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Success factors for managing European Union-funded research, development and innovation projects is rather uncharted territory and scarce publications exist, even though considering that the H2020 funding was nearly €80 billion, and Horizon Europe is €95,5 billion. Managing these types of projects has been referred to as ‘managing the unmanageable’, which indicates importance of our study. The aim of this study was to gather input via survey from both project coordinators and partners by assessing factors in five categories of good practices, skills, characteristics and tools of project management, and coordination for successful project implementation. A total of 118 persons replied to the survey who have experience from Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe funded project(s). Over 80 factors were assessed and rated by the participants. Via standard statistical analysis, a top three lists were created for the different categories from both project partners and coordinators perspectives. A combination of 15 top success factors was formed. Furthermore, to emphasise the practicality of the results, an overarching framework was formed where we propose three prioritised key success factors that research, development, and innovation project management of should focus on. The three key success factors are communication, trust, and collaboration. Communication and trust are further traced down to the coordinator and consortium levels. Active communication and good listening skills are key. Mutual trust is built through high motivation, competence, and active approach to dedicated project activities and roles. Efficient collaboration is reached by nourishing inclusivity and culture, creating a productive environment, and good administrative practices.

Considering the impact of drought on agricultural products and human food security, the selection of the appropriate drought index to assess drought conditions is very important. Therefore, in this research, based on the relationship between the percent annual yield loss (AYL) of winter wheat (Triticum sativum) and three commonly used drought indices, i.e. Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the accuracy of these indices was evaluated at 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month time scales. Results showed that the average AYL at Ahvaz, Babolsar, Esfahan, Gorgan, Kerman, Mashhad, Ramsar, Rasht, Shiraz and Zabol was 66.64, 5.42, 97.52, 10.20, 98.57, 84.99, 2.47, 3.84, 77.03 and 97.07%, respectively. At stations with hyper-arid, semi-arid, Mediterranean, humid and hyper-humid type A climate conditions such as Zabol, Esfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Gorgan, Babolsar, Ramsar and Rasht stations, the calculated values of SPEI demonstrated the highest CC with AYL in winter wheat. At Kerman and Ahvaz, with arid climate conditions, the calculated values of the RDI had the greatest CC with AYL in winter wheat. Thus, in general, among the SPI, RDI and SPEI, the use of the SPEI is recommended for the assessment of drought characteristics.

Drought is one of the most complex climate-related phenomena and is expected to progressively affect our lives by causing very serious environmental and socioeconomic damage by the end of the 21st century. In this study, we have extracted a dataset of exceptional meteorological drought events between 1975 and 2019 at the country and subregional scales. Each drought event was described by its start and end date, intensity, severity, duration, areal extent, peak month and peak area. To define such drought events and their characteristics, separate analyses based on three drought indices were performed at 12-month timescale: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI). A multivariate combined drought index (DXI) was developed by merging the previous three indices for more understanding of droughts’ features at the country and subregional levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify five different drought subregions based on DXI-12 values for 312 Mediterranean stations and a new special score was defined to classify the multi-subregional exceptional drought events across the Mediterranean Basin (MED). The results indicated that extensive drought events occurred more frequently since the late 1990s, showing several drought hotspots in the last decades in the southeastern Mediterranean and northwest Africa. In addition, the results showed that the most severe events were more detected when more than single drought index was used. The highest percentage area under drought was also observed through combining the variations of three drought indices. Furthermore, the drought area in both dry and humid areas in the MED has also experienced a remarkable increase since the late 1990s. Based on a comparison of the drought events during the two periods—1975–1996 and 1997–2019—we find that the current dry conditions in the MED are more severe, intense, and frequent than the earlier period; moreover, the strongest dry conditions occurred in last two decades. The SPEI-12 and RDI-12 have a higher capacity in providing a more comprehensive description of the dry conditions because of the inclusion of temperature or atmospheric evaporative demand in their scheme. A complex range of atmospheric circulation patterns, particularly the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO) and East Atlantic/West Russia (EATL/WRUS), appear to play an important role in severe, intense and region-wide droughts, including the two most severe droughts, 1999–2001 and 2007–2012, with lesser influence of the NAO, ULMO and SCAND.

Estimating penetration rates of Jumbo drills is crucial for optimizing underground mining drilling processes, aiming to reduce costs and time. This study investigates various regression and machine learning methods, including Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Random Forests (RF), to predict the penetration rates (ROP) using multivariate inputs such as operation parameters and rock mass characteristics. The Rock Mass Drillability Index (RDi), incorporating both intact rock properties and structural parameters, was utilized to characterize the rock mass. The dataset was split into 80% for training and 20% for testing. Performance metrics including correlation coefficient (R 2 ), variance accounted for (VAF), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were calculated for each method to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions. SVR exhibited the best prediction performance for ROP, achieving the highest R2, lowest RMSE, MAE, and MAPE, as well as the largest VAF values of 0.94, 0.15, 0.11, 4.84, and 94.13 during training, and 0.91, 0.19, 0.13, 6.02, and 91.11 during testing, respectively. With this high accuracy, we conclude that the proposed machine learning algorithms are valuable and efficient predictors for estimating jumbo drill penetration rates in underground mining operations.

BackgroundManagement of bleeding during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is critical. Red Dichromatic Imaging (RDI), a novel image-enhanced endoscopy technology, has been reported to improve the visibility of deep vessels and bleeding source compared to white light imaging (WLI). We hypothesized that using RDI during the entire cutting process (full time RDI ESD: FTR-ESD), higher R0 resection rate, shorter procedure time and fewer complications could be achieved. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the efficacy and safety of FTR-ESD.MethodsThis retrospective observational study included a total of 82 consecutive patients who underwent ESD by a single expert endoscopist for 40 esophageal, 17 gastric and 25 colorectal cancers at our institution from January 2018 to March 2021. The clinicopathological data were collected from patients’ medical records and the treatment outcomes were analyzed according to the treatment phase (early; 57 WLI-ESD and late; 25 FTR-ESD).ResultsThe median of the greatest diameter of resected specimen was 40.0 mm. The median procedure time was relatively shorter in the FTR-ESD group (35 min) than in the WLI-ESD group (40 min), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.34). The median dissection speed in the FTR-ESD group (27.23 mm2/min) was significantly faster than that in the WLI-ESD group (20.94 mm2/min) (p = 0.025). The dissection speed was not different among different organs. A multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (more than 30 mm) and FTR-ESD were significant independent factors contributing to faster dissection speed (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of en bloc resection, HM0, VM0 or occurrence of adverse events between WLI-ESD and FTR-ESD.ConclusionsFTR-ESD significantly increases the dissection speed compared to WLI-ESD. FTR-ESD can be performed safely and therapeutic outcomes in FTR-ESD are comparable with WLI-ESD. A further multicenter prospective study is warranted to confirm our results.

Vitamin K and its essential role in coagulation (vitamin K [Koagulation]) have been well established and accepted the world over. Many countries have a Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for vitamin K based on early research, and its necessary role in the activation of vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteins is known. In the past few decades, the role of vitamin K-dependent proteins in processes beyond coagulation has been discovered. Various isoforms of vitamin K have been identified, and vitamin K2 specifically has been highlighted for its long half-life and extrahepatic activity, whereas the dietary form vitamin K1 has a shorter half-life. In this review, we highlight the specific activity of vitamin K2 based upon proposed frameworks necessary for a bioactive substance to be recommended for an RDI. Vitamin K2 meets all these criteria and should be considered for a specific dietary recommendation intake.

Background and Aims The aim of this research was to examine the effect of sustained and regulated deficit irrigation regimes on vegetative growth, physiological aspects and yield parameters of field‐grown Merlot grapevines. Methods and Results The 4‐year trial (2009–2012) in a 13‐year‐old commercial vineyard of Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot compared the following irrigation treatments: three sustained deficit irrigation treatments and two regulated deficit irrigation treatments. We measured leaf area index and pruning mass to assess vegetative growth, and we recorded stem water potential and gas exchange parameters to examine vine water status. At harvest, we measured yield parameters, crushed berries and analysed must. High water availability during early berry development enhanced vegetative growth and increased berry size and yield. Reducing water supply in order to create a certain level of drought stress during late berry development did not damage yield or berry maturation. Conclusions Regulated deficit irrigation treatment combining higher irrigation from flowering to bunch closure and lower irrigation from bunch closure to harvest has the potential to generate the best balance between vegetative growth, high yield and wine with enhanced colour and aroma compounds. Significance of the Study This study demonstrates the implications of skilled irrigation, in particular the specific effect of irrigation alternation at different phenological stages.

Drought is one of the most severe natural disasters worldwide, but with a particular emphasis in sub-humid and semi-arid climates. Several indices have been created to appropriately identify drought’s characteristics and variability. The main objectives of this study consisted of analyzing the behavior of different indices applied in northeast Algeria and comparing them across a long-term data set (1961–2014). The SPI and RDI at 9-month time scales were compared to the PDSI and MedPDSI based on 123 rainfall stations and gridded PET data interpolated to all the locations. A principal component analysis (PCA) in S-mode with varimax rotation (RPC) was applied to the monthly values of all indices to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of droughts. Two principal components were retained, which identified two sub-regions with coherent differences related to their distance from the Mediterranean Sea and the UNEP aridity index. Trends in the RPC scores were assessed using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test and Sen’s slope estimator, which showed a fundamental difference between the two sub-regions. The RPC of all drought indices showed trends of decreases in the frequency and severity of droughts in the northern sub-region, and trends of increases in the frequency and severity of droughts in the southern region, where the climate is mostly semi-arid and arid. Only a few cases were statistically significant, mostly when using the PDSI and MedPDSI for the southern sub-region. The spatial patterns of moderate, severe, and extreme drought occurrences were similar for the SPI and RDI pair of indices based on the probability of rainfall anomalies, and for the Sc-PDSI and MedPDSI pair based on water balance anomalies. The interpretation of the spatial variability of droughts, mainly of the extreme ones, was supported by an analysis of semi-variograms. The novel index MedPDSI compared well with the other indices and showed advantages of performing the soil water balance following the FAO56 dual Kc method with the actual olive evapotranspiration instead of PET, and of better explaining the spatial variability of extreme droughts; in addition, the trends detected were significant for both the northern and southern sub-regions.

Seaweeds are rich in essential dietary minerals, often lacking in terrestrial plant foods, with interest in Australian seaweeds rapidly increasing. We screened six Australian brown seaweeds with commercial potential for dietary mineral composition: Cystophora torulosa , Caulocystis uvifera , Durvillaea potatorum , Ecklonia radiata , Hormosira banksii and Phyllospora comosa . Spatial replicates of each species were collected from three non-urbanised sites remote from pollution sources and processed for human consumption. Dried samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for 12 essential dietary minerals. Overall dietary mineral composition differed significantly amongst all species, except between sargassaceous species C. torulosa and C. uvifera ; but concentrations of individual elements varied in complex ways. All species investigated had high concentrations of dietary minerals essential for optimal human health if consumed in realistic quantities (e.g. 10 g day −1 DW) as part of balanced diets, including the most common dietary minerals deficient in humans (iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium and selenium): iodine (888 ± 100 mg kg −1 DW) and zinc were highest in P. comosa ; iron and calcium were highest in C. torulosa, but calcium was also high in E. radiata , H. banksii and D. potatorum ; magnesium was highest in H. banksii, D. potatorum and P. comosa ; selenium concentrations exceeded those previously reported for seaweeds for all species, except D. potatorum . The best nutritional outcomes may be achieved by regularly consumption of a diversity of seaweed species. However, further investigation into ways to reduce iodine content in some species may be required to maximise health benefits from regular consumption of these Australian seaweeds.

Continuous technological development, digitalization, Industry 4.0, robotization, virtualization, and related investments in new types of physical assets are imposing increasing financial and intellectual demands on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). While fast technological development and rapid societal change make maintenance of a successful competitive edge ever more challenging, they also offer considerable potential for differentiation. In the area of networking and outside resources, MSMEs can utilize external resources and cooperate and collaborate with higher educational institutions (HEI) to boost their innovations pipeline and develop new technologies and processes to generate commercial products/services and improve their service offering. This research explores existing highly effective university–industry collaboration (UIC) models and seeks explanations for their success by examining the literature from the point of view of establishing successful relationships, emphasizing the importance of critical drivers for success. Our work synthesizes current knowledge of best practices based on a comparative analysis of practical collaboration. In the work, we identify eight popular and successful collaboration models: research and development partnerships, internships and co-op programs, knowledge transfer programs, entrepreneurship, and incubation programs, sponsored projects and grants, joint ventures and licensing agreements, executive education, professional and student career development. Based on analysis of globally reviewed successful models, a concept for robust, productive, and extended collaboration between companies and universities is produced suitable for the Finnish context. Several practical experiences are given for robust collaboration in the current post-COVID transition and energy crisis.