Search Results (2,360)

Background and Objectives: Academic point-of-care (POC) manufacturing enables the in-hospital design and production of patient-specific medical devices within certified environments, integrating clinical practice, engineering, and translational research. This model represents a new academic ecosystem that accelerates innovation while maintaining compliance with medical device regulations. Gregorio Marañón University Hospital has established one of the first ISO 13485-certified academic manufacturing facilities in Spain, providing on-site production of anatomical models, surgical guides, and custom implants for oral and maxillofacial surgery. This study presents a retrospective review of all devices produced between April 2017 and September 2025, analyzing their typology, materials, production parameters, and clinical applications. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted on 442 3D-printed medical devices fabricated for oral and maxillofacial surgical cases. Recorded variables included device classification, indication, printing technology, material type, sterilization method, working and printing times, and clinical utility. Image segmentation and design were performed using 3D Slicer and Meshmixer. Manufacturing used fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA) technologies with PLA and biocompatible resin (Biomed Clear V1). Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: During the eight-year period, 442 devices were manufactured. Biomodels constituted the majority (approximately 68%), followed by surgical guides (20%) and patient-specific implants (7%). Trauma and oncology were the leading clinical indications, representing 45% and 33% of all devices, respectively. The orbital region was the most frequent anatomical site. FDM accounted for 63% of the printing technologies used, and PLA was the predominant material. The mean working time per device was 3.4 h and mean printing time 12.6 h. Most devices were applied to preoperative planning (59%) or intraoperative use (35%). Conclusions: Academic POC manufacturing offers a sustainable, clinically integrated model for translating digital workflows and additive manufacturing into daily surgical practice. The eight-year experience of Gregorio Marañón University Hospital demonstrates how academic production units can enhance surgical precision, accelerate innovation, and ensure regulatory compliance while promoting education and translational research in healthcare. Full article

Rapid urbanization has significantly affected urban ecological environments, necessitating accurate and scientific quality assessments. In this study, we develop an enhanced remote sensing ecological index (WRSEI) for water network cities using Linyi City, China, as a case study. Key innovations include (1) introducing a water–vegetation index to better represent aquatic ecosystems; (2) incorporating nighttime light data to quantify the intensity of human activity; and (3) employing hierarchical PCA to rationally weight ecological endowment and stress indicators. The model’s effectiveness was rigorously validated using independent land use data. The results show that (1) the WRSEI accurately captures Linyi’s “water–city symbiosis” pattern, increasing the assessed ecological quality of water bodies by 15.78% compared to the conventional RSEI; (2) hierarchical PCA provides more ecologically reasonable indicator weights; and (3) from 2000 to 2020, ecological quality exhibited a pattern of “central degradation and peripheral improvement”, driven by urban expansion. This study establishes a validated technical framework for ecological assessment in water-rich cities, offering a scientific basis for sustainable urban management. Full article

Intimate relationship stability is fundamental to human wellbeing, yet its quantitative assessment faces dual challenges: the inherent subjectivity of psychological constructs and the complexity of social ecosystems. Symmetry, as a fundamental structural feature of social interaction, plays a pivotal role in shaping relational dynamics. To address these limitations, this study proposes an innovative computational framework that integrates Fuzzy Set Theory with Social Network Analysis (SNA). The framework consists of two complementary components: (1) a psychologically grounded fuzzy assessment model that employs differentiated membership functions to transform discrete subjective ratings into continuous and interpretable relationship quality indices and (2) an enhanced Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) threat detection model that utilizes Weighted Mahalanobis Distance to accurately identify and cluster potential interference sources within social networks. Empirical validation using a simulated dataset—comprising typical characteristic samples from 10 couples—demonstrates that the proposed framework not only generates interpretable relationship diagnostics by correcting biases associated with traditional averaging methods, but also achieves high precision in threat identification. The results indicate that stable relationships exhibit greater symmetry in partner interactions, whereas threatened nodes display structural and behavioural asymmetry. This study establishes a rigorous mathematical paradigm—“Subjective Fuzzification → Multidimensional Feature Engineering → Intelligent Clustering”—for relationship science, thereby advancing the field from descriptive analysis toward data-driven, quantitative evaluation and laying a foundation for systematic assessment of relational health. Full article

Since the early 2000s, Living Labs have evolved as a predominantly European innovation approach focusing on information and communication technology (ICT) innovation to a worldwide phenomenon spanning multiple topics and sectors, with various innovation goals. However, there remain questions regarding their impact and effectiveness at tackling so-called ‘wicked problems’. As recent research has suggested, Living Labs have the potential of fostering and orchestrating stakeholders and activities in local innovation ecosystems; this paper investigates how this works in practice and what the outcomes and impact of a Living Lab approach are in the case of a newly emerging innovation ecosystem. This is performed via an in-depth case study of the Internet of Water project in Flanders and the subsequent outcomes and impacts on the water ecosystem in the region. The study shows that adopting a Living Lab approach functioned as the starting point and catalyst for an innovation ecosystem as opposed to the mostly scattered and siloed stakeholder landscape before the project. Although far from all ambitions were met during the project, the real-life experimentation and intense co-creation of the Living Lab approach fostered the discovery of shared goals and ambitions. This led to an intensified collaboration, not only among the consortium partners, but throughout the whole ecosystem, resulting in multiple follow-up collaborations and initiatives in an emerging innovation ecosystem on water management. Full article

The anticipated transition from 5G to 6G is driven not by incremental performance demands but by a widening mismatch between emerging application requirements and the capabilities of existing cellular systems. Despite rapid progress across 3GPP Releases 15–20, the current literature lacks a unified analysis that connects these standardization milestones to the concrete technical gaps that 6G must resolve. This study addresses this omission through a cross-release, application-driven review that traces how the evolution from enhanced mobile broadband to intelligent, sensing integrated networks lays the foundation for three core 6G service pillars: immersive communication (IC), everything connected (EC), and high-precision positioning. By examining use cases such as holographic telepresence, cooperative drone swarms, and large-scale Extended Reality (XR) ecosystems, this study exposes the limitations of today’s spectrum strategies, network architectures, and device capabilities and identifies the performance thresholds of Tbps-level throughput, sub-10 cm localization, sub-ms latency, and 10 M/km² device density that next-generation systems must achieve. The novelty of this review lies in its synthesis of 3GPP advancements in XR, the non-terrestrial network (NTN), RedCap, ambient Internet of Things (IoT), and consideration of sustainability into a cohesive key performance indicator (KPI) framework that links future services to the required architectural and protocol innovations, including AI-native design and sub-THz operation. Positioned against global initiatives such as Hexa-X and the Next G Alliance, this paper argues that 6G represents a fundamental redesign of wireless communication advancement in 5G, driven by intelligence, adaptability, and long-term energy efficiency to satisfy diverse uses cases and requirements. Full article

Plastic pollution poses severe threats to ecosystems, human health, and economies as plastics fragment into macro- and microplastics that accumulate across marine and terrestrial environments. Conventional monitoring is constrained by scale, cost, and resources, particularly in under-resourced regions, whereas citizen science provides an inclusive, community-driven alternative for data collection, analysis, and remediation to support evidence-based policy. This systematic review advances the field through three novel contributions: a refined participatory typology that explicitly prioritizes co-creative models for equitable engagement in the Global South; the first comprehensive synthesis of direct citizen involvement in plastic bioremediation, including community microbial isolation, household biodegradation trials, and real-world testing of biodegradable materials; and a new conceptual framework positioning citizen science as the central nexus linking upstream prevention, technological innovation, bioremediation, and global governance. Findings highlight large-scale geotagged datasets, behavioral change, and policy influence, while persistent challenges include data standardization, digital exclusion, and Global North bias. We therefore advocate institutional mainstreaming through dedicated policy offices, decolonial integration of indigenous knowledge, and hybrid citizen–lab validation pipelines, especially in underrepresented regions such as Africa, establishing citizen science as a transformative mechanism for participatory and equitable responses to escalating plastic pollution. Full article

This review aims to provide a broad, multidisciplinary perspective on how dynamic genomics and systems biology are transforming modern healthcare, with a focus on cancer especially liver cancer (HCC). It explains how integrating multi-omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, interactomics, metabolomics, and spatial transcriptomics deepens our understanding of the complex tumor environment. These innovations enable precise patient stratification based on molecular, spatial, and functional tumor characteristics, allowing for personalized treatment plans. Emphasizing the role of regulatory networks and cell-specific pathways, the review shows how mapping these networks using multi-omics data can predict resistance, identify therapeutic targets, and aid in the development of targeted therapies. The approach shifts from standard, uniform treatments to flexible, real-time strategies guided by technologies such as liquid biopsies and wearable biosensors. A case study showcases the benefits of personalized therapy, which integrates epigenetic modifications, checkpoint inhibitors, and ongoing multi-omics monitoring in a patient with HCC. Future innovations, such as cloud-based genomic ecosystems, federated learning for privacy, and AI-driven data analysis, are also discussed to enhance decision-making and outcomes. The review underscores a move toward predictive and preventive healthcare by integrating layered data into clinical workflows. It reviews ongoing clinical trials using advanced molecular and immunological techniques for HCC. Overall, it promotes a systemic, technological, and spatial approach to cancer treatment, emphasizing the importance of experimental, biochemical–functional, and biophysical data-driven insights in personalizing medicine. Full article

A recent report on the future of agriculture by the European Commission emphasizes the need for sustainable development on a farm level to be characterized by measuring ecosystem services with indicators and corresponding thresholds. This case study raises the question whether or not operational methods are currently available to allow such measurements under practical field conditions. To broaden the scope of this case study to the international policy arena, the measurement of ecosystem services was linked to selected UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The case study showed that operational methods are currently available to measure and judge ecosystem services related to the following: the production of healthy food, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and soil health. This conclusion was, however, only possible when applying innovative sensing and laboratory techniques to measure pesticide and heavy metal contents and soil microbiology. Soil health is not only important as an ecosystem service, as such, but also plays a major role in realizing the other ecosystem services. Once all ecosystem services are satisfied on a particular farm, a farmer is free to follow his own unique management practices free from top-down governmental rules and regulations that focus now on required management measures. Each farmer can pursue the goals in a way that best aligns with his own vision, context, and creativity. Full article

The Chinese government is committed to promoting the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology with rural development, advocating for the construction of a new “rural revitalization” model supported by information technology. However, its actual effectiveness and economic mechanisms require more thorough empirical verification. Based on Chinese sample data from 2011 to 2023, this study empirically examines the impact of AI on rural revitalization. Findings reveal that AI exerts a significant and sustained supportive role in comprehensive rural revitalization. Deeper analysis reveals that the AI-driven process of comprehensive rural revitalization is not linear but exhibits an inverted “U” pattern—initially promoting then inhibiting development. Mechanism tests indicate that AI empowers comprehensive rural revitalization by enhancing innovation activity and economic dynamism. In the samples where there is a data trading center, a high population density, and a large proportion of rural population, the enabling effect of artificial intelligence is more pronounced, indicating that data elements, population size, and location are important external influencing factors. The paper argues that policy optimization should focus on building a strategic ecosystem for “digital-intelligent villages,” advancing institutional development alongside technological implementation, and devising tiered implementation strategies to fully unleash AI’s enabling potential. Full article

Extreme wildfires are becoming increasingly frequent and severe across many regions worldwide, driven by climate change, land-use transitions, and long-standing fire-suppression legacies. In this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS)—defined as actions that work with ecological processes to address societal challenges while providing biodiversity and socio-economic benefits—offer a promising yet underdeveloped pathway for enhancing wildfire resilience. This Special Issue brings together eleven contributions spanning empirical ecology, landscape configuration, simulation modelling, spatial optimisation, ecosystem service analysis, governance assessment, and community-based innovation. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that restoring ecological fire regimes, promoting multifunctional landscapes, and integrating advanced decision support tools can substantially reduce wildfire hazard while sustaining ecosystem functions. They also reveal significant governance barriers, including fragmented policies, limited investment in prevention, and challenges in incorporating social demands into territorial planning. By synthesising these insights, this editorial identifies several strategic priorities for advancing NbS in fire-prone landscapes: mainstreaming prevention within governance frameworks, strengthening the science–practice interface, investing in long-term socio-ecological monitoring, managing trade-offs transparently, and empowering local communities. Together, the findings highlight that effective NbS emerge from the alignment of ecological, technological, institutional, and social dimensions, offering a coherent pathway toward more resilient, biodiverse, and fire-adaptive landscapes. Full article

Despite European and international regulatory frameworks promoting circular economy principles, sustainability in the furniture sector is still challenged by the limited access to reliable information about circular materials for designers, manufacturers, and waste managers in the Made-in-Italy furniture ecosystem. This research develops a digital infrastructure to address these information gaps through mixed methodology, combining desk research on regulatory frameworks and existing platforms; field research involving stakeholder mapping and interviews with designers, manufacturers, and waste managers; and the experimental development of AI-enhanced digital tools. The result integrates a web-based platform for circular materials with a CAD plugin supporting real-time sustainability assessment. As AI-assisted data entry showed a reduced form completion time while maintaining accuracy through human verification, testing also revealed how the system effectively bridges knowledge gaps between stakeholders operating in currently siloed value chains. The platform is a critical step in enabling designers to incorporate circular materials during the early design stages, while providing manufacturers access to verified punctual sustainability data compliant with mandatory Green Public Procurement criteria. Beyond the development of an innovative digital tool, the study outlines a corresponding operational model as a practical framework for strengthening the transition toward a circular economy in the Italian furniture industry. Full article

This study aims to enhance the security of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within the Internet of Drones (IoD) ecosystem by detecting and preventing Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. We introduce DroneDefender, a web-based intrusion detection system (IDS) that employs machine learning (ML) techniques to identify anomalous network traffic patterns associated with DoS attacks. The system is evaluated using the CIC-IDS 2018 dataset and utilizes the Random Forest algorithm, optimized with the SMOTEENN technique to tackle dataset imbalance. Our results demonstrate that DroneDefender significantly outperforms traditional IDS solutions, achieving an impressive detection accuracy of 99.93%. Key improvements include reduced latency, enhanced scalability, and a user-friendly graphical interface for network administrators. The innovative aspect of this research lies in the development of an ML-driven, web-based IDS specifically designed for IoD environments. This system provides a reliable, adaptable, and highly accurate method for safeguarding drone operations against evolving cyber threats, thereby bolstering the security and resilience of UAV applications in critical sectors such as emergency services, delivery, and surveillance. Full article

Blockchain is widely promoted as a tool for enhancing transparency, trust, and sustainability in business, yet little is known about how creative micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging economies can meaningfully adopt it for finance and accounting purposes in times of global uncertainty. This study explores how blockchain can be harnessed for transparent and sustainable accounting in Indonesian creative MSMEs amid rapid digital disruption. Using an exploratory qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 18 owners and key decision-makers across diverse creative subsectors and analysed the data thematically through an integrated Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) lens. The findings show that participants recognise blockchain’s potential benefits for transaction transparency, verifiable records, intellectual property protection, and secure payments, but adoption is constrained by technical complexity, financial constraints, limited digital and accounting capabilities, and perceived regulatory and reputational risks. Government initiatives are seen as important for legitimacy yet insufficient without concrete guidance, capacity-building, and financial support. The study extends TAM–DOI applications to blockchain-enabled accounting in creative MSMEs and highlights the need for sequenced, ecosystem-based interventions to translate blockchain’s technical promise into accessible, ESG- and SDG-oriented accounting solutions in the creative economy. Full article

Digital Learning Hubs and educational repositories are key tools to offer innovative educational experiences in the context of the digital transformation of education. However, their evaluation has often been approached from fragmented perspectives, limiting a comprehensive understanding of their role as integrated digital learning ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the functionalities, usability, and accessibility of 25 digital platforms through 1519 observations, conceiving these dimensions as interconnected components for supporting the development of complex and computational thinking, and testing five hypotheses related to their performance. A quantitative descriptive–correlational approach was employed for the study. Internal and external functionalities were assessed using a specifically designed instrument, while usability was analyzed according to ISO 9241: Ergonomics of human–system interaction (efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction), and accessibility was evaluated based on WCAG 2.1 standards. The results showed that platforms with higher scores in internal functionalities, particularly personalization and evaluation, exhibited a positive correlation with higher usability metrics, including efficiency and user satisfaction. Accessibility limitations and weaknesses in external functionalities were identified as relevant factors affecting platform performance, with recurring shortcomings in Operable and Understandable. In addition, the availability of courses explicitly focused on complex and computational thinking revealed a gap in specialized training within the analyzed platforms. From a research perspective, this study contributes by providing a multi-criteria evaluation framework and comparative empirical evidence that clarifies the relationships between platform functionality, usability, accessibility, and the development of complex and computational thinking. These findings support developing a Digital Learning Hub as balanced, robust, and evidence informed digital learning ecosystems. Full article

Greece’s 2010–2018 adjustment programmes provide an insightful case of how timing of reforms, institutional frictions, and digital transformation jointly condition the outcomes of macroeconomic stabilization efforts. This review builds on programme evaluations, recent academic work, and empirical indicators to analyze the dynamics at the intersection of macroeconomic adjustment, institutional quality, and entrepreneurship, placing emphasis on productivity and the evolving role of digital governance. The paper argues that the asymmetric sequencing of fiscal consolidation, internal devaluation, institution-building, and digital modernization is consistent with deeper and more persistent output losses than initially anticipated, as complementary reforms in product markets and public administration were not yet in place. Recovery momentum was observed when administrative simplification, transparency reforms, and digital public services began to reduce transaction costs, uncertainty, and implementation frictions. In this perspective, digital governance—through initiatives such as Diavgeia, and interoperable registries—acted as an enabling complement to the effectiveness of structural reforms, supporting the shift towards a more innovation-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystem. While the evidence is associative rather than causally identified, the synthesis highlights mechanisms and transferable lessons for the design and sequencing of reform programmes in crisis and recovery contexts. Full article