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Digital platforms enabling carbon neutral technology innovation: based on market incentives and government constraints

In the historical intersection of digital empowerment and carbon neutral goals, in order to make up for the deficiency of relevant research on low-carbon empowerment of digital platforms, based on China’s 2011–2022 provincial panel data, the study innovatively discusses the effects of digital platforms enabling carbon neutral technology innovation from the dual perspectives of market incentives and government constraints. The findings demonstrate that digital platforms significantly and positively directly influence carbon neutral technology innovation, with the effect showing the characteristics of “southeast>northwest”; Technology market development and environmental regulation have a significant intermediary effect in the process of enabling carbon neutral technology innovation by digital platforms. Digital platforms can indirectly promote carbon neutral technology innovation by improving the level of technology market development and environmental regulation; Based on regional heterogeneity, digital platforms can better promote carbon neutral technology innovation at a higher level of technology market development and environmental regulation. The study’s conclusions enrich the theoretical system of digital empowerment, guide the practice of green high-quality development, and provide a reference for the formulation of relevant policies of digital empowerment innovation and development.

Functional assessment of autologous tissue expansion grafts for vaginal reconstruction in a rabbit model

This study explores a novel approach to vaginal reconstructive surgery using autologous tissue grafts, which may provide new therapeutic options for women with congenital or acquired vaginal anomalies. Using a small autologous vaginal tissue segment, we engineered a six-fold expanded graft perioperatively, leveraging the body as a bioreactor and avoiding preoperative tissue culture. In adolescent White New Zealand rabbits, a vaginal defect was created and repaired using a PLATE graft (perioperative, layered, autologous, tissue-expansion graft) containing mucosa, smooth muscle, collagen, and surgical mesh. After seven months, PLATE grafts were well integrated with native tissues, exhibited reduced fibrosis, and enhanced muscle regeneration compared to acellular grafts. Gene analysis revealed upregulation of smooth muscle and ECM organisation markers. Functional validation included successful breeding and vaginal delivery of live pups. PLATE grafts proved safe for vaginal reconstruction in rabbits, presenting a new direction in tissue engineering and expanding surgical options for women.

The impact of digital inclusive finance on enterprise digital technology innovation: empirical evidence from the Chinese manufacturing industry

Enterprise digital technology innovation plays a crucial role in China’s scientific and technological revolution as well as industrial transformation, with digital inclusive finance emerging as a significant catalyst for such innovation and providing robust support for the stable development of the real economy. This study innovatively employs the GLM3 large language model and the BERT model to identify digital technology patents. Based on data from 3313 Chinese A-share manufacturing listed companies from 2011 to 2022, this research investigates the influence pathways and mechanisms through which digital inclusive finance impacts enterprise digital technology innovation. The findings indicate that digital inclusive finance positively drives enterprise digital technological innovation. Expanding the coverage of digital financial services is key to effectively enhancing enterprises’ digital innovation capabilities. Digital inclusive finance significantly boosts enterprise digital technological innovation by alleviating financing constraints and increasing R&D investment. The financial background of executives moderates this relationship negatively, while the intensity of financial regulation exhibits an inverted U-shaped moderating effect on the relationship between digital inclusive finance and enterprise digital technological innovation. The incentive effect of digital inclusive finance on enterprise digital technology innovation is more pronounced in central and western regions and non-state-owned enterprises. This paper proposes a new incentive mechanism to enhance the digital technology innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises, suggesting that relevant departments should accelerate the transformation of the financial regulatory system, construct a targeted, timely, and penetrating regulatory technology system, and effectively guide digital inclusive finance to inject new momentum into the development of enterprise digital technology innovation while preventing and resolving systemic risks.

Failed mobility transition in an ideal setting and implications for building a green city

The mobility sector significantly contributes to the climate crisis, impacting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as good health (SDG 3), sustainable cities (SDG 11), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). Despite broad consensus on the need for mobility transformation, practical implementation is contentious due to diverse stakeholder interests. Tübingen, a green showcase city in Germany, exemplifies this challenge. Although ideal for green mobility, a tramway project was rejected in a referendum. This case-study highlights that mobility transition is not just a technical issue but a discourse-communicative challenge, emphasising the role of socially embedded narratives. The study aims to explain the referendum’s rejection by analysing discourses, identifying argumentation patterns, and providing insights for future projects. Using Hajer’s Discourse Coalitions approach and Discourse Network Analysis, the study found that the discourse was dynamic and polarised. The pro-tramway coalition’s communication deficiencies and the opposing coalition’s strong narrative connectivity influenced the outcome. Recommendations for effective communication strategies in future projects are provided.

Digital infrastructure construction and corporate innovation efficiency: evidence from Broadband China Strategy

Adopting the Broadband China Strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, we construct a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to examine the impact of digital infrastructure construction on corporate innovation efficiency with panel data from Chinese listed companies between 2010 to 2022. Our findings indicate that the development of digital infrastructure significantly boosts corporate innovation efficiency. Mechanistic analysis reveals that financing constraints negatively moderates this innovation impact, while human capital positively moderates it. The effects of the Broadband China Strategy are particularly pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, non-high-tech enterprises, and firms located in the non-eastern region of China. Our research provides important insights for enterprises seeking to enhance their innovation efficiency, while also offering strong empirical evidence on the role of digital infrastructure in fostering corporate innovation. Our study contributes to the literature on digital economy and innovation, with practical implications for policymakers and firms aiming to leverage digital infrastructure for sustained competitive advantage.

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