was dependent on the ratio between the effector (E) (e.g., peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)) and target (T) (e.g., K562) cells, illustrating maximal killing of K562 cells at a 50:1 E/T ratio. Of note, increased NK-mediated killing of K562 cells after taking AgePro correlated with increased perforin release, evidenced by the CD107a degranulation assay. In concordance with these findings, taking of AgePro for 1 month increased production of several cytokines and chemokines, including IL-1β, IL-1Rα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, G-CSF, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB/BB, GRO, MCP-1, MCP-3, and MIP-1α, in PBMCs co-cultured with K562 cells. Of note, increased production of the cytokines correlated with the activation state of PBMCs, as evidenced by increased expression of the surface activation markers (e.g., the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain—CD25). A strong correlation was found between NK-based cytotoxic activity and the production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MIP-1α. Importantly, no increase in the aforementioned soluble factors and activation markers was detected in PBMCs cultured alone, thereby illustrating the potent immunoregulatory activity of AgePro only in the presence of the harmful target cells. Hematological parameters also remained unchanged over the entire study period. Collectively, we show herein the significant enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of NK cells against target tumor cells after taking AgePro for 1 month. Notably, this effect was observed for all age groups, including young, adult, and elderly participants. Moreover, a significant improvement in NK cytotoxic activity was also detected for participants with low basal (e.g., before taking AgePro) numbers of NK-mediated killing. The enhancement of NK-based cytotoxicity was associated with an increased release of several cytokines and chemokines involved in regulating a broad spectrum of mechanisms outside the cell-mediated cytotoxicity and killing of target cells. Of note, spontaneous activation of PBMCs, particularly NK cells, was not detected after taking AgePro. Given that spontaneous activation of autoreactive lymphocytes is a feature associated with autoimmunity and taking into account our data illustrating the AgePro-induced activation of NK cells detected only in the presence of the potentially harmful cells, we conclude that our innovative product exhibits potent immunoregulatory activity and high safety profile. Full article

Reducing the auxiliary drilling time and improving the drilling efficiency are not only important technical means to enhance the development and deep exploration of oil and gas reserves, but also have significant implications for ensuring energy security. Bottom hole self-renewal drill bit technology is a new technology that does not require the retrieval of drills from the well bottom, instead directly updating worn drill bits in place. Through the self-renewing structure of the drill bit, the sustainability of the drill bit can be increased. Conducting research on this technology is expected to overcome the technical issues related to the short useable life of drill bits, thus promoting single-trip drilling technology. This article summarizes the scientific progress made by researchers in self-renewal Polycrystalline Diamond Composite (PDC) drill bit technology; for example, the American National Oilwell Varco (NOV) company has developed a mobile self-renewal cone bit technology and introduced the structural characteristics and working principles of three types of rotating self-renewal drill bits: rack-driven, worm-driven, and ratchet-driven. This study compares and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of these three rotary types of PDC drill bits, providing a detailed introduction to the working principles and modes of the triggering, transmission, limit and locking, and renewal structure devices of the drill bit. Relevant suggestions are proposed for the development of bottom hole self-renewal PDC drill bit technology; namely, strengthening research efforts relating to the intelligent judgment and recognition of cutting tooth wear of the drill bit, as well as the integration of multiple technologies. The sustainability of these novel bits can provide technical support for the development of single-trip drilling technology for deep formations, improve the service life of bits in deep formations that are difficult to drill, and contribute to the efficient development of deep-sea energy resources worldwide. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between corporate shared institutional equity (SIE) holders and eco-transparency reporting (ETR). Specifically, it examines three distinct types of SIE: (1) common institutional shareholders with industry peers, (2) the average count of unique institutional owners holding shares in both the focal company and its peers, and (3) the total percentage of SIE within the focal company. The findings indicate that firms with higher levels of SIE are more likely to disclose ETR, signaling a commitment to enhancing public trust and aligning with governmental expectations. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of SIE across different stages of the firm’s life cycle, revealing that the influence of SIE on ETR is more pronounced during the growth and mature stages. The results remain robust even when alternative thresholds for SIE are applied, such as adjusting from a 5% to a 3% threshold. To account for potential misspecification and omitted variables, propensity score matching (PSM), System generalized method of moments (Sys GMM) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) methods were employed. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting the role of shared institutional ownership in promoting environmental transparency, offering novel insights into how institutional investors can drive corporate sustainability practices across different firm life cycles. Full article

Enterprises face significant growth and survival challenges in highly competitive markets. Many companies fail to meet their tax obligations, which deprives society of essential resources and often results in tax penalties. This article examines whether companies that receive tax fines for evasion have a longer or shorter life expectancy compared to those that consistently comply with tax regulations. To analyze survival rates, the Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox regression model were applied, considering factors such company size, sector, location, and tax evasion fines. The study included data from 11,297 firms established in 2017, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings indicate that companies fined for tax evasion had a higher survival rate (69%) compared to those without fines (38%) by 2023. This suggests that fines might serve as a corrective measure, helping companies realign and improve their chances of survival. Additionally, the study shows that medium-sized enterprises face significant challenges, possibly due to exceeding the limits of a simplified tax regime. This study highlights the importance of continued research across different regions and countries to validate these findings and enhance tax administration strategies. Full article

The economy is significantly impacted by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. The growth of the economy can be sped up by the effective management of ESG risks through sustainable business practices. To promote sustainable development and to secure the long-term welfare of employees, customers, and all other stakeholders in the economy, companies must adapt and reposition their business strategies and organizational cultures. The goal of this paper is to determine how a set of common ESG elements, chosen from the viewpoints of sustainability and well-being, influence economic growth in the Western Balkan countries. For each ESG component, we used different variables. The information pertains to the five Western Balkan countries of North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. Because of a lack of data, Kosovo is excluded from the study. Then, we compared results from the analysis of the Western Balkan countries with a set of countries in Southeast Europe, which are members of the European Union and essentially coincide with the Western Europe countries. We performed multiple regression analysis with applied fixed effects to the data model. According to the study’s findings, each of the independent variables had no significant impact on the GDP’s annual growth of the Western Balkan countries, but two of the variables, life expectancy at birth and labor force participation, have certain impact on the GDP growth of Southeast Europe countries, which are members of the European Union. The green transition has gained significant importance in the Western Balkan countries as a crucial pathway toward sustainable economic growth, though it introduces a range of new social and economic challenges. Economically, these nations are confronted with considerable funding requirements for development. To build sustainable societies, it would be beneficial for these countries to explore more creative financing strategies. It is advised to establish financing frameworks that not only increase the transparency in policymaking but also ensure greater accountability in their execution. Full article

The purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between green business ethics, green finance, and sustainable business performance, and to evaluate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this relationship. The impact of the damage inflicted on nature’s functioning order is being felt much more strongly today. In light of these realities, companies must emphasize sustainability principles not just out of financial concerns but as a result of corporate social responsibility. In this context, focusing on the role of corporate social responsibility in sustainable business performance is the main goal of this research. Quantitative research methods, specifically the cross-sectional survey method, were employed for data collection and analysis. For this purpose, a convenience sampling method was used to select 427 white-collar employees working in industries operating in Türkiye as the sample for this study. The data collected through surveys were analyzed using the AMOS 24 statistical program. The findings underscore that green business ethics and green finance have a significant impact on corporate social responsibility and sustainable business performance. Additionally, it was determined that corporate social responsibility plays an intermediary role in shaping sustainable business performance. These findings are expected to provide an important foundation that can guide both employees and managers in developing awareness about green policies and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of green policies in working life. Full article

The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers. In this pilot study, 18 male shift workers were randomly divided into two groups. All participants completed the Short Form Health Survey-36 questionnaire (SF-36) before the start and at the end of the study. Group I (n = 9, mean age 42 ± 6.6 y) received dietary and lifestyle information every other month for one year, and the other, Group II (n = 9 mean age 36 ± 7.3 y), one year later. All participants were motivated to follow the trained dietary recommendations and to engage in physical activity. Almost all scores had improved. Surprisingly, physical performance scores worsened, which was not expected. The impairment in mental health due to the change in ownership of the company could have been better explained. Nutritional advice over a longer period and the motivation to integrate more exercise into everyday life can potentially improve the health of rotating shift workers. Full article

Today’s companies operate in a dynamic, constantly evolving, and highly competitive environment. The globalization of markets has significantly changed the economy, where companies operate within increasingly complex supply chains. The ever-increasing expectations of customers and company stakeholders, as well as the need to incorporate a comprehensive approach to the life cycle of manufactured products in corporate strategies, expose companies to a whole range of risks. The research was based on the need of organizations operating in the (automotive) industry to manage the dynamics of the business environment. This was accomplished using an appropriate model that, through its universality, would help to ensure the effective risk management in a holistic approach, protecting their performance and meeting the needs of the relevant stakeholders. The main idea of the research was to create and implement a dynamic model of risk management in the environment of a production organization based on the use of available methods such as SWOT, PESTLE, brainstorming, affinity diagrams, risk matrix, SIPOC diagram, risk, and the results of questionnaire surveys. The research was conducted in two directions: (1) designing the structure of the dynamic risk management model for the strategic management process; and (2) verifying the effectiveness of the proposed model in specific cases and evaluating the technical and economic benefits. To support the dynamics of the model, three basic management tools have been proposed: process review, internal audit, and management review, enriched with features that support the concept of risk-based thinking. Full article

Sustainable product development requires combining aspects, including quality and environmental. This is a difficult task to accomplish. Therefore, procedures are being sought to combine these aspects in the process of product improvement. Therefore, the objective of the investigation was to develop a procedure that supports the integration of quality-level indicators and life-cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the direction of product improvement. The procedure involves determining the quality indicators based on the expectations of the customer, which are subsequently processed using the formalised scoring method (PS). A life-cycle assessment index is determined for the main environmental impact criterion. According to the proposed mathematical model, these indicators are aggregated, and this process takes into account their importance in terms of product usefulness and environmental friendliness. Interpretations of the results and the direction of product improvement are from the results obtained from the modified IPA model (importance–performance analysis). The procedure is used in the verification of product prototypes, wherein the proposed approach, and its test, was carried out for a self-cooling beverage can (and its alternatives) with a “chill-on-demand” system, which is a technology supporting rapid cooling on demand. The life-cycle assessment was carried out to assess the carbon footprint, which is crucial for activities to reduce greenhouse gases. The direction of improvement of this product was shown to concern the selection of transport means, the reduction of energy use in the production phase, or the change of the method of opening the can. What is original is the proposal of a procedure for integrating the quality indicator and the life-cycle assessment indicator, taking into account the key environmental burden. The procedure can be used in manufacturing companies when designing and improving products in terms of their sustainable development. Full article

Estimating the expected capital and its variability is a crucial objective for a non-life insurance company, which enables the firm to develop effective management strategies. Many studies have been devoted to this topic, with simulative approaches being especially employed for solving the complexity of the interacting risks, not manageable through closed-form solutions. In this paper, we present a realistic framework based on Solvency II for the definition of next-year capital of a non-life insurer, including reinsurance treaties and counterparty default risk, in a multi-line of business setting. We determine the mean and variance of the stochastic capital considering both quota share and excess-of-loss reinsurance. We show how these closed-form results enable the analysis of many different real-world strategies, granting the insurer the possibility of choosing the optimal policy without the computational resources and time constraints required by simulative approaches. Full article

Estimating loss reserves is a crucial activity for non-life insurance companies. It involves adjusting the expected evolution of claims over different periods of active policies and their fluctuations. The chain-ladder (CL) technique is recognized as one of the most effective methods for calculating claim reserves in this context. It has become a benchmark within the insurance sector for predicting loss reserves and has been adapted to estimate variability margins. This variability has been addressed through both stochastic and possibilistic analyses. This study adopts the latter approach, proposing the use of the CL framework combined with intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs). While modeling with fuzzy numbers (FNs) introduces only epistemic uncertainty, employing IFNs allows for the representation of bipolar data regarding the feasible and infeasible values of loss reserves. In short, this paper presents an extension of the chain-ladder technique that estimates the parameters governing claim development through intuitionistic fuzzy regression, such as symmetric triangular IFNs. Additionally, it compares the results obtained with this method with those derived from the stochastic chain ladder by England and Verrall. Full article

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in affordable and accessible extended reality devices. Big tech companies like Apple and Meta have announced advanced devices expected to become more prevalent in everyday life. As younger generations embrace immersive digital realities for socialization, entertainment, and information retrieval, there is a need to explore immersive digital technologies that support experiential learning and reevaluate educational approaches. In Italy, the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a growing interest in immersive virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse for distance education. However, the integration of VR in Italian schools could be faster, primarily due to cost and teacher knowledge challenges. Our study aims to involve high school teachers in a practical workshop to assess their knowledge, skills, and intention to use VR in their teaching after brief training. The focus is on evaluating the acceptability of VR for educational purposes among Italian high school teachers. The workshop involved up to 16 teachers at once and was repeated eight times to reach 120 teachers. Participants received VR training and explored three educational VR applications. The results show that teachers are interested in learning and integrating VR into their lessons. They believe it can enhance teaching practices by actively engaging students and enabling experiential learning. This work provides an overview of the current state of VR in education, describes the workshop with high school teachers, and presents the obtained results. Full article