bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Biomaterials and Essential Oils to Achieve Anti-Bacterial and Osteo-Proliferative Properties for 3D-Scaffolds in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Comini Sara , Scutera Sara , Sparti Rosaria , Banche Giuliana , Coppola Bartolomeo , Bertea Cinzia Margherita , Bianco Gabriele , Gatti Noemi , Cuffini Anna Maria , Palmero Paola , Allizond Valeria
Published: September 2022

Biomedical implants, an essential part of the medical treatments, still suffer from bacterial infections that hamper patients’ recovery and lives. Antibiotics are widely used to cure those infections but brought antibiotic resistance. Essential oils (EOs) demonstrate excellent antimicrobial activity and low resistance development risk. However, EO application in medicine is still quite scarce and almost no research work considers its use in combination with bioresorbable biomaterials, such as the poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) polymer. This work aimed to combine the antibacterial properties of EOs and their components, particularly eugenol and cinnamon oil, against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Escherichia coli, with those of PCL for medical applications in which good tissue regeneration and antimicrobial effects are required. The PCL porous scaffolds, added with increasing (from 30% to 50%) concentrations of eugenol and cinnamon oil, were characterized by square-shaped macropores. Saos-2 cells’ cell viability/proliferation was hampered by 40 and 50% EO-enriched PCL, whereas no cytotoxic effect was recorded for both 30% EO-added PCL and pure-PCL. The antibacterial tests revealed the presence of a small inhibition halo around the 30% eugenol and cinnamon oil-functionalized PCL scaffolds only for staphylococci, whereas a significant decrease on both adherent and planktonic bacteria was recorded for all the three microorganisms, thus proving that, even if the EOs are only in part released by the EO-added PCL scaffolds, an anti-adhesive feature is anyway achieved. The scaffold will have the ability to support new tissue formation and simultaneously will be able to prevent post-surgical infection. This research shows the great potential in the use of EOs or their single components, at low concentrations, for biomaterial functionalization with enhanced anti-bacterial and biointegration properties.
Ibrutinib Inhibits Angiogenesis and Tumorigenesis in a BTK-Independent Manner
Authors: Liu Jia , Liu Zhuojun , Zhang Jing , Chen Xiaofang , Chen Junge , Sui Linlin , Yu Jian
Published: September 2022

BTK inhibitor (BTKi) Ibrutinib carries an increased bleeding risk compared to more selective BTKis Acalabrutinib and Zanubrutinib, however, its impact on vascular endothelium remains unknown. In this study, we found that Ibrutinib induced stronger cytotoxic effect on endothelial cells than Zanubrutinib, however, Acalabrutinib cytotoxicity was extremely weak. RNA-seq, followed by KEGG analysis and quantitative RT-PCR validation, was conducted to identify the differential apoptotic target genes of BTKis, leading to their distinct cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells, which showed that Ibrutinib and Zanubrutinib dramatically modulated the expression of critical apoptotic genes, GADD45B, FOS, and BCL2A1, among which FOS and GADD45B were upregulated more significantly by Ibrutinib than Zanubrutinib, however, Acalabrutinib downregulated BCL2A1 moderately and was not able to modulate the expression of FOS and GADD45B. Next, we performed in vitro angiogenesis assays and found that Ibrutinib was more able to induce endothelial dysfunction than Zanubrutinib via stimulating more BMP4 expression, however, Acalabrutinib had no such effect. Especially, the capacity of Ibrutinib to induce endothelial dysfunction can be antagonized by targeting BMP4. Accordingly, Ibrutinib, as an angiogenesis inhibitor, inhibited ovarian and breast cancer progression in vivo. Collectively, our findings addressed a novel molecular basis underlying Ibrutinib-induced endothelial cell dysfunction and suggested the potential application of Ibrutinib to treat angiogenesis-dependent cancers.
Synthesis, Formulation and Characterization of Immunotherapeutic Glycosylated Dendrimer/cGAMP Complexes for CD206 Targeted Delivery to M2 Macrophages in Cold Tumors
Authors: Petrovic Marija , Porcello Alexandre , Tankov Stoyan , Majchrzak Oliwia , Kiening Martin , Laingoniaina Annick Clara , Jbilou Tayeb , Walker Paul R. , Borchard Gerrit , Jordan Olivier
Published: September 2022

Anti-tumor responses can be achieved via the stimulation of the immune system, a therapeutic approach called cancer immunotherapy. Many solid tumor types are characterized by the presence of immune-suppressive tumor-associated macrophage (TAMs) cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, TAM infiltration is strongly associated with poor survival in solid cancer patients and hence a low responsiveness to cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, 2′3′ Cyclic GMP-AMP (2′3′ cGAMP) was employed for its ability to shift macrophages from pro-tumoral M2-like macrophages (TAM) to anti-tumoral M1. However, cGAMP transfection within macrophages is limited by the molecule’s negative charge, poor stability and lack of targeting. To circumvent these barriers, we designed nanocarriers based on poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM) grafted with D-glucuronic acid (Glu) for M2 mannose-mediated endocytosis. Two carriers were synthesized based on different dendrimers and complexed with cGAMP at different ratios. Orthogonal techniques were employed for synthesis (NMR, ninhydrin, and gravimetry), size (DLS, NTA, and AF4-DLS), charge (DLS and NTA), complexation (HPLC-UV and AF4-UV) and biocompatibility and toxicity (primary cells and hen egg chorioallantoic membrane model) evaluations in order to evaluate the best cGAMP carrier. The best formulation was selected for its low toxicity, biocompatibility, monodispersed distribution, affinity towards CD206 and ability to increase M1 (STAT1 and NOS2) and decrease M2 marker (MRC1) expression in macrophages.
Inorganic Nanoflowers—Synthetic Strategies and Physicochemical Properties for Biomedical Applications: A Review
Authors: Lee Su Jung , Jang Hongje , Lee Do Nam
Published: September 2022

Nanoflowers, which are flower-shaped nanomaterials, have attracted significant attention from scientists due to their unique morphologies, facile synthetic methods, and physicochemical properties such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, enhanced charge transfer and carrier immobility, and an increased surface reaction efficiency. Nanoflowers can be synthesized using inorganic or organic materials, or a combination of both (called a hybrid), and are mainly used for biomedical applications. Thus far, researchers have focused on hybrid nanoflowers and only a few studies on inorganic nanoflowers have been reported. For the first time in the literature, we have consolidated all the reports on the biomedical applications of inorganic nanoflowers in this review. Herein, we review some important inorganic nanoflowers, which have applications in antibacterial treatment, wound healing, combinatorial cancer therapy, drug delivery, and biosensors to detect diseased conditions such as diabetes, amyloidosis, and hydrogen peroxide poisoning. In addition, we discuss the recent advances in their biomedical applications and preparation methods. Finally, we provide a perspective on the current trends and potential future directions in nanoflower research. The development of inorganic nanoflowers for biomedical applications has been limited to date. Therefore, a diverse range of nanoflowers comprising inorganic elements and materials with composite structures must be synthesized using ecofriendly synthetic strategies.
Response of Canopy Photosynthesis, Grain Quality, and Harvest Index of Wheat to Different Nitrogen Application Methods
Authors: Zhang Xiangqian , Du Shizhou , Xu Yunji , Qiao Yuqiang , Cao Chengfu , Li Wei
Published: September 2022

To fully explore the effects of N on enhancing photosynthesis, grain quality, and yield of wheat (Ningmai 13), experiments with four nitrogen levels 0 (N0), 120 (N1), 180 (N2), and 240 (N3) kg N ha−1 and four ratios of basal to topdressing R0 (0:0), R1 (7:3), R2 (6:4), and R3 (5:5) were conducted. The basal N was applied to soil before sowing and the topdressing N was applied at jointing stage. The effect of N topdressing ratio on improving leaf area of photosynthetic efficiency was insignificant under the same N level. The effect of N fertilization level on increasing chlorophyll content was more significant than that of N topdressing ratio. Within the same N level, the canopy photosynthetically active radiation in R2 was higher than that in R1 and R3, and increasing N by 60 kg ha−1 significantly enhanced canopy photosynthetically active radiation. The effect of N topdressing ratio on photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were consistently R2 > R3 > R1; compared to N1, N3 could significantly increase photosynthetic rate. Increasing 120 kg N ha−1 significantly enhanced grain protein content, wet gluten, and sedimentation value, while the effect of N topdressing ratio was insignificant. Increasing N dose from 120 kg ha−1 to 180 kg ha−1 significantly enhanced yield, and the yields and harvest indexes in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were consistently R2 > R3 > R1. The findings suggested that the effect of increasing N dose (60 kg ha−1) was more considerable than that of N topdressing ratio, N3R2 (within the range of N application in this experiment) was more conducive to improving canopy photosynthesis, yield, and harvest index, and R3 was more conducive to increasing grain protein content, wet gluten, and sedimentation value.
Robust Impact Effect and Super-Lyophobic Reduced Galinstan on Polymers Applied for Energy Harvester
Authors: Chen Husheng , Hu Shilong , Jin Yuan , Zhang Aibing , Hua Licheng , Du Jianke , Li Guangyong
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present a novel reduced Galinstan-based microfluidic energy harvester, which can converse kinetic energy to electricity from an arbitrary vibration source. Firstly, the wetting behaviors of reduced Galinstan are performed, which shows a robust impact effect on polymer substrates. Moreover, the electric circuit model of the reduced Galinstan-based energy harvester is made and discussed by the use of the EDLCs (electrical double layer capacitors). After modeling, the microfluidic energy harvester with coplanar microfluidic channels is designed and fabricated. Finally, the performance of the microfluidic energy harvester is investigated, which can harvest multi-direction vibration energy. The experiment results demonstrate that the novel reduced Galinstan-based microfluidic energy harvester is suitably and uniquely applied in a complex vibration environment.
Experimental Investigation on the Diffusion Law of Polymer Slurry Grouted in Sand
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Zhu Zihao , Zhao Yahong , Zeng Cong , Zhang Peng
Published: September 2022

Polymer slurry is widely used in underground engineering treatment, but due to the concealed nature of underground projects, the diffusion pattern of slurry in the sand has been little studied. In this study, the basic physical properties of water-based polyurethane, oil-based polyurethane, and acrylate and epoxy resin were compared, and the performance of chemical grouted sands with different polymer slurry/sand mass ratios (PS/S) was tested. The higher the PS/S, the better the mechanical and impermeability properties of the chemical grouted sands. In this paper, water-based polyurethane was selected to carry out orthogonal tests on the diffusivity of slurry in sands. This experiment investigated the degree of influence of sand quality, grouting pressure and sand compactness on the diffusion of slurry in sands. The test results show that, in terms of factors affecting the final pressure of grouting, the sand density has the greatest influence, followed by the sand quality, and the grouting pressure is the smallest. In terms of slurry diffusibility, grouting pressure has the greatest influence, followed by sand compactness, and the sand quality is the smallest. The diffusion mechanism of slurry in the sand was deduced from the morphology of chemical grouted sands. Water-based polyurethane showed splitting-compression-penetration diffusion in sands of different grades, and the diffusion pattern of the slurry was not the same in low-pressure (1–1.5 MPa) grouting and high-pressure (2 MPa) grouting, and lateral splitting occurred in the case of high-pressure grouting diffusion.
The Influence of Metal Lithium and Alkyl Chain in the Nucleating Agent Lauroyloxy-Substituted Aryl Aluminum Phosphate on the Crystallization and Optical Properties for iPP
Authors: Lin Fuhua , Zhang Mi , Mao Shuangdan , Zhang Jianjun , Wang Kezhi , Luo Jun , Chen Xinde , Wang Bo , Wei Yinghui
Published: September 2022

In this work, a kind of aryl phosphate salt nucleating agent (APAl-12C) was synthesized, which was replaced in the hydroxyl group on the aluminum hydroxy bis [2,2′-methylene-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate] (APAl-OH) by lauroyloxy, which could improve the dispersion between the nucleating agent and the iPP matrix and reduce the migration potential of the nucleating agent in the iPP matrix by increasing the molecular weight. The structure of the nucleating agent APAl-12C was analyzed by fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR ) and 1H NMR. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results indicated that the addition of APAl-OH or APAl-12C alone was inferior to the commercial nucleating agent NA-21 (compounds of APAl-OH and Lithium laurate) in terms of the crystallization behavior, which may be due to the importance of metal Li in the crystallization property. Thus, the iPP/A12C-Li composites were prepared with APAl-12C, lithium laurate (lilaurate) and the iPP matrix. The crystallization behavior, morphology, optical and mechanical properties for the iPP/A12C-Li composites were systematically studied and compared with that of the iPP/NA-21 composite. Among the iPP/A12C-Li composites with the addition of 0.5 wt%, APAl-12C/Lilaurate had the fastest crystallization rate and reduced the haze value of the neat iPP from 36.03% to 9.89% without changing the clarity, which was better than that of the iPP/NA-21 composite. This was due to the weakening of the polarity of the APAl-12C after lauroyloxy substitution and better dispersion in the iPP matrix, resulting in a significant improvement in the optical properties.
New Composite Materials Made from Rigid/Flexible Polyurethane Foams with Fir Sawdust: Acoustic and Thermal Behavior
Authors: Tiuc Ancuța-Elena , Borlea (Mureșan) Simona Ioana , Nemeș Ovidiu , Vermeșan Horațiu , Vasile Ovidiu , Popa Florin , Pințoi Ramona
Published: September 2022

The aim of this work is to obtain new materials with improved sound absorbing and thermal properties, using rigid or flexible polyurethane foam reinforced with recycled fir sawdust from wood processing as well as by optimizing their mixing ratio. In this respect, we prepared and characterized samples by mixing rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF)/flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) with 0, 35, 40, 45, and 50 wt% fir sawdust (FS) with grains size larger than 2 mm. The samples were evaluated by cell morphology analysis, sound absorption, and thermal insulation performance. The obtained composite materials containing 50% sawdust have superior acoustic properties compared to those with 100% FPUF in the range of 420–1250 Hz. The addition of 35% and 50% FS in the FPUF matrix led to improved thermal insulation properties and decreased thermal insulation properties in the case of RPUF. The results show that the use of FS-based composites with the FPUF/RPUF matrix for sound absorption and thermal insulation applications is a desirable choice and could be applied as an alternative to conventional synthetic fiber-based materials and as a recycling method of waste wood.
A Comparative Study on X-ray Shielding and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Latex Nanocomposites Containing Bi2O3 or BaSO4: Experimental and Numerical Determination
Authors: Thumwong Arkarapol , Chinnawet Manchusa , Intarasena Preawpraw , Rattanapongs Chanis , Tokonami Shinji , Ishikawa Tetsuo , Saenboonruang Kiadtisak
Published: September 2022

This work experimentally determined the X-ray shielding and morphological, density, and tensile properties of sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber latex (SVNRL) nanocomposites containing varying content of nano-Bi2O3 or nano-BaSO4 from 0 to 200 phr in 100 phr increments, with modified procedures in sample preparation to overcome the insufficient strength of the samples found in other reports. The experimental X-ray shielding results, which were numerically verified using a web-based software package (XCOM), indicated that the overall X-ray attenuation abilities of the SVNRL nanocomposites generally increased with increasing filler content, with the 0.25-mm-thick SVNRL films containing 200 phr of the filler providing the highest overall X-ray shielding properties, as evidenced by the highest values of lead equivalence (Pbeq) of 0.0371 mmPb and 0.0326 mmPb in Bi2O3/SVNRL nanocomposites, and 0.0326 mmPb and 0.0257 mmPb in BaSO4/SVNRL nanocomposites, for 60 kV and 100 kV X-rays, respectively. The results also revealed that the addition of either filler increased the tensile modulus at 300% elongation (M300) and density but decreased the tensile strength and the elongation at break of the Bi2O3/SVNRL and BaSO4/SVNRL nanocomposites. In addition, the modified procedures introduced in this work enabled the developed nanocomposites to acquire sufficient mechanical and X-ray shielding properties for potential use as medical X-ray protective gloves, with the recommended content of Bi2O3 and BaSO4 being in the range of 95–140 phr and 105–120 phr, respectively (in accordance with the requirements outlined in ASTM D3578-19 and the value of Pbeq being greater than 0.02 mmPb). Consequently, based on the overall outcomes of this work, the developed Bi2O3/SVNRL and BaSO4/SVNRL nanocomposites show great potential for effective application in medical X-ray protective gloves, while the modified procedures could possibly be adopted for large-scale production.
Prediction of Bending Properties for 3D-Printed Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Composites with Several Processing Parameters Using ANN and Statistical Methods
Authors: Monticeli Francisco , Neves Roberta , Ornaghi Heitor , Almeida José
Published: September 2022

The effects of processing parameters on conventional molding techniques are well-known. However, the fabrication of a carbon fibre (CF)/epoxy composite via additive manufacturing (AM) is in the early development stages relative to fabrications based on resin infusion. Accordingly, we introduce predictions of the flexural strength, modulus, and strain for high-performance 3D printable CF/epoxy composites. The data prediction is analyzed using approaches based on an artificial neural network, analysis of variance, and a response surface methodology. The predicted results present high reliability and low error level, getting closer to experimental results. Different input data can be included in the system with the trained neural network, allowing for the prediction of different output parameters. The following factors that influence the AM composite processing were considered: vacuum pressure, printing speed, curing temperature, printing space, and thickness. We further demonstrate fast and streamlined fabrications of various composite materials with tailor-made properties, as the influence of each processing parameter on the desirable properties.
Conditions of application of lean technologies at the University of Arts and Culture
Authors: Posokhova N. V. , Merezhko М. Е. , Plyushkina N. Е. , Kistenev V. V. , Kurgansky S. I.
Published: September 2022

The article is devoted to the problem of creating conditions for the application of lean technologies in the university of arts and culture, the need to create prerequisites in a higher educational institution for the preparation of favorable soil, which will allow the effective use of lean technologies. The importance of using lean technologies as an innovative way of developing higher education is considered. The authors reflect on a rethinking of approaches to educational activity, the use of design methods and lean manufacturing in relation to the processes of a creative university. The methods of analysis and synthesis were used in the work, the key, in the opinion of the authors, conditions necessary for the formation and development of the concept of lean manufacturing in a higher educational institution were determined, supported by examples of projects implemented on the basis of the Belgorod State Institute of Arts and Culture.
Aristotelismo y estoicismo en el comentario de Miguel de Éfeso al De motu animalium de Aristóteles
Authors: Boeri Marcelo D.
Published: September 2022

El propósito en este artículo es mostrar que, a pesar del juicio lapidario de algunos estudiosos de las últimas décadas respecto del interés filosófico del bizantino Miguel de Éfeso, es posible encontrar aspectos relevantes en sus lecturas e interpretaciones de Aristóteles. Argumentaré que el comentario de Miguel al De motu animalium merece ser tratado seriamente. En la medida en que Miguel a veces emplea un modelo conceptual estoico para explicar Aristóteles, propone una idea nueva sobre cómo entender la teoría aristotélica de la acción. Las interpretaciones del texto aristotélico por parte de Miguel no son meras repeticiones; en algunos pasajes se advierten desarrollos que van más allá de Aristóteles, aun cuando presuponen premisas aristotélicas bastante claras.
Benefits of CSR Through Quinoa Biotrade in South American Communities
Authors: Cordova-Buiza Franklin , Antaurco-Perez Jesus Julio , Espinoza-Prieto Braulio Edson , Huerta-Tantalean Lucero Nicole
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the demand for organic, native products with high nutritional value, that do not contain any type of chemicals or preservatives and that have a certification, has increased. On the other hand, the sustainable development of companies, producers and agricultural areas do not keep pace with this growth. At the same time, companies have begun to make efforts to improve their corporate image by carrying out activities for the benefit of the communities. The main objective of this research is to identify what is known about the benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the biotrade of quinoa in South American communities in the scientific literature between the years 2010 to 2020. In addition, it specifically focuses on the importance of CSR in quinoa-producing communities and the benefit of Fair-Trade certification in the populations. This way, the models and strategies found can be replicated in the future. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature was carried out, where information was collected on the CSR and Fair-Trade variables following the PRISMA statement (identification, screening, eligibility and included). For which four databases were used, such as: Redalyc, Ebsco, Google Scholar and Scielo; Finally, under the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 scientific articles were selected for this work. The results obtained show that companies that incorporate CSR have better management and a positive impact on the community, in the same way, fair-trade improves the quality of life of the producing community and provides environmental benefits. Finally, The research concludes that CSR through the biotrade of quinoa allows development and progress of the producing communities in South America, improving aspects of education and increasing jobs; at the same time, it generates value and increases the image of organizations. More studies focused on CSR in specific communities and the analysis of their adaptation to the context of the pandemic are recommended.
Subsidised Start-Ups for the Unemployed in Less Developed Region: Effects Behind Efficiency
Authors: Šipikal Miroslav
Published: September 2022

One of the tools that governments use to support entrepreneurship is to support entrepreneurship through subsidised start-ups for the unemployed. This tool attempts to solve two problems at once. It acts as an active labour market policy tool to reduce unemployment. On the other hand, as an economic policy measure, it seeks to promote the development of entrepreneurship. Most existing studies focus mainly on measuring the sustainability or effectiveness of this tool.

The aim of this article is to identify the pros and cons of this tool from the perspective of the beneficiaries of this support themselves. The research was conducted through interviews with the beneficiaries of the support as well as those institutions that are in some way involved in the process of this support. The interviews took place in the years 2019 -2020 in the Banská Bystrica Region in the Slovak Republic, which is one of the most underdeveloped regions in the European Union.

The results of the research show that the support itself also has a positive impact on other aspects of life than the business itself. A large proportion of respondents reported that they are happier in life than before and that their business is much more fulfilling than their previous job. At the same time, however, they point to a distinct form of inefficiency of the support as a tool for entrepreneurship support, with many beneficiaries not using this tool with the primary goal of starting a business. Some of the supported start-ups started their business only as a cover for black and dependent work or as a form of part-time work.
Digitally Transforming Organisational Cultures: Ensuring Enhanced Innovation in a Remote Working World
Authors: Treacy Stephen
Published: September 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it dramatic environmental changes, forcing organisations to adopt digital technologies on a wider scale, under significant time pressure. While the pandemic tested the agility and resilience of organisations, team dynamics and the implications of virtualisation on collaboration and creativity have become increasingly important for research (George et al., 2020) as the daily working routines in which employees have been embedded in for decades have become disrupted. The abrupt move to “working from home” that the pandemic created is arguably the most significant organisational design change in our lifetimes. Organisations are now asking how the virtualisation of work has impacted on the collaboration and communication necessary for driving innovation behaviour, and what strategies are available to develop remote innovation solutions. In this study, we explore organisational culture theory against the backdrop of digitally transforming innovation development as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This multi-layered model offers a useful framework for thinking about processes that foster innovation. By doing so, we investigate how organisations have adapted their approach to remote, collaborative innovation from the perspective of nineteen industry experts. The purpose of this study is to present the determinants of organisational culture to develop digital innovation in a hybrid working environment. Our findings reveal twelve distinct variables across the artifacts, values, and assumptions required to ensure digital innovation. These findings have implications for theory and practice, as it provides organisational leaders with a strategic understanding as to how a remote innovative culture can be developed, and subsequently exploited.
The use of Algorithm-Assisted Feeding for Innovation and Increased Productivity in Aquaculture
Authors: Westeren Knut Ingar , Helbæk Morten , Korsøen Øyvind
Published: September 2022

The need for innovation in aquaculture has escalated in tandem with the use of advanced production equipment and high-level biological competence. A Norwegian company, NorseAqua A/S, produces sonar equipment that provides both images and data on how the salmon are distributed in the cage. The sonar data provides a basis for calculating algorithms between the depth of salmon in the cage and other key factors used to make decisions about how the salmon should be fed. The first aspect of the project was to investigate how the equipment was working and verify that the sonar data was readable. The second aspect was to analyze the relationships between important variables of significance for the feeding process of the salmon (including the sonar measurements). A third aspect was determining what understanding the feeding operators gained from the information produced. The results show that it is possible to develop algorithms based on the sonar data that improve feeding efficiency.
Supporting Innovation in Energy Sector: The SMEs Role and DIGIFED Success Cases
Authors: Gaffuri Gabriele , Chartier Isabelle , Ribeiro Pablo , Nastran Sonja , Volpe Margherita , Dor Isabelle , Murillo Gonzalo , Chanson Emmanuel , Gonzalez Iñigo , Hofer Marvin
Published: September 2022

This paper aims to discuss the peculiarities of innovation approaches in the energy sector and examines success stories on how alternative sources of funding (such as cascade funding deriving from EU-financed projects) can effectively promote the role of SMEs in this environment. As digitalisation and smartification of the energy sector are key goals of the European Commission (EC), relevant legislative packages like the European Green Deal and other initiatives are actively promoting these priorities as enablers of the green transition. However, while large energy companies can afford to make substantial innovation investments, the SMEs innovation scenario is often characterised by a selected portfolio of start-ups and SMEs that get funded by large players only when functional to their business, leaving a significant portion of innovative SMEs out of this investment trend.
In this context, the EU-funded DigiFed project’s approach, supporting Application Experiments (AEs) for innovative products development, seems relevant to showcase alternative ways to support innovation in the energy sector. Indeed, in 2 years of implementation, DigiFed has structured and launched 3 Open Calls for AEs (cascade funding), succeeding in funding 71 companies and 46 AEs in several sectors, for an overall investment budget of € 3.6 M. The present paper focuses on two successful cases of TWIN AEs related to the energy sector, i.e., DYNAGRID and REDUXI. DYNAGRID aims at demonstrating an affordable, wireless and battery-free solution to digitise the New Caledonian electric grid, reducing maintenance and increasing grid capacity, representing a peculiar case of successful implementation with a long-distance collaboration. On the other hand, REDUXI is focused on developing a smart, plug & play building management system box, capable of forecasting energy consumption and its further redistribution, with high chances to quickly reach the market. Eventually, based on these success cases, the paper discusses the support provided by DigiFed and its benefits with respect to other forms of innovation financing.
Capturing Competitive Advantage through Product Innovation: Study of A Small Culinary Business
Authors: Hatammimi Jurry , Thahara Amelia
Published: September 2022

In the early phase of the Covid-19 outbreak, all aspects of life, including the culinary sector, were impacted very hard by this outbreak in addition to the existing tight competition. Many businesses were in danger of going bankrupt. However, there was a culinary brand that continued to make an expansion in Bandung, Indonesia. There are seven branches opened by this brand until 2021. Hence, it is interesting to study the phenomena. This study aims to determine the effect of product innovation on the competitive advantage of this culinary brand. Besides this, the customers’ evaluation regarding product innovation and competitive advantage is revealed by this study as well. This research uses a quantitative method by surveying with the purposive sampling technique. The questionnaires were distributed to 100 customers who had made transactions more than once within the last six months before the survey began. The descriptive data analysis was carried out to investigate the customers’ evaluation. It is examined that product innovation has a positive impact on the competitive advantage after a simple linear regression analysis was conducted. This result is strengthened by the t-test that shows the acceptance of the hypothesis. Moreover, the coefficient of determination test presents that the impact of product innovation on competitive advantage is 51 percent. It means that the product innovation has provided 51 percent of the information needed to predict the competitive advantage in this small culinary business. From the overall results of the descriptive analysis, the consumer assessment scores obtained fall into the medium to high category range. This result proves that the response given to the company’s competitive advantage and product innovation is still quite good and positive. The result of this study is expected can inspire other culinary companies to survive their businesses during a difficult situation like the Covid-19 outbreak and to sustain for the future. Further study can compare the condition during and after the Covid-19 outbreak.
Cascade Funding as an Alternative Funding Source for Innovative Investments
Authors: Gonzalez Rojas Inigo , Margherita Volpe  , Omar Veledar  , Simona Cavallini
Published: September 2022

Although promoting an innovation ecosystem is a core priority of the European Commission (EC), evidence indicates that innovation within start-ups and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is still constrained by the lack of funding opportunities. Consequently, their capability to realise proofs of concepts or launch new risky business lines is limited. This paper aims to comparatively assess cascade funding initiatives against more traditional funding approaches as relevant alternatives for financing innovation. SMEs and start-ups most commonly fund innovative projects through business angels or venture capital. The disadvantages of risk capital include complex administrative procedures, loss of ownership and control over the strategic decision, etc. Other relevant funding is commonly sourced from private bank loans. In addition to discouraging bureaucracy, prior guarantee or collateral required, longer timing and extended terms, these investors are often reluctant to fund innovation due to their high risk. Preference is usually given to safer investments in which assets can be easily valued and sold in case of failure. In addition, financing opportunities from banks do not include an assessment of the return opportunities of innovative businesses. Out of the traditional schemes for financing innovation, cascade funding is a promising alternative, especially in highly innovative sectors. Cascade funding provides small grants issued by the beneficiaries of projects funded by the EC, typically under the Horizon 2020 (H2020) framework (>800 M€ allocated since 2014). As the EC delegates the selection and monitoring of innovative projects to consortiums, the funding is provided via open calls for proposals, which can provide start-ups and SMEs with grants for an experiment between €50,000 and €150,000. This mechanism also enables applicants to benefit from the technical and/or business expertise of leading European enterprises, universities and technology centres. While focusing on exploitable innovation, cascade funding has also proven to be a more agile financing method with respect to the classical ones. Here, DigiFed project is analysed as a Case Study for cascade funding, as it came to allocate over €3M via three open calls for proposals since 2020. Evidence of the advantages of this funding source for innovative businesses with respect to risk capital and bank debt is the core output of this paper.
Financial Innovation for Financial Inclusion: Mapping Potential Access to Finance
Authors: Rybakovas Egidijus , Zigiene Gerda
Published: September 2022

The importance of access to finance as a significant problem for business development is considered one of the measures representing the level of financial inclusion. Developing financial innovations, such as crowdfunding, mobile payments, AI-based credit scoring systems, and even blockchain technologies has an immense potential to increase financial inclusion, increase access to finance for individuals and businesses, enabling the unscored or unbanked population to become active members of financial markets. Studies have shown the positive impact of financial technology on individuals' financial inclusion and access to finance, but the development of the Fintech phenomenon does not itself imply improved access to finance for businesses. The spread and adoption of Fintech are taken as evidence of financial innovation This research aims to explore the expected interaction between financial innovation and financial inclusion in selected European countries.

The data from the Global Fintech Ranking and Survey on the access to finance of enterprises (SAFE) is used in this study, examining them by comparing countries by their Fintech rankings and respective rank position obtained by measuring the importance of access to finance as a problem in business development.

The analysis of 29 European countries indicates that theoretically defined expectations are met in most cases: access to finance is not an important problem for the companies from the countries that are ranked higher in the Fintech rating report. But part of the sampled countries deviates from this trend. These findings indicate that besides financial innovation other factors also may determine the financial inclusion of the companies.
role of crowdfunding in delivering entrepreneurship within the hospitality sector: A case study analysis
Authors: Johnston Kate , Wang Kelly
Published: September 2022

Over the last decade, crowdfunding, has emerged as a hugely disruptive force within the financial landscape worldwide.  Crowdfunding, the process of raising relatively small sums of money from the crowd, via the internet, enables entrepreneurs, particularly at the innovative and new start-ups stage, to access much needed funding, overcoming a “funding gap”.  The growth of crowdfunding has been phenomenal.  In 2019, an estimated €14 billion was crowdfunded worldwide (Statistia 2020) and the forecast is for  the sector to grow to €30 billion by 2025 (Mordo Intelligence, 2020). 

 

Initially, crowdfunding gained prominence through funding creative and artistic projects, but over the last number of years, this appeal has spread across a diverse range of businesses and sectors (Bradford 2012 and Research and Markets 2022).  In the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, crowdfunding offers entrepreneurs and businesses access to much needed seed funding, but also non-financial benefits in the form of market and product testing, media exposure and customer feedback.

 

Crowdfunding is a relatively new domain for businesses in the hospitality sector.  As noted by Belavin, Marinesi and Tsoukalas (2020), crowdfunding offers huge potential for the sector, who often face funding challenges thereby limiting new innovative start-ups, critical for the sector’s long term viability.  This case study examined how one entrepreneur in the hospitality sector, successfully crowdfunded an innovative business idea in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The case traces the idea and the factors that shaped the decision to crowdfund. Additionally, the case examines the benefits and challenges involved in successfully crowdfunding the business idea and closes with the entrepreneur reflecting on the key learning from the experience.

 

The contribution of this case study is twofold.  Firstly, it serves to highlight the potential of crowdfunding as a funding source of enterprise development, particularly among new, innovative businesses. Secondly, it adds to the current debate, as noted by Belavin, Marinesi and Tsoukalas (2020), of the potential crowdfunding in fostering entrepreneurship and economic development within the hospitality sector.
Innovation as a Challenge for Peripheral Regions: an Israeli Case
Authors: Bar-El Raphael , Hadad Sharon , Maymoni Liran , Ben Malka Ran , Megidish Reut
Published: September 2022

Peripheral regions are now confronted with the worldwide prominence of innovation and high technology driving economic growth. It is crucial that they integrate the new trends for their economic sustainability and for the narrowing of social gaps. Research has focused on factors influencing the concentration of technology in metropolitan areas. Other analyses have highlighted the advantages for peripheral or rural regions if they integrate into this process. In our article, we aim to contribute to the discourse by suggesting a unique approach, testing it empirically with a peripheral region in Israel.

Our approach contains the following elements: First, instead of considering innovation as knowledge creation or practical implementation (as generally considered), we prefer the indicator of a knowledge-based economy, as a better proxy for advanced economic growth. Second, we make a distinction between the changes in the economy of the periphery as indicated by prevailing types of occupations, and the changes in the economy of the resident’s workers as indicated by their actual occupations, working in or out of the region (as in the distinction between GDP and GNP).

Using time series for the last two decades, we compare the southern region of Israel and its main central region, using a classification of occupation types into three levels.

The results showed a positive response of the peripheral region to the technological trend challenge. They improved skills and reacted to public policy measures. The economic structure of the periphery improved, providing occupations at higher wage levels. However, such improvement did not sufficiently respond to the improvement in labor supply by resident workers, leading to an increase in dependence on employment of high-level workers from other regions. We also detected an increase of internal gaps within the periphery.
Innovative practices for pollution prevention and control implemented by companies in Romania
Authors: Militaru Andreea Maria Gabriela , Rotărescu Andreea-Mihaela , Fleacă Bogdan , Fleacă Elena
Published: September 2022

This paper explores the practices of companies present on the Romanian market which are preventing and controlling the pollution in their areas of expertise. Many of the companies are trying to find solutions to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, some of them pleading for the importance of keeping the environment safe, the ecosystems protected, and the degree of pollution at a lower level.

Given the massive use of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources and the international commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, care for natural resources and pollution reduction becomes essential in ensuring access of future generations to a safe and healthy life. In today’s time, technology plays an essential role in the management of a company, naturally it cannot be absent from the solutions thought to reduce air and water pollution. Hence, the importance of the existing solutions which could be considered innovative measures.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the pollution situation and the factors that contributed to it. At the same time, it will present the evolution of the practices applied by companies to combat water and air pollution, so far. The methodology is based on an analysis of the public sustainability reports from the past years, of the activity of the companies on the Romanian market. Through sustainability reports, large companies present the evolution and results of the applied solutions. Anti-pollution practices can be classified according to their field of activity and type of activity. The study contributes to the review of the literature by focusing on the practices implemented by companies in relation to work and the natural environment at the borders of Romania.

Companies embrace the fight against pollution, including this as part of their sustainability strategy, as a goal which can be achieved only with teamwork, with the stakeholder’s involvement: employees, customers, suppliers, and all those stakeholders who stand for the same values, taking action and using concrete facts to follow the strategy to make an impact for the better.
Assessing the Current State of University-based Business Incubators (UBIS) in Canada and the UAE
Authors: Yasin Naveed , Majid Gilani Sayed Abdul
Published: September 2022

There is a dearth of published research that explores UBIs from a comparative dimension across geographical and institutionalised contexts that assesses the current state and scope of UBI activities. This paper explores the current state of University-based Business Incubators (UBIs) both in the United Arab Emirates and Canada underpinned by a comparative case analysis approach. This study utilises both secondary and primary research data that was obtained through desk-based secondary research and qualitative methods of inquiry (semi-structured interviews) with UBI managers, academics, and support staff that were used to develop each case. This informed the development of 18 cases of UBIs in the United Arab Emirates and Canada (9 each, respectively). The data was collected through VoIP (Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol) and telephone during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2021 to February 2022. The findings of the study illustrate that the Canadian context offers similar provisions of services for business incubators (BIs) but in comparison, the UAE-based university UBIs are much younger and are transitioning towards the development of various business and enterprise initiatives in Higher Education and are also focused on driving student recruitment using this provision. The value of thisstudy is inherent in its comparative approach between two under-studied and represented empirical geographies (i.e., Canada and the UAE), the findings also indicate the divergence and specialisms adopted by institutions in the UAE based on the various provisions for the governmental vision 2030, and the empirical development of showcasing these initiatives to be novel for the efficacy of UBIs.
An Evaluation of Supermarkets from the Lens of Multiple Criteria: The Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS Method
Authors: TUĞRUL Feride
Published: September 2022

This study is an attempt to evaluate supermarkets by both the consumer and the market researcher through the intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS. In this regard, the decision makers' views were expressed in linguistic terms and ranked from the most preferred supermarket to the least preferred supermarket. The satisfaction of using linguistic terms is that it gives decision makers the chance to express views that they cannot express in numerical values. Furthermore, undecided situations were interpreted through the IFS. This method, which may be easily used in many application areas, offers researchers more consistent results than the others due to its advantages. Besides, this study attempts to innovative implementation of the intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method on its algorithm and mathematical basis.
Comparison of Effective Bandwidth Estimation Methods for Data Networks
Authors: Bavio José , Fernández Carina , Marrón Beatriz
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this work is to apply techniques to estimate the Effective Bandwidth, from traffic traces, for the Generalized Markov Fluid Model in data networks. This model is assumed because it is versatile in describing traffic fluctuations. The concept of Effective Bandwidth proposed by Kelly is used to measure the channel occupancy of each source. Since the estimation techniques we will use require prior knowledge of the number of clustering clusters, the Silhouette algorithm is used as a first step to determine the number of classes of the modulating chain involved in the model. Using that optimal number of clusters, the Kernel Estimation and Gaussian Mixture Models techniques are used to estimate the model parameters. After that, the performance of the proposed methods is analyzed using simulated traffic traces generated by Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms.