Key AI Competences by 2035: A Taxonomy for Firms

Our research examines the transformative changes that AI systems already bring about and are projected to cause in the future. These transformations are often referred to as ‘a fourth industrial revolution’ (Schwab, 2016; cf. Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014; Raisch & Krakowski, 2021). For the purposes of this foresight exercise, we assume that AI is likely to be a ‘general-purpose technology’ (Brynjolfsson et al., 2019; cf. Lipsey et al., 2005), similar to technologies such as the steam engine, electrification, and computing. The overall research questions that this project aims to address are: What are the effects of AI on companies by 2035? Does the advent of AI necessitate changes in the organisational design of companies? What are the corresponding key competences that companies need? In this paper, we propose a taxonomy that addresses the last question: what are the key competences for firms on an organisational level to be prepared for AI systems

Multi-year succession of cyanobacteria blooms in a highland reservoir with changing nutrient status, Guizhou Province, China

Over the last 22 years significant phytoplankton changes in Hongfeng lake reservoir have been observed with multiple years of harmful cyanobacteria blooms (cHABs). Fish farming and other anthropogenic activities from 1994-2001 triggered the harmful blooms. Nine years after the cessation of aquaculture, a conversion from problematic species (Microcystis spp, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) to the less problematic species P. limnetica and other associated non-cyanobacteria taxa was recorded. Through this period of change, trophic factors (bottom-up) were re-examined, and correlations between cHABs and selected environmental variables were observed. Higher temperatures, nutrients (TN, TP) and available light significantly favored the development of Microcystis spp blooms. With declining nutrient loads, and a decline in TP relative to TN there was a competitive shift from Microcystis summer blooms to the growth of Pseudanabaena limnetica and other non-cyanobacteria. Pseudanabaena limnetica was favored over Microcystis spp when temperatures were <20°C and TP was <0.03 mg L-1. The apparent species succession to P. limnetica was enhanced by a competitive advantage under varied light conditions. Multiple environmental and biotic conditions (not always nutrients) were driving cHABs. Although only a selected number of environmental variables were examined, the CCA analysis supports observations that temperature and nutrients were associated with the species shift. The replacement of cHABs with the growth of less toxic cyanobacteria like P. limnetica, and other algae creates an interesting scenario (new community condition) for the removal of problematic taxa in reservoir systems. Diverting or controlling blooms will have direct implications on water quality and economic remediation initiatives in reservoir and lake management

Postural balance in individuals with knee osteoarthritis during stand-to-sit task

Objective: Stand-to-sit task is an important daily function, but there is a lack of research evidence on whether knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) affects the postural balance during the task. This study aimed to compare individuals with knee OA and asymptomatic controls in postural balance and identify kinematic and lower extremity muscle activity characteristics in individuals with knee OA during the stand-to-sit task. Methods: In total, 30 individuals with knee OA and 30 age-matched asymptomatic controls performed the 30-s Chair Stand Test (30sCST) at self-selected speeds. Motion analysis data and surface electromyography (sEMG) were collected while participants performed the 30sCST. To quantify postural balance, the displacement of the center of mass (CoM) and the peak instantaneous velocity of the CoM were calculated. The kinematic data included forward lean angles of the trunk and pelvic, range of motion (RoM) of the hip, knee, and ankle joints in the sagittal plane. The averaged activation levels of gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial head of gastrocnemius muscles were indicated by the normalized root mean square amplitudes. Results: Compared with the asymptomatic control group, the knee OA group prolonged the duration of the stand-to-sit task, demonstrated significantly larger CoM displacement and peak instantaneous CoM velocity in the anterior-posterior direction, reduced ankle dorsiflexion RoM, greater anterior pelvic tilt RoM, and lower quadriceps femoris and muscles activation level coupled with higher BF muscle activation level during the stand-to-sit task. Conclusion: This study indicates that individuals with knee OA adopt greater pelvic forward lean RoM and higher BF muscle activation level during the stand-to-sit task. However, these individuals exist greater CoM excursion in the anterior-posterior direction and take more time to complete the task. This daily functional activity should be added to the rehabilitation goals for individuals with knee OA. The knee OA group performs reduced ankle dorsiflexion RoM, quadriceps femoris, and TA activation deficit. In the future, the rehabilitation programs targeting these impairments could be beneficial for restoring the functional transfer in individuals with knee OA

Seizing opportunities for international growth - The case of Iliad and the Italian mobile telecommunications market

International audienceTo analyse the internationalisation process of a mobile operator and highlight the specificities of this particular industry.Design/methodology/approach - Longitudinal single case study based on document research.Findings - The internationalisation process differs from the main model (Uppsala model). It is necessitates the ability to seize opportunities as they arise. Seizing such opportunities leads directly to an initial strong commitment without going through a process of gradual commitment. The role of regulation is also outlined. Originality/Value - While studies on the internationalisation of (mobile) operators have been, the process of internationalisation has not been conceptualised in comparison with the main model

Relationship between Plasma Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Concentrations and Apolipoprotein in Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background. Increasing evidence states that the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels and apolipoprotein particles are regarded as the risk maker for cardiovascular heart disease. Nevertheless, the issue about whether Lp-PLA2 is associated with apolipoprotein particles in individuals who have been diagnosed as stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remains largely unexplored. Method. All 569 participants engaged in this research, who never took lipid-lowering drugs, had been divided into groups by the coronary angiography (CAG), namely, stable CAD: n=291; non-CAD: n=278. The results concerning Lp-PLA2 levels were calculated by Elisa Kit, while apolipoprotein particles were measured by the department of laboratory. Results. The plasma concentration of Lp-PLA2 was remarkably higher in stable CAD group than the non-CAD group (136.0±60.5 ng/mL vs. 113.2±65.6 ng/mL, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analyses explained the plasma Lp-PLA2 concentration was correlated with apoB (r=0.390, P<0.001) and apoB/apoA1 (r=0.450, P<0.001), not associated with apoA1 (r=−0.099, P=0.101). Conversely, the association remains unobserved among non-CAD patients except apoA1. Moreover, multiple linear regression revealed the relations between Lp-PLA2 concentrations and apoB (β=0.390, P<0.001), as well as apoB/apoA1 (β=0.450, P<0.001), but not apoA1 (β=−0.099, P=0.121). After adjustment for several risk factors regarding CAD, like hypertension, gender, smoking, age, and diabetes mellitus, there had still been positive associations between the Lp-PLA2 concentration and apoB (β=0.364, P<0.001), as well as apoB/apoA1 (β=0.390, P<0.001). Conclusion. The plasma levels of Lp-PLA2 provide positively a key link with apoB, apoB/apoA-1 among stable CAD, denoting the communication between Lp-PLA2 and apolipoprotein particles in the state of CAD

Three-Dimensional Analytical Solution for Transient Guided Wave Propagation in Liquid-Filled Pipe Systems

The objective of this study is to investigate the three-dimensional (3-D) analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in liquid-filled pipe systems using the eigenfunction expansion method (EEM). The eigenfunctions corresponding to finite liquid-filled pipe systems with a traction-free lateral boundary and rigid smooth end boundaries are obtained. Additionally, the orthogonality of the eigenfunctions is proved in detail. Subsequently, the exact 3-D analytical transient response of finite liquid-filled pipe systems to external body forces is constructed using the EEM, based on which, the approximate 3-D analytical transient response of the systems to external surface forces is derived. Furthermore, the analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in finite liquid-filled pipe systems is extended explicitly and concisely to infinite liquid-filled pipe systems. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the analysis of the spatial and frequency distributions of the radial and axial displacement amplitudes of various guided wave modes; the numerical examples also simulate the transient displacement of the pipe wall and the transient pressure of the internal liquid from the present solution. The present solution can provide some theoretical guidelines for the guided wave nondestructive evaluation of liquid-filled pipes and the guided wave technique for downhole data transfer.National Natural Science Foundation of China [10704064]; Aeronautical Science Foundation of China [2010ZF68006]; State Key Laboratory of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences [SKLOA201104]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2011121010

Novel biphasic role of resolvin D1 on expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lung fibroblasts is partly through PI3K/AKT and ERK2 pathways

Fibroblasts, far frombeing merely bystander cells, are known to play a specific role in inflammation resolution after an acute injury. As the endogenous “braking signal,” resolvins possess potent anti-inflammatory and proresolution actions. We demonstrated that the expression of COX-2 protein was significantly peaked initially at 6 hours but then also at 48 hours after LPS stimulation in lung fibroblasts. PGE2 levels also peaked at 6 hours, and PGD2 levels were increased and peaked at 48 hours. However, no significant change in the protein expression of COX-1 was observed after treatment with LPS in lung fibroblasts. Exogenous resolvin D1 inhibited the first peak of COX-2 expression as well as the production of PGE2 induced by LPS. In contrast, exogenous resolvin D1 increased the second peak of COX-2 expression as well as the production of PGD2 induced by LPS. In addition, resolvin D1 inhibited COX-2 expression at 6 hours, which was partly through PI3K/AKT and ERK2 signalling pathways

The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Dynamic Balance during Stair Climbing for Elderly Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background. Poor balance is one of the risk factors for falls in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which is related to the symptoms. Electroacupuncture (EA) is one of the traditional Chinese conservative methods commonly used to improve the symptoms in patients with KOA. Objective. To assess whether EA increases the dynamic balance during stair negotiation among patients with KOA. Methods. A total of 40 KOA patients were assigned to two groups randomly (true electroacupuncture vs. mock electroacupuncture). Acupoints around the knee were selected in the true electroacupuncture (TEA) group with electrical stimulation (2 Hz). In the mock electroacupuncture (MEA) group, about 2 cm next to the above acupoints, the needles were inserted superficially without electrical stimulation. All the participants received 11 sessions of stimulation treatment in three weeks. The primary outcome was margin of stability (MOS). Secondary outcomes included hip kinematics and kinetics as well as pain. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups for self-reported pain (p=0.585). During ascent, there was no difference between groups in MOS value in both directions, which was the anterior-posterior (A/P) direction and medial-lateral (M/L) direction at initial contact and toe-off as well as the midstance in the gait cycle, and no difference for the hip kinematics and kinetics between the groups was detected (p>0.05). For descent, at the toe-off event, the TEA group was more unstable as compared to the MEA group in the A/P direction (p=0.029) but not in the M/L direction, and the hip showed a larger internal rotator moment (p=0.049); at the midstance, the TEA group showed a lower abductor moment than the MEA group (p=0.003). Conclusions. Based on the assessment results from the chosen patients with KOA, the TEA did not demonstrate a significant effect in improving the dynamic balance during stair negotiation in comparison with the MEA. This finding does not support EA as a conservative treatment to improve the dynamic balance in such patients