Market-Driven Innovation

A new method for starting the iterative innovation process from the market side based on a sociological trend has been developed. It eliminates the traditional difference between the innovators and the sociological group that carries this trend, which can only be achieved by combining real-world innovation with innovation education. The method for market need discovery is presented as a step-by-step process with detailed reasoning, followed by a real-world example that details the outcomes at every step along the way. The example concludes with a detailed description of the outcome after the first innovation iteration cycle. The richness of the resulting concept demonstrates that an innovation process can be successfully started from the market side via the proposed method

Digital Interventions for Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: Systematic Review

The rising prevalence of anxiety and depression among adolescents highlights the need for accessible intervention solutions. The objectives of this systematic review were to (1) identify existing digital interventions for adolescent depression and anxiety, (2) assess the promise of those interventions, and (3) identify characteristics of promising interventions. Six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar) were used to conduct searches between September and October 2023. The searches were re-run in June 2024. Twenty studies met the criteria for inclusion, leading to the identification of 17 distinct interventions for analysis. The promise of the interventions was assessed through their effectiveness, the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework dimensions, and risk of bias. The evaluation of interventions' promise deemed three studies as “Quite Promising,” six as “Slightly Promising,” four as “Inconclusive Promise,” and seven as “Not Promising.” All promising interventions somewhat met the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance dimensions. Variability was observed in Template for Intervention Description and Replication characteristics, including rationale, intervention provider, length and frequency of intervention, and retention. Factors that potentially contribute to the success or limitation of digital mental health interventions among adolescents are discussed. The review underscores the need to enhance the methodological rigor and to evaluate and report the real-world impact of interventions to ensure they benefit a broader demographic of young people

Use of a novel collagen matrix with oriented pore structure for muscle cell differentiation in cell culture and in grafts

Tissue engineering of skeletal muscle from cultured cells has been attempted using a variety of synthetic and natural macromolecular scaffolds. Our study describes the application of artificial scaffolds (collagen sponges, CS) consisting of collagen-I with parallel pores (width 20–50 μm) using the permanent myogenic cell line C2C12. CS were infiltrated with a high-density cell suspension, incubated in medium for proliferation of myoblasts prior to further culture in fusion medium to induce differentiation and formation of multinucleated myotubes. This resulted in a parallel arrangement of myotubes within the pore structures. CS with either proliferating cells or with myotubes were grafted into the beds of excised anterior tibial muscles of immunodeficient host mice. The recipient mice were transgenic for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to determine a host contribution to the regenerated muscle tissue. Histological analysis 14–50 days after surgery showed that donor muscle fibres had formed in situ with host contributions in the outer portions of the regenerates. The function of the regenerates was assessed by direct electrical stimulation which resulted in the generation of mechanical force. Our study demonstrated that biodegradable CS with parallel pores support the formation of oriented muscle fibres and are compatible with force generation in regenerated muscle

Relationships between pig farm management and facilities and lung lesions' scores and between lung lesions scores and carcass characteristics

peer-reviewAbstract Background The objective of this study was to examine the inter-relationships between pig farm management and facilities (as assessed by questionnaire) and post-mortem lung lesion (lung score assesment), which are the result of respiratory infections. The relationships between carcass characteristics and post-mortem lung lesion scores were also investigated. Results Questionnaire responses were collected from 22 self-selecting pig farmers about their farm facilities/management and health condition of the respiratory system of pigs, including the occurrence of clinical respiratory signs, results of laboratory testing for respiratory pathogens, and the use of respiratory vaccines. When fatteners were sent to the abattoir, their carcasses (n = 1,976) were examined for evidence of respiratory disease by lung lesion (pleuritis pneumonia-like (PP-like) and enzootic pneumonia-like (EP-like) lesions) scoring and the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Index (APPI) was calculated. Carcass characteristics were recorded and, retrospectively, the prevalence of cachectic pigs was calculated. Using these variables, the relationships between farm facilities/management and lung lesions scores and the relationships between the latter and carcass characteristics and cachexia were explored. The key findings relating farm facilities and management to lung lesions were: slatted floors were associated with significantly higher EP-like lesions scores than litter bedding in weaners, single-stage fattening in the same building was associated with significantly higher EP-like lesions scores than two-stage fattening, but herd size, stocking density, use of all-in/all-out (AIAO) rule, technological break duration and variation in daily temperature did not affect lung lesions scores. The key findings relating lung lesion scores to carcass characteristics were: a significant, negative correlation between EP-like scores and carcass weight but not with other carcass characteristics, a significant positive correlation between PP-like scores and carcass meat content and prevalence of cachectic carcasses and a significant positive correlation between lung APPI and prevalence of cachectic carcasses. Conclusions It can be concluded that both farm facilities and management affect lung lesions scores and that the latter affect carcass characteristics. Lung lesion scoring is an inexpensive technique suitable for rapid monitoring of large numbers of carcasses that can be performed after animal slaughter. It provides useful information to inform producers about possible deficits in farm facilities or management and is a predictor of economic loss due to poorer quality carcasses

Acquisition of real estates and shares or stocks in a commercial company by foreigners under Polish law

Osajda, KonradJuranek, AlexanderOsajda, Konra