Search Results (601)

In the era of digital business model innovation, multinational corporations face a dual challenge: leveraging digital technologies to overcome institutional barriers while reconfiguring value creation in cross-border operations. Grounded in institutional theory and the digital transformation literature, this study investigates how knowledge distance and political distance shape subsidiary exits through a U-shaped relationship, and how digital transformation breadth and depth differentially reconfigure these effects. We conduct empirical research on 1203 Chinese multinational enterprises from 2015 to 2019. The results indicate that both knowledge distance and political distance exhibit a U-shaped relationship with the subsidiary exit. The breadth of digital transformation strengthens the U-shaped relationship between knowledge distance and subsidiary exit but weakens the relationship between political distance and subsidiary exit. The depth of digital transformation mitigates the effects of both knowledge distance and political distance on subsidiary exit. These findings provide a novel explanatory perspective on the ‘Distance Paradox’ in internationalization theory, address a critical gap in the multinational enterprise (MNE) exit literature, and propose a modular governance blueprint for MNEs. Full article

In recent decades, Chinese literary studies has shifted away from center–periphery models, favoring frameworks that emphasize multiplicity and decentralization. While this turn has opened space for new perspectives, it risks overlooking persistent hierarchies that continue to shape literary careers, where certain publishers remain more central to an author’s advancement than others. This essay reconsiders the center–periphery framework through an analysis of Huizu wenxue, a literary journal published in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Despite its geographic distance from China’s dominant literary hubs, Huizu wenxue has long served as a key platform for Hui literature. Drawing on interviews, as well as textual and paratextual analysis, I demonstrate how the journal functions both as a launchpad for emerging Hui authors and as an institutional anchor for a nationwide Hui literary community. Through dedicated columns that showcase new Hui talent and events that foster professional networks, Huizu wenxue has, since its inception, continually played a central role in shaping Hui literary production and supporting authors’ careers. Because it operates from the margins of the People’s Republic of China’s yet wields significant influence within Hui literary circles, I argue that Huizu wenxue is best understood as a “peripheral center.” Full article

Background and Objectives: Total body irradiation (TBI) remains a cornerstone of conditioning for allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Whereas early research debated the need for irradiation, contemporary investigations focus on optimising dose, fractionation and delivery techniques. Material and Methods: We synthesised six decades of evidence, spanning from single-fraction cobalt treatments to modern helical tomotherapy and intensity-modulated total-marrow/lymphoid irradiation (TMI/TMLI). To complement the literature, we reported our institutional experience on 77 paediatric and adult recipients treated with conventional extended-source-to-skin-distance TBI at the University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico–San Marco” between 2015 and 2025. Results: According to literature data, fractionated myeloablative schedules, typically 12 Gy in 6 fractions, provide superior overall survival and lower rates of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with historical single-dose regimens. Conversely, reduced-intensity protocols of 2–4 Gy broaden HSCT eligibility for older or comorbid patients with acceptable toxicity. Conformal planning reliably decreases mean lung dose without compromising engraftment, and early-phase trials are testing selective escalation to 16–20 Gy or omission of TBI in molecularly favourable cases. With regard to our institutional retrospective series, 92% of patients completed a 12-Gy regimen with only transient grade 1–2 nausea, fatigue or hypotension; all transplanted patients engrafted, and no grade ≥ 3 radiation pneumonitis occurred. Conclusions: Collectively, the published evidence and our experience support TBI as an irreplaceable component of HSCT conditioning and suggest that coupling it with advanced imaging, organ-sparing dosimetry and molecular response monitoring can deliver safer, more personalised therapy in the coming decade. Full article

The digital economy is a vital driver of industrial transformation and green development in China. This study aims to investigate how formal and informal environmental regulations affected the growth of the digital economy across Chinese prefecture-level cities between 2010 and 2020. Utilizing panel data from official statistical yearbooks and local bulletins, the research employs entropy weighting and ratio analysis to measure regulatory intensity and effectiveness. Spatial econometric models are applied to assess the direct and spillover effects of environmental regulation on digital economy development. Results indicate a nationwide strengthening of both formal and informal regulations, with formal mechanisms exerting a more pronounced influence on digital growth. Regional disparities are evident, with cities under stricter environmental oversight showing faster digital advancement. Spatial spillover effects exist but diminish with distance, likely due to institutional fragmentation. These findings underscore the need for integrated multi-level regulatory approaches, promoting synergy between formal and informal regulations and embedding environmental goals within land-use planning and digital infrastructure investment. The study offers new insights into the interplay between environmental governance and urban digital transformation, providing lessons relevant to China and other developing countries pursuing sustainable transitions. Full article

As global climate disasters become frequent, colleges and universities in disaster-prone areas are facing problems in disaster response and post-disaster recovery. Based on the theory of urban resilience, we case-studied nine universities in Conghua District, Guangzhou City, China, using the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). We constructed a multi-criteria evaluation model for campus disaster prevention resilience under extreme climate conditions. By identifying 4 facets and 16 criteria, 9 colleges were ranked. The distance of the college from the city center, the terrain and natural environment of the college, the level of the college, and the ownership of the college affected their ranking The results of this study help campus managers and planners integrate campus resilience plans into campus planning, institutional regulations, campus site selection, and campus construction in the future. Full article

Federated Clustering (FL clustering) aims to discover latent knowledge in multi-source distributed data through clustering algorithms while preserving data privacy. Federated learning is categorized into horizontal and vertical federated learning based on data partitioning scenarios. Horizontal federated learning is applicable to scenarios with overlapping feature spaces but different sample IDs across parties. Vertical federated learning facilitates cross-institutional feature complementarity, which is particularly suited for scenarios with highly overlapping sample IDs yet significantly divergent features. As a classic clustering algorithm, k-means has seen extensive improvements and applications in horizontal federated learning. However, its application in vertical federated learning remains insufficiently explored, with room for enhancement in privacy protection and communication efficiency. Simultaneously, client feature imbalance may lead to biased clustering results. To improve communication efficiency, this paper introduces Product Quantization (PQ) to compress high-dimensional data into low-dimensional codes by generating local codebooks. Leveraging the inherent k-means algorithm within PQ, local training preserves data structures while overcoming privacy risks associated with traditional PQ methods that require server-side data reconstruction (which may leak data distributions). To enhance privacy without compromising performance, Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) maps codebook cluster centers into distance-preserving indices. Only these indices are uploaded to the server, eliminating the need for data reconstruction. The server executes k-means on the indices to minimize intra-group similarity and maximize inter-group divergence. This scheme retains original codebooks locally for strict privacy protection.The nested application of PQ and MDS significantly reduces communication volume and frequency while effectively alleviating clustering bias caused by client feature dimension imbalance. Validation on the MNIST dataset confirms that the approach maintains k-means clustering performance while meeting federated learning requirements for privacy and efficiency. Full article

Investigating the coevolution between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB) holds significant implications for achieving the sustainable operation of human–environment systems. However, limited research has focused on ES-HWB interactions in ecotourism-dominated counties. To address this gap, this study takes Chun’an County in Zhejiang Province, China, as a case study, with the research objective of exploring the processes, patterns, and mechanisms of the coevolution between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB) in ecotourism-dominated counties. By integrating multi-source heterogeneous data, including land use data, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and statistical records, and employing methods such as the dynamic equivalent factor method, the PLUS model, the coupling coordination degree model, and comprehensive evaluation, we analyzed the synergistic evolution of ES-HWB in Chun’an County from 2000 to 2020. The results indicate that (1) the ecosystem service value (ESV) fluctuated between 30.15 and 36.85 billion CNY, exhibiting a spatial aggregation pattern centered on the Qiandao Lake waterbody, with distance–decay characteristics. The PLUS model confirms ecological conservation policies optimize ES patterns. (2) The HWB index surged from 0.16 to 0.8, driven by tourism-led economic growth, infrastructure investment, and institutional innovation, facilitating a paradigm shift from low to high well-being at the county level. (3) The ES-HWB interaction evolved through three phases—disordered, antagonism, and coordination—revealing tourism as a key mediator driving coupled human–environment system sustainability via a pressure–adaptation–synergy transmission mechanism. This study not only advances the understanding of ES-HWB coevolution in ecotourism-dominated counties, but also provides a transferable methodological framework for sustainable development in similar regions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the guideline-recommended alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for long-term anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, accurately assessing their impact on ischemic stroke outcomes remains challenging, primarily due to uncertainty regarding anticoagulation status at the time of hospital admission. This preliminary study addresses this gap by using point-of-care testing (POCT) to confirm DOAC activity at bedside, allowing for a more accurate comparison of 90-day functional outcomes between anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 786 ischemic stroke patients admitted to the University of Pécs between February 2023 and February 2025. Active DOAC therapy was confirmed using the ClotPro^® viscoelastic testing platform, with ecarin Clotting Time (ECT) employed for thrombin inhibitors and Russell’s Viper Venom (RVV) assays for factor Xa inhibitors. Patients were categorized as non-anticoagulated (n = 767) or DOAC-treated with confirmed activity (n = 19). Mahalanobis distance-based matching was applied to account for confounding variables including age, sex, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission and 72 h post-stroke. The primary outcome was the change in mRS from baseline to 90 days. Statistical analysis included ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: After matching, 90-day functional outcomes were comparable between groups (mean mRS-shift: 2.00 in DOAC-treated vs. 1.78 in non-anticoagulated; p = 0.745). OLS regression showed no significant association between DOAC status and recovery (p = 0.599). In contrast, NIHSS score at 72 h (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0.015) were significant predictors of outcome. PCA supported these findings, identifying stroke severity as the primary driver of outcome. Conclusions: This preliminary analysis suggests that ischemic stroke patients with confirmed active DOAC therapy at admission may achieve 90-day functional outcomes comparable to those of non-anticoagulated patients. The integration of bedside POCT enhances the reliability of anticoagulation assessment and underscores its clinical value for real-time management in acute stroke care. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to further refine treatment strategies. Full article

Agricultural development is vital for East Africa’s economic growth, yet the region faces significant disparities and systemic barriers. A critical problem exists due to the lack of an integrated quantitative framework to systematically comparing agricultural capacities and facilitate optimal resource allocation, as existing studies often overlook combined internal and external factors. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model to assess, categorize, and strategically profile the agricultural development capacity of 18 East African countries. The method employed is an integrated Entropy-MAIRCA model, which objectively weighs six criteria (the food production index, arable land, production fluctuation, food export/import ratios, and the political stability index) and ranks countries by their distance from an ideal development state. The experiment applied this framework to 18 East African nations using official data. The results revealed significant differences, forming four distinct strategic groups: frontier, emerging, trade-dependent, and high risk. The food export index (C4) and production volatility (C3) were identified as the most influential criteria. This model’s contribution is providing a science-based, transparent decision support tool for designing sustainable agricultural policies, aiding investment planning, and promoting regional cooperation, while emphasizing the crucial role of institutional factors. Full article

This study investigates whether internationally diversified firms substitute between accrual-based and real earnings management and examines how institutional supervision moderates this relationship. Drawing on a sample of Taiwanese firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange from 2003 to 2016, we conduct regression analyses to test our hypothesis. We find that internationally diversified firms actively shift between accrual and real earnings management strategies depending on the constraints they face. Specifically, firms tend to rely more on accrual-based manipulation when information asymmetry is high and switch to real earnings management when accruals are more easily detected. We also show that stronger institutional supervision—measured by information transparency and investor protection—significantly curbs accrual-based earnings management. These findings reflect the higher volatility and agency problems associated with international operations, such as exposure to foreign risks and the distance between parent and subsidiary firms. By highlighting the conditions under which firms manage earnings and the supervisory mechanisms that constrain such behavior, this study offers practical insights for managers seeking to smooth earnings, investors aiming to evaluate firm transparency, and policymakers designing regulations to deter opportunistic financial reporting. Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to be applied in wound ballistics, showing preliminary potential to improve the accuracy and objectivity of forensic analyses. This review explores the current state of AI applications in forensic firearm wound analysis, emphasizing its potential to address challenges such as subjective interpretations and data heterogeneity. Methods: A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted using databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. Keywords focused on AI and GSW classification identified 502 studies, narrowed down to 4 relevant articles after rigorous screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: These studies examined the role of deep learning (DL) models in classifying GSWs by type, shooting distance, and entry or exit characteristics. The key findings demonstrated that DL models like TinyResNet, ResNet152, and ConvNext Tiny achieved accuracy ranging from 87.99% to 98%. Models were effective in tasks such as classifying GSWs and estimating shooting distances. However, most studies were exploratory in nature, with small sample sizes and, in some cases, reliance on animal models, which limits generalizability to real-world forensic scenarios. Conclusions: Comparisons with other forensic AI applications revealed that large, diverse datasets significantly enhance model performance. Transparent and interpretable AI systems utilizing techniques are essential for judicial acceptance and ethical compliance. Despite the encouraging results, the field remains in an early stage of development. Limitations highlight the need for standardized protocols, cross-institutional collaboration, and the integration of multimodal data for robust forensic AI systems. Future research should focus on overcoming current data and validation constraints, ensuring the ethical use of human forensic data, and developing AI tools that are scientifically sound and legally defensible. Full article

Background/Objectives: A new, purely refractive extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) was designed with a continuous change in power to bridge the gap between monofocal and multifocal IOLs. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world clinical outcomes of the new EDOF IOL compared with those of the enhanced monofocal IOL. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 eyes from 50 patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery with either the PureSee™ EDOF (ZEN00V) or Eyhance™ (ICB00) monofocal IOL at a single institution. Visual acuity, defocus curves, contrast sensitivity, and patient-reported outcomes were evaluated three months postoperatively. Results: The ZEN00V group demonstrated superior uncorrected intermediate (0.11 ± 0.08 vs. 0.17 ± 0.11 logMAR, p = 0.006) and near visual acuity (0.25 ± 0.08 vs. 0.31 ± 0.13 logMAR, p = 0.023) compared to the ICB00 group, with comparable distance visual acuity. Both groups exhibited comparable defocus curves and contrast sensitivity. While photic phenomena were more frequent in the ZEN00V group, spectacle dependence was significantly lower for near vision (36% vs. 80%, p = 0.002) and comparable for intermediate and far vision. Conclusions: The PureSee™ EDOF IOL demonstrated enhanced intermediate and near vision with minimal compromise to distance vision while maintaining high contrast sensitivity. It also offered significant spectacle independence and patient satisfaction, making it a promising option for presbyopia correction. Full article

Background: Digital dental photography is increasingly essential for documentation and smile design. This study aimed to compare the linear measurement accuracy of various smartphones and a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera against digital models obtained by intraoral and desktop scanners. Methods: Tooth height and width from six different casts were measured and compared using images acquired with a Canon EOS 250D DSLR, six smartphone models (iPhone 13, iPhone 15, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24, and Vivo T2), and digital scans obtained from the Helios 500 intraoral scanner and the Ceramill Map 600 desktop scanner. All image measurements were performed using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA), and statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post hoc test (α = 0.05). Results: The results showed no significant differences in measurements across most imaging methods (p > 0.05), except for the Vivo T2, which showed a significant deviation (p < 0.05). The other smartphones produced measurements comparable to those of the DSLR, even at distances as close as 16 cm. Conclusions: These findings preliminary support the clinical use of smartphones for accurate dental documentation and two-dimensional smile design, including the posterior areas, and challenge the previously recommended 24 cm minimum distance for mobile dental photography (MDP). This provides clinicians with a simplified and accessible alternative for high-accuracy dental imaging, advancing the everyday use of MDP in clinical practice. Full article

From the mid-Ming to early Qing dynasties, Mount Jizu 雞足山 in Yunnan achieved unexpected prominence within China’s Buddhist sacred landscape—an event of regional, national, and transnational significance. Employing an explicit comparative lens that juxtaposes Jizu with China’s core-region sacred sites like Mount Wutai and Emei, this study investigates the timing, regional dynamics, institutional mechanisms, and causal drivers behind the rapid ascent. Rejecting teleological narratives, it traces the mountain’s trajectory through four developmental phases to address critical historiographical questions: how did a peripheral Yunnan site achieve national prominence within a remarkably compressed timeframe? By what mechanisms could its sacred authority be constructed to inspire pilgrimages even across vast distances? Which historical agents and processes orchestrated these transformations, and how did the mountain’s symbolic meaning shift dynamically over time? Departing from earlier scholarship that privileges regional and secular frameworks, this work not only rebalances the emphasis on religious dimensions but also expands the analytical scope beyond regional confines to situate Mount Jizu within national and transnational frameworks. Eventually, by analyzing the structural, institutional, and agential dynamics—spanning local, imperial, and transnational dimensions—this study reveals how the mountain’s sacralization emerged from the convergence of local agency, acculturative pressures, state-building imperatives, late-Ming Buddhist revival, literati networks, and the strategic mobilization of symbolic capital. It also reveals that Mount Jizu was not a static sacred site but a dynamic arena of contestation and negotiation, where competing claims to spiritual authority and cultural identity were perpetually redefined. Full article

Background: The motor response to human visual stimuli is unique and differs from the reaction to light-based visual stimuli. While laboratory-based tests offer valuable insights into athletes’ basic perceptual–motor abilities, their translation to actual sports-specific tests is limited. Methods: Following a thorough warm-up, 44 collegiate-level male soccer players (age: 24.4 ± 2.5 y, mass: 63.01 ± 7.3 kg, stature: 167.62 ± 6.3 cm) from a tertiary institution completed the following tests: Sports Vision Test (20-light proactive speed test), 40 m sprint test (split times over 5, 10, 20 and 40 m), and a live Reactive Agility Test (RAT) entailing them to sprint, change direction either towards their dominant limb or non-dominant limb in response to a live tester, and sprint again. Results: Numerous moderate correlations were seen between the RAT and various sprint distances (r > 0.3, ES > 0.3, p < 0.05). The reaction speed relationship between the light-based (SVT) and live stimuli (RAT) test yielded a weak relationship (r > 0.4, ES > 0.5, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the light-based hand–eye coordination speed did not predict acceleration or top speed, while the total RAT time did explain 10.5% of top speed (40 m). No significant differences in the SVT average and total time were found among playing positions. Conclusions: The limited correlations observed indicate that light-based reaction training alone may not be sufficient to translate to field-based reactive agility; therefore, training should integrate perceptual–cognitive and motor demands. Future research should refine laboratory-based tests by incorporating contextual elements to enhance ecological validity and further investigate the transferability of these skills from controlled settings to real-world game scenarios. Full article