Search Results (73)

This follow-up scientific case study builds on prior research to explore the computational challenges of applying quantum algorithms to financial asset management, focusing specifically on solving the graph-cut problem for investment recommendation. Unlike our prior study, which focused on idealized QAOA performance, this work introduces a graph compression pipeline that enables QAOA deployment under real quantum hardware constraints. This study investigates quantum-accelerated spectral graph compression for financial asset recommendations, addressing scalability and regulatory constraints in portfolio management. We propose a hybrid framework combining the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) with spectral graph theory to solve the Max-Cut problem for investor clustering. Our methodology leverages quantum simulators (cuQuantum and Cirq-GPU) to evaluate performance against classical brute-force enumeration, with graph compression techniques enabling deployment on resource-constrained quantum hardware. The results underscore that efficient graph compression is crucial for successful implementation. The framework bridges theoretical quantum advantage with practical financial use cases, though hardware limitations (qubit counts, coherence times) necessitate hybrid quantum-classical implementations. These findings advance the deployment of quantum algorithms in mission-critical financial systems, particularly for high-dimensional investor profiling under regulatory constraints. Full article

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a pivotal role in supporting and advancing the educational mission of universities globally. They are fundamental to a university’s instructional workforce and their roles are critical to the undergraduate student experience. This study examines the experiences and perceptions of GTAs (n = 74) at an R2 institution in the Midwest, U.S. Survey results reveal that the majority of surveyed GTAs have been at the institution for at least one year, teach in face-to-face formats with classes typically ranging from 12 to 30, and allocate 11–20 h/week to their instructional duties, although 30% of respondents report >20 h/week. Survey respondents reported a need for more teaching-focused onboarding, discipline-specific training, and more opportunities for feedback on their teaching practices, while almost 50% reported never engaging with discipline-based education research (DBER) literature. Although departmental and institutional training programs were acknowledged, so too was the perception of their lack of accessibility or relevance. Potential strategies for supporting GTAs, particularly early in their careers, include shadowing opportunities, sustained formal classroom management, and pedagogical training that includes an introduction to (and discussion of) the DBER literature, and a reduced teaching load in the first semester. Universities should prioritize and design GTA professional development using a cognitive apprenticeship framework. This would invest in the undergraduate student experience and directly support an institution’s educational mission. It is also highly effective in preparing highly skilled graduates to enter an increasingly connected global workforce and could positively contribute to an engaged alumni base. Full article

Background: This study compares the cost-utility, visual acuity, and humanistic outcomes of phacoemulsification surgery performed during international outreach campaigns to outcomes in the U.S. Objective: Humanitarian organizations frequently perform cataract surgeries in underserved regions, yet the outcomes of phacoemulsification in these settings remain unexplored. This study aims to compare the visual acuity outcomes, quality-of-life outcomes, and cost of phacoemulsification surgery during international outreach campaigns with those in the U.S. Methods: This retrospective review analyzed 344 cases from Women for World Health (W4WH) missions and 305 consecutive cases from the academic practice of the lead surgeon of W4WH in the US. The pre-operative (pre-op) visual acuity, post-operative (post-op) visual acuity at day 1, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at post-op month 1 were compared to baseline. The change in visual acuity was compared between the two groups. Complication rates, cost per case, and quality-of-life measures were evaluated for the mission group compared to cataract surgery outcomes in the developed world. Results: The mission cohort had worse baseline visual acuity than the U.S. cohort (1.36 logMAR vs. 0.50 logMAR, p < 0.0001) and showed greater mean improvement (1.24 logMAR vs. 0.35 logMAR, p < 0.0001). Both cohorts achieved similar BCVA at post-op month 1 (0.13 logMAR). The cost for the mission group was USD 276 per surgery. A total of 93.94% of patients in the mission group achieved a BCVA of 20/40 or better, which is comparable to the U.S. outcomes. Conclusions: The dramatic impact, immediacy, and enduring effect of cataract surgery using phacoemusification on quality of life, mental health, and economic return on investment make it the ideal procedure for humanitarian settings. Considering all of the available metrics, our data support the continued expansion of humanitarian efforts by cataract surgery organizations worldwide. Full article

Background: Logistics and supply chain management are crucial in modern commerce, impacting global competition, and both can directly benefit by using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This case study examines key success factors behind a significant operational transformation in a company in the countryside of Alagoas, Brazil. From this context, two research questions emerge: (a) What are the main success factors that drove a significant operational transformation in logistics and supply chain management, and how did these factors impact the company’s growth? (b) How does digital transformation and adopting an ERP impact the company’s logistics activities? Methods: Data were collected through on-site observations, interviews with supervisors and a manager, and analysis of company-provided documentation. Results: The study identified key processes, stakeholders, and practices, focusing on critical success factors, mission-critical processes, and the integration of core and support functions. Notable changes were observed through key logistics performance indicators, tracking the evolution from pre-implementation to post-implementation and revealing their impact on the company’s growth. Conclusions: Improved decision making between departments significantly enhanced performance and growth. The analyzed company’s success can be attributed to a process-oriented approach, digital transformation in logistics, and investment in information technology. Full article

Human space exploration presents an unparalleled opportunity to study life in extreme environments—but it also exposes astronauts to physiological stressors that jeopardize key systems like vision. Corneal health, essential for maintaining precise visual acuity, is threatened by microgravity-induced fluid shifts, cosmic radiation, and the confined nature of spacecraft living environments. These conditions elevate the risk of corneal abrasions, infections, and structural damage. In addition, Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)—while primarily affecting the posterior segment—has also been potentially linked to anterior segment alterations such as corneal edema and tear film instability. This review examines these ocular challenges and assesses current mitigation strategies. Traditional approaches, such as terrestrial eye banking and corneal transplantation, are impractical for spaceflight due to the limited viability of preserved tissues, surgical complexities, anesthetic risks, infection potential, and logistical constraints. The paper explores emerging technologies like 3D bioprinting and stem cell-based tissue engineering, which offer promising solutions by enabling the on-demand production of personalized corneal constructs. Complementary advancements, including adaptive protective eyewear, bioengineered tear substitutes, telemedicine, and AI-driven diagnostic tools, also show potential in autonomously managing ocular health during long-duration missions. By addressing the complex interplay of environmental stressors and biological vulnerabilities, these innovations not only safeguard astronaut vision and mission performance but also catalyze new pathways for regenerative medicine on Earth. The evolution of space-based ophthalmic care underscores the dual impact of space medicine investments across planetary exploration and terrestrial health systems. Full article

This paper evaluates the role of federated satellite systems (FSSs) in enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported military medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. An FSS integrates multiple satellite systems, thus improving imaging and communication capabilities compared with standalone satellite systems. A simulation model is developed for a MEDEVAC mission where the FSS control of an unmanned aerial vehicle is distributed across different countries. The model is utilized in a simulation experiment in which the capabilities of the federated and standalone systems in MEDEVAC are compared. The performance of these systems is evaluated by using the most meaningful metrics, i.e., mission duration and data latency, for evacuation to enable life-saving procedures. The simulation results indicate that the FSS, using low-Earth-orbit constellations, outperforms standalone satellite systems. The use of the FSS leads to faster response times for urgent evacuations and low latency for the real-time control of unmanned vehicles, enabling advanced remote medical procedures. These findings suggest that investing in hybrid satellite architectures and fostering international collaboration promote scalability, interoperability, and frequent-imaging opportunities. Such features of satellite systems are vital to enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported MEDEVAC missions in combat zones. Full article

In the pursuit of sustainable urban development, construction land development (CLD) not only carries the important mission of promoting economic growth but also needs to actively respond to the environmental requirements of reducing carbon emissions. However, there is a tension and balance between these two objectives. This study explores the evolution characteristics and influencing mechanisms of the synergistic relationship between carbon emission efficiency and economic benefits of CLD based on the undesirable slacks-based measurement, coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, Tapio decoupling model, spatial convergence model, and interpretable machine learning techniques. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The CCR between CEE and economic benefits of CLD in China shows the characteristic of “improvement-stability-local decline”, and it is higher in the eastern region than in the central and western regions. (2) The decoupling of carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and economic benefits of CLD between 2003 and 2023 shows diverse trends in different provinces and time scales in China. (3) China’s eastern region are consistent with σ-convergence and β-convergence, and the gap in the level of inter-regional coupling co-ordination has narrowed. On the contrary, the central and western regions do not pass the σ and β-convergence tests, and the regional equilibrium needs to be improved. (4) In descending order of influence on CCR, they are ownership structure, urban construction land per capita, energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product, energy structure, industrial structure, and foreign trade investment intensity. Full article

As the indispensable basic resource of agricultural production, cultivated land has always carried the important mission of maintaining food stability, promoting rural economic development, and maintaining ecological balance. However, in application, there is often a conflict between the multiple functions of cultivated land and the limited ability of cultivated land to perform multiple functions. Therefore, this paper uses hot spot analysis, the IUEMS model, the InVEST model, Pearson correlation coefficients and self-organizing feature maps (SOFMs) to explore the multifunctional trade-offs and synergistic relationships of cultivated land in the Hexi Corridor at the grid scale and the zoning optimization scheme. The results revealed that from 2000 to 2020, the cultivated land production functions and social security functions in the Hexi Corridor maintained a high level and continued to rise, and the hot spots exhibited a stable pattern of “central and southeast concentration”. The ecological function performance is relatively weak, and the hot spots are concentrated mainly in the southeast, whereas the landscape view recreational functions as a whole show a trend of gradual recovery after weakening. In terms of mutual relationships, there are significant synergies between cultivated land production and social security functions, whereas the trade-offs and synergies between other functions are complex and changeable. Production and social security show a coordinated spatial distribution pattern. Production, social security, and ecological functions are dominated by spatial trade-offs. The production and landscape recreation functions, social security and ecological functions, social security and landscape recreation functions, and ecological and landscape recreation functions are mainly synergistic in space. Through self-organizing feature map analysis, the cultivated land in the Hexi Corridor is divided into four functional areas: agricultural production-dominant areas, agricultural social security areas, ecological agriculture areas, and balanced development areas, and management objectives are proposed. This study can provide useful lessons and references for land use planning and management in other similar areas. Full article

Although the Middle East is often perceived as politically, economically, and socially unstable, Saudi Arabia offers a different narrative. Inspired by the country’s vision (Vision 2030) and the growing body of research exploring its socio-economic transformation, this article examines how organizational strategy theories and practices can be advanced by inviting researchers to focus on Saudi Arabia’s evolving context. To achieve this, the article addresses three pivotal questions: (a) Why should academics consider conducting research in Saudi Arabia? (b) What research topics could significantly advance organizational strategy theories and practices? (c) What are the primary barriers to conducting research in Saudi Arabia? Using a comprehensive review of existing literature, socio-economic analysis, and an evaluation of Vision 2030 targets, the article identifies three key themes: (1) socio-cultural dynamics and their influence on organizational strategies, (2) economic diversification and its impact on strategic resilience, and (3) the strategic alignment of foreign direct investment (FDI) with expatriate mission success. These findings lead to distinct research agendas linked to relevant theoretical frameworks, including Cross-Cultural Theory, Institutional Theory, and the Resource-Based View. The article concludes by inviting scholars to explore these themes and generate findings that contribute to existing organizational strategy theories and practical solutions, fostering a deeper understanding of organizational strategy within Saudi Arabia and the broader global landscape. Full article

The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) Engineering Research Center (ERC) was funded from 1996 to 2007 by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The mission of UWEB was to advance biomaterials by integrating modern biology with materials science. UWEB specifically focused on the healing and integration of medical implants. UWEB teamed biologists, physicians, engineers, and industry and demonstrated three paths that might advance biomaterials so they could seamlessly integrate and heal in the body. The three primary lines of investigation were precision porous scaffolds, super-non-fouling surfaces, and the control of matricellular proteins. The UWEB program set the groundwork for the modern field of immunoengineering. Also, UWEB invested significantly in training scientists/engineers who could freely integrate advances in biological sciences, state-of-the-art materials science, and medical technology. This historical summary of the UWEB program demonstrates that federal investment in interfacing forefront fields can yield dividends with benefits for society and the economy. Full article

Background: this study was performed under the umbrella of the Health Extended Alliance for Innovative Therapies, Advanced Lab Research, and Integrated Approaches of Precision Medicine (HEAL ITALIA) partnership and funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, and by the European Union. Objectives: the overall objective of the HEAL project is to identify innovative and effective therapeutic approaches to reduce disease burden. The present research falls within Spoke 7: Prevention Strategies: Integrated and gender medicine approaches for prevention strategies based on environmental, lifestyle, and clinical biometric data. Obesity represents a primary risk factor worldwide for the onset of numerous life-threatening diseases, including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Environmental and gender-related factors influence obesity development. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of those agents on different organs of the human body are not fully understood yet. Methods: here, we present a study protocol aimed at shedding light on (i) the complex interplays among adipose tissue, brain and gut in obesity, and (ii) the effects of specific dietary components and environmental metabolism-disrupting compounds on those interactions. To this purpose, we combined ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo approaches to gain additional knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying connections between organs. Conclusions: the data provided by this study will contribute to defining new targets for therapeutic and/or preventive interventions, thereby allowing more personalized approaches to nutrition. Full article

Hydrogen mobility embodies a promising solution to address the challenges posed by traditional fossil fuel-based vehicles. The use of hydrogen in small heavy-duty road vehicles based on internal combustion engines (ICEs) may be appealing for two fundamental reasons: Direct electrification seems less promising in heavy-duty transport systems, and fuel cell-based hydrogen vehicle implementation may not proceed at the expected pace due to higher investment costs compared to ICEs. On the other hand, hydrogen combustion is gaining attractiveness and relies on robust and cheap technologies, but it is not the only renewable solution. In this framework, this work presents a methodology to assess the Well-to-Wheel primary energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of small heavy-duty vehicles. The methodology is applied in a real case study, namely a passenger coach traveling on a 100 km mission in non-optimized conditions. Therefore, the suitability of hydrogen is compared with standard diesel and other alternative diesel-type fuels (biodiesel and synthetic diesel types). Hydrogen shows competitivity with standard diesel from the point of view of CO₂ emission reduction (−29%) while it hides a higher primary energy consumption (+40%) based on the current power-to-hydrogen efficiency declared by electrolyzer manufacturers. Nonetheless, HVO brings the highest benefits both from the point of view of primary energy consumption and emission reduction, namely −35% and 464–634 kg_CO2/100km avoided compared to hydrogen. Moreover, the availability of HVO—like other biofuels—does not depend on carbon from CO₂ capture and sequestration systems. Full article

In the quest for a sustainable future, energy-intensive industries (EIIs) stand at the forefront of Europe’s decarbonisation mission. Despite their significant emissions footprint, the path to comprehensive decarbonisation remains elusive at EU and national levels. This study scrutinises key sectors such as non-ferrous metals, steel, cement, lime, chemicals, fertilisers, ceramics, and glass. It maps out their current environmental impact and potential for mitigation through innovative strategies. The analysis spans across Spain, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands, highlighting sector-specific ecosystems and the technological breakthroughs shaping them. It addresses the urgency for the industry-wide adoption of electrification, the utilisation of green hydrogen, biomass, bio-based or synthetic fuels, and the deployment of carbon capture utilisation and storage to ensure a smooth transition. Investment decisions in EIIs will depend on predictable economic and regulatory landscapes. This analysis discusses the risks associated with continued investment in high-emission technologies, which may lead to premature decommissioning and significant economic repercussions. It presents a dichotomy: invest in climate-neutral technologies now or face the closure and offshoring of operations later, with consequences for employment. This open discussion concludes that while the technology for near-complete climate neutrality in EIIs exists and is rapidly advancing, the higher costs compared to conventional methods pose a significant barrier. Without the ability to pass these costs to consumers, the adoption of such technologies is stifled. Therefore, it calls for decisive political commitment to support the industry’s transition, ensuring a greener, more resilient future for Europe’s industrial backbone. Full article

This paper explores the elements of support and development of entrepreneurship in Ukraine. It suggests that digitalization is an important organizational component in the development of the business sector in the knowledge economy. The authors present a comprehensive study of the most advanced domestic business ecosystems (Diia, UNIT.CITY, Genesis) and highlight their key characteristics, i.e., type of ownership, structure, mission and vision, services for entrepreneurs, investment fund availability, and areas and types of investment. The paper concludes that support for entrepreneurship in Ukraine is based on the principles of efficiency, accessibility, social security, openness, and transparency. Entrepreneurship support is considered as a set of measures of the state-funded and private institutions and organizations aimed at ensuring the sustainable functioning of small and medium-sized business entities and stimulating their development by creating the following favorable conditions: building a competitive environment and increasing competitiveness; fostering investment and innovation efforts; promoting manufactured goods (works, services) or knowledge-based products in domestic and foreign markets; ensuring employment by supporting the citizens’ entrepreneurial initiatives. Areas of public and private support of domestic entrepreneurship include provision of information, consultancy, and special services. Moreover, the paper pays special attention to the forms and methods of supporting businesses and entrepreneurship under martial law in Ukraine in 2022. Full article

The Swedish Paradox is a well-known phenomenon related to high research and development (R&D) investment with supposedly low aggregate economic performance owing to economic saturation. The Korean economy has not yet become an advanced economy; however, its R&D performance is negligible. Recently, also the R&D share of the GNP has become much higher, and its contribution to the economic growth rate is rapidly decreasing, implying a negative relationship between R&D activities and economic performance. This study uses slacks-based data envelopment analysis to investigate investment performance at the local government level in Korea. Our findings reveal that the average score for R&D investment performance in Korea is 64%, indicating huge potential for an efficiency enhancement of 36%. Notably, among the 16 local governments examined, Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan areas showed the lowest R&D efficiency, while Gangwon and Gwangju exhibited superior performance. Since these two regions have promoted specific missions, such as the medical hub in Gangwon and the optical fiber strategic platform in Gwangju, precise and accurate differentiation appears necessary to avoid a lack of governance. To determine the workable mechanism of R&D support policies, we further divided R&D productivity into three categories by incorporating the Malmquist Index (MI). The paper productivity of R&D shows an increasing trend over the experimental period from 2016 to 2021. However, overall, the MI shows slightly deteriorating productivity with 0.978, owing to the aggravating effect of patents and commercialization of R&D. The success in the paper comes from the harmonized partnership between the strong push factor of the government and voluntary pull factor of the R&D support receiving universities. Thus, we suggest that the Korean government should not depend on the superficial effectiveness of R&D in the term but on public–private partnerships with stronger performance-oriented responsibility. Full article