Search Results (445)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a core technology driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution and serves as a foundation for sustainable technological competitiveness. Despite the rapid growth of AI-related patent filings in Korea, the overall quality of these patents remains relatively low. This study examines the determinants of patent quality in university–industry (UI) collaboration and investigates how firms’ R&D capability moderates this relationship. Using 90,782 AI patents filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) between 2013 and 2023, the Patent Quality Index (PQI) was constructed by integrating forward citations, patent-family size, and the number of claims through min–max normalization. Regression analyses reveal that UI collaboration per se has no significant average effect on PQI, but firms with stronger R&D capability achieve higher patent quality through collaboration. In addition, greater collaboration depth and accumulated prior experience significantly enhance PQI, while the negative effect of technological cognitive distance is mitigated by absorptive capacity. These findings demonstrate that sustainable innovation outcomes depend not merely on the quantity of collaboration but on the synergy between qualitative collaboration structures and internal R&D capabilities. By linking open innovation theory with absorptive capacity, this study provides empirical evidence for fostering sustainable innovation ecosystems in which universities and firms co-create technological value. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer remains a major global health challenge, and treatment resistance limits the long-term success of chemotherapy. Drug repurposing strategies offer new opportunities for improving therapeutic outcomes by combining existing agents with established chemotherapeutics. Sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor commonly used in type 2 diabetes, has recently gained attention for its potential anticancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-metastatic effects of sitagliptin and doxorubicin, individually and in combination, on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and to determine whether their combined use exerts a synergistic anticancer effect. Methods: HeLa cells were treated for 48 h with increasing concentrations of sitagliptin, doxorubicin, or their combination. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and caspase-8/9 activity assays. Synergy was quantified using the Chou–Talalay method, and Combination Index (CI) values were used to determine synergistic interactions. Intracellular ROS levels were measured using the DCFDA assay. Migration and invasion capacities were analyzed using wound healing and Transwell assays. MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 levels were quantified via ELISA with normalization to viable cell counts. Gene expression levels of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathway components were measured by qRT-PCR. Bioinformatic analyses (STRING, GeneMANIA, GO, KEGG) were performed to identify common molecular targets and enriched pathways affected by both agents. Results: The combination of sitagliptin and doxorubicin significantly reduced cell viability and demonstrated a synergistic interaction (CI < 1). Combined treatment induced a marked increase in ROS production and significantly elevated apoptosis rates compared to monotherapies. Caspase-8 and caspase-9 activities were also higher in the combination group. Migration and invasion assays revealed substantial suppression of cell motility and invasive capacity. After normalization to viable cell numbers, MMP and TIMP reductions remained significant, confirming true biological inhibition rather than cell-death–related artifacts. qRT-PCR analyses showed downregulation of Akt and ERK expression, indicating suppression of key survival and proliferation pathways. Bioinformatic analyses supported these findings by highlighting enrichment in apoptotic, oxidative stress, and metastasis-related pathways. Conclusions: Sitagliptin enhances the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin by amplifying ROS-mediated apoptosis, inhibiting migration and invasion, and modulating PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling in cervical cancer cells. The combination exhibits a clear synergistic effect and demonstrates strong potential as a supportive therapeutic strategy. These findings warrant further in vivo and clinical-level investigations to evaluate the translational applicability of sitagliptin in cervical cancer therapy. Full article

Effective training is essential for addressing the continuous requirement for enhancing productivity and safety in construction. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating site environments with high fidelity. While previous studies have explored the potential of VR in construction training, there is potential to incorporate advanced construction theories, such as lean principles, which are critical for optimizing work processes and safety. Thus, this study aims to develop an integrated VR-lean training system that integrates lean principles into traditional VR training, focusing on improving productivity and ergonomic safety—two interrelated challenges in construction. This study developed a virtual training environment for scaffolding installation, employing value stream mapping—a key lean tool—to guide trainees in eliminating waste and streamlining workflows. A before-and-after experimental design was implemented, involving 64 participants randomly assigned to non-lean VR or integrated VR-lean training groups. Training performance was assessed using productivity and ergonomic safety indicators, while a post-training questionnaire evaluated training outcomes. The results demonstrated significant productivity improvements in integrated VR-lean training compared to non-lean VR training, including a 12.3% reduction in processing time, a 21.6% reduction in waste time, a 20.8% increase in productivity index, and an 18.4% decrease in number of errors. These gains were driven by identifying and eliminating waste categories, including rework, unnecessary traveling, communication delays, and idling. Additionally, reducing rework contributed to a 7.2% improvement in the safety risk index by minimizing hazardous postures. A post-training questionnaire revealed that training satisfaction was strongly influenced by platform reliability and stability, and user-friendly, easy-to-navigate interfaces, while training effects of the integrated training were enhanced by before-session on waste knowledge and after-training feedback on optimized workflows. This study provides valuable insights into the synergy of lean principles and VR-based training, demonstrating the significant impact of lean within VR scenarios on productivity and ergonomic safety. The study also provides practical recommendations for designing immersive training systems that optimize construction performance and safety outcomes. Full article

This study investigates the synergistic influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWC-NTs), nanosilica powder (NSP), and polypropylene fiber waste (PFW) on the mechanical performance of mortar incorporating demolished concrete waste aggregates (DCWA). The replacement of natural aggregates with DCWA typically results in strength reductions and weak interfacial transition zones; therefore, the combined use of nanomaterials and microfibers is proposed as a mitigation strategy. A Taguchi Design of Experiments (DOE) approach was employed to optimize mix parameters, including MWCNT dosage, NSP content, PFW volume fraction, and DCWA replacement level. Mortar mixtures were prepared with MWCNTs (0–0.1% by binder weight), NSP (0–2% by binder weight), PFW (0–0.3% by volume), and DCWA (0–20% replacement of fine sand). Mechanical performance was assessed through compressive and flexural strength tests. A combined statistical approach using the Pareto chart and ANOVA identified the most influential parameters and their respective contributions to the response variable. The innovative aspect of this research lies in the synergistic integration of MWCNTs, NSP, demolished concrete waste, and polypropylene fiber waste within the mortar matrix, with the incorporation of nanomaterials specifically intended to compensate for the strength reduction typically induced by the use of demolition concrete waste aggregates. Although a potential nano-scale synergy between MWCNTs and NSP was initially considered, the experimental results indicated that the most relevant synergistic effects occurred among broader mix parameters rather than specifically between the two nanomaterials. Even so, when assessed individually, both nanomaterials contributed to improving the mechanical characteristics of the mortar—particularly nanosilica, which demonstrated a more pronounced effect—yet these individual enhancements did not translate into a distinct synergistic interaction between MWCNTs and NSP. The Taguchi DOE proved to be an efficient tool for multiple factor analysis, enabling reliable identification of the most influential parameters with a minimum number of tests. Its application facilitated the development of mortar mixtures that effectively integrate demolition waste while achieving enhanced mechanical performance through nano- and micro-scale reinforcement. Full article

The contribution of innovation to global development and productivity is indeed very important, as it enables the creation of new products and services or the improvement of existing ones. Experience of developed economies suggests that innovations and Financial Technology (Fintech) evolution have become efficient tools in the process of combating global challenges, such as financial crisis and pandemics. This paper examines the contributions of Fintech in the economic development, proxied by GDP, for Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (KKTTU). Indicators of Fintech, regarding these countries, are identified as number of internet subscribers, POS-terminals, number of mobile subscribers, number of people using the internet, and number of people using credit or debit cards. Previous literature provides evidence of the effect of Fintech on the economic fortune of advanced countries. In a similar vein, this paper extends the notion of economic development and Fintech to Central Asia, where it has received little or no attention, except for the case of Kazakhstan. The findings suggest that further research should be directed towards exploring other factors that promote economic and technological collaboration in all countries of the region. Greater success can be derived from synergy of working collaboratively than individually. Full article

Muscle synergies offer valuable insights into the movement strategies employed by the central nervous system and present a promising avenue for clinical applications. However, the field lacks a complete understanding of how surface electromyography processing parameters affect muscle synergy analysis, which in turn has hindered cross-study comparisons and the translation of experimental results to clinical contexts. To address the gap, this study presents a systematic evaluation of interactive effects of three key parameters on muscle synergy analysis, including nine cut-off frequencies of low-pass filters, five normalization methods, and five synergy extraction criteria, covering 225 unique combinations. Using a comprehensive running dataset of 135 subjects, this study examined variance accounted for (VAF) and correlation coefficient (R2) metrics, the number of synergies, and synergy structure consistency under different parameter settings. Synergy similarity was used as a quantitative measure of synergy stability across different parameter settings. The results demonstrated that cut-off frequencies, normalization methods, and criteria choices interactively influenced the outcomes. Notably, VAF consistently yielded higher values than R2, highlighting differences in how these metrics capture explained variance. Error VAF (EVAF) emerged as the most robust criterion for determining the number of synergies, especially when combined with normalization methods by maximum value (MAX), average value (AVE), or unit variance (UVA) and moderately high cut-off frequencies, which led to more stable synergy structures across conditions. Furthermore, the predefined threshold associated with each criterion markedly affected the estimated number of synergies. These findings provide structured guidelines for muscle synergy analysis, helping to standardize preprocessing and extraction parameters, improve reproducibility across studies, and enhance the clinical applicability of synergy-based assessments. Full article

This research presents numerical and experimental investigations of thermal stratification occurring in the fuel tank of a hypersonic vehicle. The effects of heating power on the stability, intensity, development rate, and heat distribution characteristics of thermal stratification in the water tank are evaluated. The Richardson number, Stratification number, penetration time, and thermal stratification energy ratio are used for this evaluation. Additionally, the field synergy principle is introduced to reveal the flow and heat transfer mechanisms. The numerical model is in good agreement with the experimental results at different heating powers. It is observed that the stability and intensity of thermal stratification exhibit a rapid increase initially and then tend to stabilize gradually with increased heating time. Higher heating power enhances the development rate and stability and alters the heat distribution characteristics of the thermal stratification. Moreover, heat transfer is primarily dominated by heat conduction in the vicinity of the wall and top region of the fuel tank. In contrast, the bottom region is characterized by an unsteady alternating distribution of heat conduction and convection, where the range of heat conduction is more extensive. Finally, the experiment demonstrates that the phenomenon of thermal stratification within the fuel tank is more pronounced. Full article

In recent years, the sustainable use of marine space has become increasingly important due to the growing number of competing activities. To minimize conflicts and environmental impacts, the co-location of these activities in multi-use marine areas is essential. Several approaches have been proposed to evaluate synergies and incompatibilities among marine uses, but most of them are either complex, case-specific, or lack full automation, which can limit their broader applicability. In this context, the paper presents an enhanced version of a Decision Support Tool for identifying optimal combinations of co-located activities. The tool is based on a multi-criteria analysis integrating technological, environmental, social, and economic factors, and it automatically provides an optimal configuration through a guided, user-friendly procedure. Experts select options for each activity and criterion from drop-down menus, and the tool automatically assigns scores and combines them to rank the different activity combinations. Implemented in an Excel sheet with a wizard interface, it can be easily completed by experts from different fields, who can assign weights to each criterion through discussion. The tool’s general structure also allows its use by policy-makers and consultants, supporting informed decision-making and facilitating science–policy interaction. Full article

Water scarcity has become a significant constraint to agricultural development in China. In this study, we employed bibliometric methods to systematically review the current research on crop water use efficiency (WUE) and the development trends in the North China Plain (NCP) and Northwest China (NWC). We analyzed 1569 articles (NCP = 788; NWC = 781) from the Web of Science Core Collection (1995–2025) using visualization tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer to investigate annual numbers of publications, leading scholars and research institutions, and then to map keyword co-occurrence and co-citation structures. Our results showed that keyword clustering exhibited high structural quality (NCP: Q = 0.7345, S = 0.8634; NWC: Q = 0.758, S = 0.8912), supporting reliable thematic interpretation. The bibliometric analysis indicates a steady growth in annual publications since 1995, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University as leading contributors. From 1995 to 2005, studies centered on irrigation, yield and field-scale WUE, emphasizing the optimization of irrigation strategies and crop productivity. During 2006–2015, the thematic focus has broadened to encompass nitrogen use efficiency, crop quality and eco-environmental performance, thereby moving toward integrated evaluation frameworks that capture ecological synergies. Since 2016, the literature now emphasizes system integration, regional adaptability, climate-response mechanisms and the ecological co-benefits of agricultural practices. Future studies are expected to incorporate indicators such as crop quality, water footprint and carbon isotope indicators to support the sustainable development of agricultural water use. This study offers insights and recommendations for developing a comprehensive crop WUE evaluation framework in China, which will support sustainable agricultural water management and the realization of national “dual carbon” targets. Full article

This study deals with the effectiveness of casing-injection for a few squealer tip designs in a turbine stage to mitigate tip leakage penalties. Seventy-two Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations were conducted. Five factors were examined: number of injection holes, axial position, jet inclination, blowing ratio, and hole diameter. The ideal configuration demonstrated the highest aerodynamic loss reduction compared to the baseline flat tip by 2.66%. The optimal injection scheme was integrated with three tip-rim topologies: complete channel squealer, suction-side partial squealer, and pressure-side partial squealer. The channel squealer enhances the advantageous effects of injection; the injected jets produce a counter-rotating vortex pair that disturbs the tip leakage vortex core, while the cavity formed by the squealer rim captures low-momentum fluid, thus thermally protecting the tip surface. The injection combined with channel squealer had the highest stage isentropic efficiency and the lowest total-pressure loss, thereby validating the synergy between active jet momentum augmentation and passive geometric sealing. The best configuration shows a 2.87% total pressure loss decrement and a 4.49% total-to-total efficiency increment compared to the baseline design. The best configuration not only improved stage efficiency but also achieved a 43.9% decrease in the tip heat transfer coefficient. Full article

The ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin is a major national strategy in China. The Yellow River “Ji” Bay is an important part of the basin. This study evaluates the comprehensive risk of the water–energy–food–ecology–carbon (WEFEC) complex system within the “Ji” Bay. Using 2004–2023 panel data from nineteen regional cities, this study develops a 24-indicator WEFEC index system that assesses reliability, synergy, and resilience. A comprehensive evaluation method based on the game theory–cloud model is employed to determine the risk levels. The study results show the following: (1) the multi-year average comprehensive risk of the WEFEC complex system in the “Ji” Bay from 2004 to 2023 was at a high alert level; (2) the overall synergy of the “Ji” Bay was moderate; (3) spatially, the number of cities in extreme and high alert states decreased, whereas the number of cities in no alert and light alert states increased; and (4) indicators such as per capita water resources, water production modulus, and water area ratio are the main factors restricting the comprehensive risk of the WEFEC complex system. Based on these findings, this paper proposes policy recommendations using the following three aspects: criterion layers, risk factors, and different regions. Full article

The paper focuses on exploring ways to achieve sustainability in the manufacturing process through targeted optimization and ergonomic improvements of the work environment. The introductory section emphasizes the importance of sustainability from the perspectives of worker well-being, occupational safety, and efficient resource utilization. The paper presents a digital approach to workstation design with an emphasis on sustainability, which includes the creation of a 3D model of the assembly station using SolidWorks (v.2017) and Jack software (v.8.3), where the work movements of a virtual mannequin with realistic parameters are simulated. The analytical section is dedicated to evaluating workstation ergonomics using the RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment), SSP (Static Strength Prediction), OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysis), and Lower Back Analysis methods, with the aim of identifying operations that reduce the sustainability of the work process due to excessive physical strain. Badly designed operations have a negative impact on sustainability in the meaning of physical workload strain (social dimension), low effectivity and quality (economic dimension), and higher resource (material, energy, transport, etc.) usage (environmental dimension). All these dimensions can be measured and expressed by number, but this paper focuses on workload only. Based on the results, specific measures were proposed with a focus on sustainability—raising the working height of pallets, optimizing the positioning of tools, and adjusting work movements. Repeated analyses after the implementation of these changes confirmed not only a reduction in physical strain and increased safety but also the enhancement of the sustainability of the working environment and processes. The results of the article clearly demonstrate that digital simulation and ergonomic design, oriented toward sustainability, are of crucial importance for the long-term efficiency and sustainable development of manufacturing organizations. The novelty of the work is in contribution to empirical validation on the role of digital twins, virtual ergonomics, and human factors in Industry 5.0 contexts, where the synergy between technological efficiency and human-centric sustainability is increasingly emphasized. The proposed approach represents a practical model for further initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of assembly workstations. Full article

The quality of groundwater, a crucial freshwater resource in cold regions, directly affects human health. This study used groundwater quality monitoring data collected in the central Songnen Plain in 2014 and 2022 as a case study. The improved DRASTICL model was used to assess the vulnerability index, while water quality indicators were selected using a random forest algorithm and combined with the entropy-weighted groundwater quality index (E-GQI) approach to realize water quality assessment. Furthermore, self-organizing maps (SOM) were used for pollutant source analysis. Finally, the study identified the synergistic migration mechanism of NH₄⁺ and Cl⁻, as well as the activation trend of As in reducing environments. The uncertainty inherent to health risk assessment was considered by developing a kernel density estimation–trapezoidal fuzzy number–Monte Carlo simulation (KDE-TFN-MCSS) model that reduced the distribution mis-specification risks and high-risk misjudgment rates associated with conventional assessment methods. The results indicated that: (1) The water chemistry type in the study area was predominantly HCO₃⁻–Ca²⁺ with moderately to weakly alkaline water, and the primary and nitrogen pollution indicators were elevated, with the average NH₄⁺ concentration significantly increasing from 0.06 mg/L in 2014 to 1.26 mg/L in 2022, exceeding the Class III limit of 1.0 mg/L. (2) The groundwater quality in the central Songnen Plain was poor in 2014, comprising predominantly Classes IV and V; by 2022, it comprised mostly Classes I–IV following a banded distribution, but declined in some central and northern areas. (3) The results of the SOM analysis revealed that the principal hardness component shifted from Ca²⁺ in 2014 to Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺ synergy in 2022. Local high values of As and NH₄⁺ were determined to reflect geogenic origin and diffuse agricultural pollution, whereas the Cl⁻ distribution reflected the influence of de-icing agents and urbanization. (4) Through drinking water exposure, a deterministic evaluation conducted using the conventional four-step method indicated that the non-carcinogenic risk (HI) in the central and eastern areas significantly exceeded the threshold (HI > 1) in 2014, with the high-HI area expanding westward to the central and western regions in 2022; local areas in the north also exhibited carcinogenic risk (CR) values exceeding the threshold (CR > 0.0001). The results of a probabilistic evaluation conducted using the proposed simulation model indicated that, except for children’s CR in 2022, both HI and CR exceeded acceptable thresholds with 95% probability. Therefore, the proposed assessment method can provide a basis for improved groundwater pollution zoning and control decisions in cold regions. Full article

Background: Molecular techniques for microbial identification have highlighted the relevance of polymicrobial infections in humans, such as those affecting the urinary tract. Although in vitro investigations have demonstrated connections between co-infections and microbial interaction, their role is unclear in clinics, given the overlap with host conditions. Objective: We aimed to separate the roles of organisms and patient conditions in human polymicrobial urinary samples by performing a relevant epidemiological analysis. Methods: We analyzed retrospective results from urine cultures performed during one year in a 1200 beds Italian hospital. Patients were grouped as uncompromised and compromised and positive urine cultures were grouped as monomicrobial and polymicrobial. We assessed associations between single microorganisms and the groups of positive samples and between single microorganisms and the group of patients through a multivariate logistic regression model, adjusting by the confounding effect of seven variables. Results: We enrolled 24,067 urine samples, among which 7208 were positive, 75% monomicrobial and 25% polymicrobial. We found that the polymicrobial samples had a microbial scenario wider than the monomicrobial ones and the organisms most sampled had the highest number of different pairwise associations. Certain organisms shown having absolute numerical advantages in the polymicrobial urine cultures with respect to the monomicrobial ones, independently of host’s conditions. Conclusions: The numerical advantage shown by certain organisms in polymicrobial urine samples over monomicrobial samples supports the hypothesis of microbial synergies favouring the occurrence of certain co-infections. Full article

Balancing the development of urban road infrastructure (URI) with the pace of urbanization is crucial to supporting high-quality urban growth. This study constructed a comprehensive evaluation framework of URI and urbanization using data from 101 Chinese cities between 2002 and 2021. The spatio-temporal characteristics of URI and urbanization were assessed using the entropy weighting method and the relative development index (RDI). Key variables were identified through the obstacle degree model and further refined via relative importance analysis. To investigate the nonlinear interactions among the most influential factors, a random forest model was employed in combination with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). The results revealed three key findings: (1) both URI and urbanization levels exhibited overall upward trends during the study period, although notable disparities were observed across cities; (2) URI development generally outpaced urbanization, indicating a lack of synergy between the two systems; and (3) key determinants of this mismatch included road density, total road area, the number of streetlights per unit road length, resident population size, and educational human capital. By integrating multidimensional URI and urbanization metrics in a comprehensive evaluation framework, this study provides new insights into the spatial synergy mechanisms and supports the formulation of tier-specific urban planning strategies. Full article