The impact of intellectual property demonstration policies on carbon emission efficiency.

Confronted with the concurrent challenges of economic advancement and environmental management, this study explores whether implementing Intellectual Property Demonstration Policies (IPDP) can be a covert force in enhancing carbon emission efficiency. Utilizing panel data from 280 prefecture-level cities in China over the period 2007-2019, we employ a quasi-natural experimental design, incorporating multiple-period difference-in-differences models, mediation effect models, and spatial Durbin difference-in-differences models to assess the impacts of IPDP on carbon emission efficiency, its mechanisms of action, and its spatial spillover effects. The regression results of the multi-period difference-in-differences model reveal a statistically significant enhancement in carbon emission efficiency due to IPDP, with an impact coefficient of 0.044. Through heterogeneity tests, it is observed that the influence of IPDP on carbon emission efficiency varies based on regional characteristics, carbon emission levels, and the extent of marketization. The mediation effect model demonstrates that IPDP enhances carbon emission efficiency by fostering green technological innovation and facilitating the transformation of industrial structures. Furthermore, the spatial Durbin difference-in-differences model illustrates that IPDP positively influences the carbon emission efficiency of neighboring regions, indicating favorable spatial spillover effects. Notably, the indirect effect coefficients in the geographical distance matrix, economic distance matrix, and economic-geographical nested matrix are calculated as 0.673, 0.250, and 0.386, respectively. These findings offer compelling theoretical and empirical support for strengthening the intellectual property framework to optimize its environmental impact.

Effect of centralized volume-based procurement of drugs on business performance of listed pharmaceutical enterprises.

Since March 2018, China has conducted five rounds of negotiations for the inclusion of drugs in the medical insurance system and implemented eight batches of centralized drug procurement. The role of the medical insurance department as a strategic purchaser in the pharmaceutical market has been continuously strengthened, playing a crucial role in controlling the unreasonable growth of medical expenses and reducing the economic burden on patients. The policy of centralized drug procurement, by exchanging quantity for price, can significantly reduce drug prices and lower the profit level of companies. However, being included in the centralized drug procurement catalog can bring a substantial and stable market share to the winning companies. Therefore, the impact of the centralized drug procurement policy on the operational performance of winning companies and how their business decisions should be adjusted remain to be thoroughly explored from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. To assess the impact of the centralized drug procurement policy on the operational performance of companies, this study takes publicly listed pharmaceutical manufacturing companies from 2016 to 2020 as the sample and conducts empirical analysis using methods such as difference in difference (propensity score) matching (PSM-DID). The results showed that the centralized volume-based procurement of drugs policy had a significant negative impact on the business performance of bidding listed pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, indicating that the increase in the sales of bidding drugs could not fully make up for the profit loss caused by the price reduction in the short term. Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies should further adjust their market competition strategies, actively engage in research and development innovation. The government should guide pharmaceutical companies to improve their operational performance while ensuring the quality of drug supply by optimizing the supporting innovative incentive policies in the centralized drug procurement policy.

Does the digital economy improve comprehensive total factor productivity in China?

Total factor productivity is an important symbol of high-quality economic development. At present, the question of whether the digital economy can infuse fresh impetus into enhancing total factor productivity has emerged as a prominent concern in China. This paper constructs a new undesirable output to measure comprehensive total factor productivity (CTFP) with the slack-based measure (SBM) undesirable Malmquist-Luenberger index by using 2011-2020 Chinese provincial panel data. Then, this paper explores the impact of the digital economy (DIG) on CTFP with a fixed effects (FE) panel model and a mediating effect model. The results show that CTFP increases by an average of 3.9%, technical efficiency contributes -1.1%, and the contribution rate of technological progress is 5.0%. Technological progress is the main source of CTFP growth. The empirical findings show that the DIG has a positive and significant impact on CTFP. This paper conducts various robustness tests, and the results remain consistent with the previous conclusion. Moreover, mechanism tests suggest that the promoting effect of the DIG on CTFP can be attributed to three main effects: technological innovation, the factor endowment structure and the educational level. Furthermore, the results of heterogeneity analysis demonstrate that the promoting effect of the DIG on CTFP exists in China's eastern, central and western regions. The findings of this research can serve as a valuable reference for informing decision-making processes related to environmental governance and high-quality economic development in China.

Environmental policy stringency, ICT, and technological innovation for achieving sustainable development: Assessing the importance of governance and infrastructure.

Achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) has garnered significant attention from academia and policymakers worldwide. In this study, we examine the impact of ICT, technological innovation (TI), and environmental policy stringency (EPS) on SDI, considering the moderating role of governance quality (GQI) and transport infrastructure (TIS). A comprehensive dataset of 17 advanced nations is utilized from 1996 to 2021. To capture the dynamic and extreme marginal impacts of these policy instruments on SDG attainment, we employ the advanced technique of Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS). The results demonstrate that ICT has a positive and significant effect on SDGs, particularly when combined with high levels of governance quality (GOV) and transport infrastructure (TIS). Likewise, TI has a positive impact on SDGs, especially in the presence of strong governance. Furthermore, EPS exhibits a positive association with SDGs. The findings also reveal that while governance hurts SDGs, this effect diminishes when combined with higher levels of ICT, TI, and EPS, and when TIS positively moderates the relationships. The robustness estimations using DOLS and PCSE methods validate the FGLS findings. These results underscore the importance of ICT, TI, and EPS in advancing sustainable development. Moreover, they highlight the significance of good governance and robust transport infrastructure in maximizing the positive effects of these factors. These findings hold implications for policymakers and stakeholders involved in promoting sustainable development.

The current state and future perspectives of radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Radiotherapy is an effective treatment method for cervical cancer and is typically administered as external beam radiotherapy followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. In Japan, center shielding is used in external beam radiotherapy to shorten treatment time and reduce the doses delivered to the rectum or bladder. However, it has several challenges, such as uncertainties in calculating the cumulative dose. Recently, external beam radiotherapy has been increasingly performed with intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which reduces doses to the rectum or bladder without center shielding. In highly conformal radiotherapy, uncertainties in treatment delivery, such as inter-fractional anatomical structure movements, affect treatment outcomes; therefore, image-guided radiotherapy is essential for appropriate and safe performance. Regarding intracavitary brachytherapy, the use of magnetic resonance imaging-based image-guided adaptive brachytherapy is becoming increasingly widespread because it allows dose escalation to the tumor and accurately evaluates the dose delivered to the surrounding normal organs. According to current evidence, a minimal dose of D90% of the high-risk clinical target volume is significantly relevant to local control. Further improvements in target coverage have been achieved with combined interstitial and intracavity brachytherapy for massive tumors with extensive parametrical involvement. Introducing artificial intelligence will enable faster and more accurate generation of brachytherapy plans. Charged-particle therapies have biological and dosimetric advantages, and current evidence has proven their effectiveness and safety in cervical cancer treatment. Recently, radiotherapy-related technologies have advanced dramatically. This review provides an overview of technological innovations and future perspectives in radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Research on financing and technological innovation efficiency of China's energy-saving and environmental protection enterprises.

Green, low-carbon circular economy and the development model of energy-saving and environmental protection are emerging worldwide, and the world's economies have taken the energy-saving and environmental protection industry as a strategic emerging industry to cultivate and develop. Coordinating finance and technological innovation is crucial to promoting the healthy development of Energy-Saving and Environmental Protection Enterprises (ESEPEs). According to industry classification, this paper divides 121 ESEPEs into 12 categories as research objects. Firstly, the DEA-SBM model is used to calculate financing efficiency (FE) and technological innovation efficiency (TIE). Subsequently, the changes in the two efficiencies are analyzed from the perspectives of time series, industry, and annual mean value, and the changes of the two efficiencies are analyzed from the perspectives of time series, industry, and annual average values. Secondly, through the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, the development status of the coupling coordination between the two efficiencies is innovated expounded. Finally, the Tobit regression model is used to discuss the factors influencing CCD from the whole and industry perspectives. The results show that: (1) TIE is generally lower than FE, and FE shows a downward trend while TIE shows an upward trend. (2) CCD between the two efficiencies is Near dysfunction, and TIE restricts the development of CCD between the two efficiencies to a certain extent. (3) R&D intensity, enterprise size, and government subsidy intensity have a significant positive impact on CCD between FE and TIE of ESEPEs, while the impact of other factors is not significant.

Impact analysis of digital trade on carbon emissions from the perspectives of supply and demand.

Amidst the escalating challenge of global climate change, it is imperative to further explore whether digital trade, as an emerging element in the global development landscape, can reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainable development. This study draws upon panel data encompassing 30 provinces and municipalities in China spanning the years 2013 to 2021. By establishing an index system to gauge regional digital trade development levels, the article examines the impact mechanism and spillover effects of digital trade on carbon reduction from both the supply (enterprises) and demand (residents) perspectives. The research results show that: (1) Digital trade can effectively promote regional carbon reduction, with a more pronounced effect in China's central and western regions and lower carbon emissions regions. (2) Digital trade can incentivize green innovation by enterprises and improve residents' consumption behavior, thereby reducing carbon emissions. (3) Digital trade has spillover effect on carbon emissions, and this "neighborhood effect" is greater than the "local effect". Digital trade provides strong support for carbon reduction and sustainable development and also provides a strategic direction for government policy formulation.

Pharmaceutical innovation and advanced biotechnology in the biotech-pharmaceutical industry for antibody-drug conjugate development.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), from prototypes in the 1980s to first- and second-generation products in the 2000s, and now in their multiformats, have progressed tremendously to meet oncological challenges. Currently, 13 ADCs have been approved for medical practice, with over 200 candidates in clinical trials. Moreover, ADCs have evolved into different formats, including bispecific ADCs, probody-drug conjugates, pH-responsive ADCs, target-degrading ADCs, and immunostimulating ADCs. Technologies from biopharmaceutical industries have a crucial role in the clinical transition of these novel biotherapeutics. In this review, we highlight several features contributing to the prosperity of bioindustrial ADC development. Various proprietary technologies from biopharmaceutical companies are discussed. Such advances in biopharmaceutical industries are the backbone for the success of ADCs in development and clinical application.

The Emergency Medical Team Operating System - a vision for field hospital data management in following the concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.

In times where sudden-onset disasters (SODs) present challenges to global health systems, the integration of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM / 3PM) into emergency medical responses has manifested as a critical necessity. We introduce a modern electronic patient record system designed specifically for emergency medical teams (EMTs), which will serve as a novel approach in how digital healthcare management can be optimized in crisis situations. This research is based on the principle that advanced information technology (IT) systems are key to transforming humanitarian aid by offering predictive insights, preventive strategies, and personalized care in disaster scenarios. We aim to address the critical gaps in current emergency medical response strategies, particularly in the context of SODs. Building upon a collaborative effort with European emergency medical teams, we have developed a comprehensive and scalable electronic patient record system. It not only enhances patient management during emergencies but also enables predictive analytics to anticipate patient needs, preventive guidelines to reduce the impact of potential health threats, and personalized treatment plans for the individual needs of patients. Furthermore, our study examines the possibilities of adopting PPPM-oriented IT solutions in disaster relief. By integrating predictive models for patient triage, preventive measures to mitigate health risks, and personalized care protocols, potential improvements to patient health or work efficiency could be established. This system was evaluated with clinical experts and shall be used to establish digital solutions and new forms of assistance for humanitarian aid in the future. In conclusion, to really achieve PPPM-related efforts more investment will need to be put into research and development of electronic patient records as the foundation as well as into the clinical processes along all pathways of stakeholders in disaster medicine.

Alarm Management in Intensive Care: Qualitative Triangulation Study.

BACKGROUND: The high number of unnecessary alarms in intensive care settings leads to alarm fatigue among staff and threatens patient safety. To develop and implement effective and sustainable solutions for alarm management in intensive care units (ICUs), an understanding of staff interactions with the patient monitoring system and alarm management practices is essential. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the interaction of nurses and physicians with the patient monitoring system, their perceptions of alarm management, and smart alarm management solutions. METHODS: This explorative qualitative study with an ethnographic, multimethods approach was conducted in an ICU of a German university hospital. Using triangulation in data collection, 102 hours of field observations, 12 semistructured interviews with ICU staff members, and the results of a participatory task were analyzed. The data analysis followed an inductive, grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Nurses and physicians reported interacting with the continuous vital sign monitoring system for most of their work time and tasks. There were no established standards for alarm management; instead, nurses and physicians stated that alarms were addressed through ad hoc reactions, a practice they viewed as problematic. Staff members' perceptions of intelligent alarm management varied, but they highlighted the importance of understandable and traceable suggestions to increase trust and cognitive ease. CONCLUSIONS: Staff members' interactions with the omnipresent patient monitoring system and its alarms are essential parts of ICU workflows and clinical decision-making. Alarm management standards and workflows have been shown to be deficient. Our observations, as well as staff feedback, suggest that changes are warranted. Solutions for alarm management should be designed and implemented with users, workflows, and real-world data at the core.

The road to decarbonization in Australia. A Morlet wavelet approach.

The path toward sustainable development is closely related to the intensification of renewable energy sources and the continual innovation of technologies. To evaluate the role of renewable energy consumption and technological innovations on carbon emissions in Australia, this study uses the Morlet wavelet approach. This study identified temporal and frequency variations by applying wavelet correlation, continuous wavelet transforms, and partial and multiple wavelet coherence methods on data from 2000 to 2021. The wavelet correlation revealed that non-renewable energy, globalization, and economic growth are positively correlated with carbon emissions at all scales. In contrast, carbon emissions are negatively correlated with renewable energy and technological innovation at all scales. Meanwhile, the wavelet coherence analysis shows that non-renewable energy contributes to increased CO2 emissions from the short to long term, whereas renewable energy usage negatively affects CO2 emissions across all frequency scales. The study findings indicate that increasing the proportion of renewable energy usage in the total energy mix will curb CO2 emissions over the long run. Accordingly, the way to achieve sustainable development is shifting to a low-carbon economy centered on renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and using carbon storage and capture technologies.

Perception of hypotheticality in technology-based business ideas: effects on Opportunity Beliefs from a Construal Level Theory perspective.

This research investigates how entrepreneurs perceive the hypothetical nature of technologies (based on situations that are often imagined or theoretical) as a foundation for entrepreneurial endeavors and how this perception influences the formation of business Opportunity Beliefs. Drawing on the Construal Level Theory, we explore the relationship between the perceived hypotheticality of technologies and Opportunity Beliefs. Two experimental studies are conducted to examine these relationships, with Study 1 (n = 177 entrepreneurs) focusing on the perception of innovative technologies as more distant or hypothetical, and Study 2 (n = 404 entrepreneurs) delving into how the perceived distance to technology influences Opportunity Beliefs. The results indicate that entrepreneurs view more innovative technologies as more hypothetical and that hypotheticality mediates the relationship between the perceived degree of innovation and Opportunity Beliefs. We find evidence that Entrepreneurs tend to view the feasibility and fit/alignment of business opportunities more favorably when they perceive the psychological distance (hypotheticality) of the opportunity as closer rather than more distant. However, the difference this difference is nonsignificant in how they evaluate the desirability of the opportunity in any psychological distance. These results provide insight into the cognitive processes of entrepreneurs and offer implications for understanding how entrepreneurs perceive and evaluate business opportunities.

The Use of Big Data Analysis in Digital Empowerment of Sustainable Technological Innovation Management of Ecological Enterprises.

With the social economy's rapid progress and the popularization of environmental awareness, ecological enterprises have gradually become a crucial trend in the development of modern enterprises. This work intends to promote the development of ecological enterprises to a higher level. This work first analyzes the management mode of ecological enterprises in the context of big data in China. Then, it establishes various indicators to analyze the role of sustainable technological innovation in enterprise development and the impact of digital empowerment on enterprise development. Finally, this work takes China's manufacturing industry and ecological enterprises in Hubei Province as examples to summarize the digital empowerment of sustainable technological innovation management of ecological enterprises under the background of big data. The final result indicates that sustainable technological innovation significantly reduces ecological enterprises' resource consumption and waste emissions. Additionally, it has a significant positive effect on improving enterprise output value and economic benefits. The digital empowerment of enterprises has a significant driving effect on sustainable technological innovation, with a digital driving coefficient of 26. This work provides a feasible scheme for the specific application of big data analysis in the technology innovation management of ecological enterprises, including market demand analysis, environmental monitoring and governance, technology assessment and risk management. This work expounds the role of big data analysis technology in improving decision-making efficiency, optimizing resource allocation and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the digital empowerment of ecological enterprises.

Corporate governance, technological innovation, and corporate performance: Evidence from China.

Corporate governance plays an important role in achieving high-quality economic development and sustainable corporate development. In recent years, as listed companies face increasing challenges in social responsibility issues such as environmental pollution and financial fraud, corporate governance has received widespread attention from academics and practitioners. In particular, technological innovation has attracted much attention to the development of enterprises. This paper also explores the intermediary mechanism of technological innovation based on the output measurement method of technological innovation. This study selected data from companies listed on the A-share main board of the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges in China from 2012 to 2022, aiming to explore the relationship between corporate governance and corporate performance. At the same time, we further analyzed the impact of corporate governance on corporate performance based on the mediating role of technological innovation. The research results show that equity balance degree, board size, and executive incentives all have a positive impact on corporate performance. Technological innovation has a certain mediating effect on independent variables (equity balance degree, board size, and executive incentives) and corporate performance. This study clarifies the controversy about the relationship between corporate governance and corporate performance and deepens the understanding of this relationship. It also provides empirical support for listed companies to pay attention to and improve corporate governance levels and enhance innovation capabilities. By exploring the interplay between governance mechanisms, innovation processes, and performance outcomes, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of how organizations can leverage governance practices to drive innovation-led growth and sustainable success.

Unveiling the power of education, political stability and ICT in shaping technological innovation in BRI nations.

Technological innovation is a critical element of economic and environmental sustainability; thus, the promotion of technological innovation in the economy has gained an apex among policy makers. The study's impetus is to measure the effect of investments in information and communication technology (ICT), education, and political stability on technical innovation in BRI countries for 2004-2020. In the process of documenting the empirical nexus through the implementation of novel panel techniques commonly known as Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR), continuously updated fully modified" (Cup-FM) and continuously updated bias-corrected (Cup-BC). The results of the slope of heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependency test, and panel cointegration test have revealed the presence of heterogeneity, all the research variables possessed certain common dynamics, and, most importantly presence of long-run association. The study documented the coefficients of ICT, education and Political stability are positive and statistically significant, indicating a contributory effect in fostering technological innovation in BRI nations. The findings emphasize the importance of upholding political stability, directing resources toward education, and fostering an environment that encourages innovation through the integration of information and communication technology (ICT). The study also highlights how critical it is to bring in FDI and use it to your advantage in order to boost tech development and the economy.

How does technological innovation affect the fiscal decentralization of local governments? Evidence from China.

Technological innovation is a pivotal driver of high-quality economic development, and China's distinctive fiscal decentralization model stands out as a crucial institutional factor behind the country's economic growth miracle. Despite its significant academic and practical implications, there is a noticeable scarcity of literature on examining government fiscal decentralization through the lens of technological innovation. This paper addresses fundamental research questions regarding the relationship between technological innovation and fiscal decentralization. Leveraging balanced panel data from 30 provinces in China spanning 2005 to 2020, our findings indicate that technological innovation positively impacts the fiscal decentralization of local governments. Specifically, for each standard deviation increase in technological innovation, there is a corresponding 0.1508 standard deviation in fiscal decentralization. The mechanism driving this relationship lies in technological innovation's ability to enhance enterprise profit levels, increasing tax and non-tax revenues for local governments. Importantly, when non-tax revenue at the central government level surpasses tax revenue, the resulting augmentation in local government revenue contributes to an elevated level of fiscal decentralization. In conclusion, this paper offers valuable insights into the government's endeavors to promote scientific and technological innovation while enhancing local fiscal decentralization. These insights contribute to an improved quality of economic development.

How does climate change risk affect energy poverty? International evidence.

Based on cross-country data from 2002 to 2019, we explore the impact of climate change risk (CCR) on energy poverty (EP), and the moderating role in the CCR-EP nexus is also discussed. The empirical results suggest that CCR can exacerbate EP, especially for rural areas. Moderating effect analysis shows that financial development, technological innovation, and adaptation readiness can modify the negative impacts of CCR on EP to some extent. Moreover, the impact of CCR on EP is heterogeneous, demonstrating that CCR is more likely to exacerbate EP in countries with low economic development, low economic freedom, high carbon intensity, and the Africa region. Our findings emphasize the challenge of balancing EP alleviation with climate change response and provide the policy guidance to promote coordinated development of CCR management and energy supply security.

The impact of agricultural insurance on consumer food safety: empirical evidence from provincial-level data in China.

In the exploration of the efficacy of agricultural subsidy policies, agricultural insurance, as a key element of this policy system, has garnered widespread attention for its potential impact on consumer food safety. This paper delves into the influence of agricultural insurance on the safety of food consumed by individuals, based on provincial panel data in China from 2011 to 2021. The findings indicate that agricultural insurance significantly reduces the incidence of foodborne disease and enhances food safety. Mediating effect tests reveal that agricultural insurance effectively boosts food safety through two key pathways: promoting innovation in agricultural technology and reducing environmental pollution. Moreover, the analysis of moderating effects highlights that increased consumer confidence positively enhances the impact of agricultural insurance. Heterogeneity tests further show that in the provinces with higher levels of agricultural development and stronger government support for agriculture, the role of agricultural insurance in improving food safety is more pronounced. This research not only empirically verifies the effectiveness of agricultural insurance in enhancing food safety but also provides robust theoretical support and practical guidance for the precise formulation and effective implementation of agricultural subsidy policies, particularly agricultural insurance policies, offering significant reference value for policy-makers.

Does digital infrastructure construction impact urban carbon emission reduction? Evidence from China's smart city construction.

As the cornerstone of the digital economy, the construction of digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in promoting China's high-quality economic growth.. Against the backdrop of the "dual-carbon" goals, the development of digital infrastructure will provide new momentum for carbon emissions reduction in urban areas. This study utilizes unbalanced panel data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China between 2008 and 2019, treating the smart city construction as a quasi-natural experiment, to systematically evaluate the impact of the pilot construction of smart city on urban carbon emissions intensity. The research findings reveal that the construction of the smart city has significantly contributed to the reduction of urban carbon emissions intensity, indicating that digital infrastructure contributes to urban carbon emission reduction. The reduction of carbon emissions resulting from smart city construction is particularly significant in the East and Central regions., as well as regions with high financial development levels, regions with high human capital levels and non resource-based cities. The construction of the smart city primarily achieves the reduction of urban carbon emissions intensity through two main pathways: improving the penetration rate of digital infrastructure and enhancing technological innovation capability. Therefore, this study recommends that local governments strengthen the integration and penetration of digital infrastructure with traditional industries, foster urban innovation vitality, and accelerate the transformation towards green and low-carbon cities.

Enterprise service-oriented transformation and sustainable development driven by digital technology.

The deep integration of digital technology and the real economy not only affects the production and operation mode of enterprises, but also becomes the promoter of service-oriented transformation and the driving force of sustainable development. Based on the text analysis method, this paper uses the data of Chinese listed manufacturing enterprises from 2011 to 2020 to study the impact of digital technology application on the service-oriented transformation and sustainable development of enterprises. It is found that digital technology application significantly improves the environmental performance and economic performance of enterprises by driving their service-oriented transformation and technological innovation, and then enhances their sustainable development. The improvement effect of digital technology application on the sustainable development of resource-based enterprises and capital-intensive enterprises is more significant. The conclusion in this paper provides micro-evidence for understanding the role of digital technology in addressing environmental issues and sustainable development.