bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Efficacy of Virtual Reality–Based Interventions on Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Yang , Chen Xiaoli , Li Linna , Li Yunhuan , Yan Qianwen , Hu Xiaolin
Published: December 2024

Background

Although cancer patients are living longer, the numerous physical and psychological outcomes of cancer can still be burdensome. Pain, anxiety, depression, and decreased quality of life are symptoms that are highly impacted by cancer. The availability of modalities to cope with these symptoms is critical. Virtual reality–based interventions have been used among patients with cancer, but their effects on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life remain unclear.

Objective

To determine the efficacy of virtual reality–based interventions on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life among cancer patients and to assess the efficacy of different contents and duration.

Methods

Nine databases were retrieved from inception to July 31, 2024. The methodological quality was evaluated via the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Data synthesis was conducted with Stata version 16.0, and sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were also performed.

Results

Virtual reality–based interventions can soothe pain and anxiety. Subgroup analysis revealed that interventions focused on playing games and watching videos were effective at reducing pain. In addition, enjoying landscapes, receiving treatment-related health education, and watching videos were effective at decreasing anxiety; moreover, short-term (≤6 weeks) interventions were effective at relieving pain.

Conclusions

Virtual reality–based interventions are effective at decreasing pain and anxiety. The contents and duration of the intervention had an impact on their effectiveness.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Symptom management is a paramount aspect of clinical cancer care. In daily oncology nursing, we encourage nurses to utilize the benefits of virtual reality–based interventions to improve cancer patients’ experience with medical treatment.
The Effects of Symptom Distress and Depression on Quality of Life in Patients With Terminal Cancer: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Spiritual Well-being
Authors: Kang Kyung-Ah , Song Inhye , Lee Myung-Nam
Published: December 2024

Background

Terminal cancer patients experience worsening physical symptoms, psychological challenges, and spiritual difficulties. Improving the quality of life (QOL) and reconstructing the meaning of life (MIL) for these patients ensure a dignified end-of-life experience. Spiritual well-being is necessary to promote effective end-of-life coping strategies.

Objective

This study aimed to construct and verify the suitability of a model that explains the impact of physical and psychological factors on the QOL of patients with terminal cancer using MIL and spiritual well-being as mediating factors.

Methods

The participants were patients with terminal cancer 25 years or older hospitalized in 40 nationally designated hospices. A total of 172 patients were included in the final analysis. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.

Results

In the effect analysis of the final model, the variables affecting QOL were depression (β = −.62, P < .001), symptom distress (β = −.33, P = .001), and spiritual well-being (β = .36, P = .002), and a significant indirect effect of MIL was found in the depression–MIL–spiritual well-being and depression-MIL-QOL paths.

Conclusions

Spiritual interventions that help people find their MIL can serve as an important component of optimal hospice and palliative care for patients with terminal cancer.

Implications for Practice

In clinical practice, interventions that increase the MIL and spiritual well-being of patients with terminal cancer are needed. Additionally, the practice will see other benefits including enhanced patient care, psychological support, effective treatment planning, family caregiver support, and further research advancement.
Effect of Exercise Intervention on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms in Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Nan , Cao Hongshi , Du Shiyuan , Chen Yulu , Wang Xinxin , Li Jiong , Peng Xin
Published: December 2024

Background

Exercise has been widely used to improve chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in cancer patients in recent years; however, there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of exercise intervention in cancer patients.

Objective

This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of exercise intervention in the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in cancer patients and to explore effective exercise intervention characteristics by comparing the effects of different exercise prescriptions.

Methods

Ten databases were systematically searched from published up to May 2024. The studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The statistical analyses were performed in Stata 17.0.

Results

A total of 21 studies with 775 participants were included. The pooled results showed that exercise significantly reduced the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms; relieved neuropathic pain; enhanced balance function, muscle strength, physical flexibility, and physical endurance; and improved the quality of life of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, both compared with patients in the usual care group and with patients’ baseline symptoms before exercise. However, no significant improvement in fear of falling was observed.

Conclusions

Exercise is an effective way of managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms. The patient’s age, exercise cycles, and frequency can affect the effect of the intervention.

Implications for Practice

Oncology nurses can significantly manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in cancer patients through exercise intervention. Further research is necessary to explore the most suitable characteristics of exercise intervention to achieve optimal intervention effectiveness.
End-to-Side Cross-face Nerve Graft for Mental Nerve Reconstruction after Segmental Mandibulectomy
Authors: PU Jane J. , CHANG Tommy N-J , SU Yu-xiong
Published: December 2024

The traditional technique for mental never reconstruction after segmental mandibulectomy is to bridge the gap between the proximal end of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and the mental nerve stump. However, it often presents significant challenges. In cases of proximal IAN stump is close to skull base or kept inside the remaining mandible body and ramus, approaching the proximal end of the IAN can be very challenging.

To overcome the limitation, a novel technique of cross-face mental nerve re-innervation with end-to-side coaptation to the contralateral mental nerve has been developed. This procedure involves preparing the recipient site before mandibulectomy, harvesting a donor nerve, preparing the contralateral mental nerve for end-to-side neurorrhaphy, and performing cross-face reinnervation after flap inset. The technique utilizes end-to-side coaptation to connect the nerve graft to the contralateral mental nerve.

This new technique overcomes challenges posed by traditional methods, offering advantages such as shorter nerve grafts, easier coaptation due to superficial nerve position, and reduced risk of interference with second-stage dental surgeries. Initial outcomes have been promising, with all patients showing sensation recovery above S3 and no significant interference with contralateral mental nerve function.

This innovative approach provides a solution for patients undergoing segmental mandibulectomy and has potential applications in restoring sensation lost due to various causes. It opens new possibilities for nerve rehabilitation and warrants further investigation through larger clinical trials to validate its efficacy and explore its potential in other nerve repair scenarios.
SDC1 Influences Keloid Fibroblasts Migration and Invasion via Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Mediated EMT
Authors: Zhao Lei , Feng Pengfei , Quan Xuemei , Zhou Ming , Yang Kun , Cui Aili , Jin Zhehu
Published: December 2024

Keloid is the result of abnormal wound healing, puzzled by the invasive growth and high recurrence rate attributed to its complex pathogenic mechanism. Syndecan1 (SDC1) contributes to regulating cell migration and invasion by activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor and fibrotic disease. Herein, using western blot analysis, the authors assessed the role of SDC1 on EMT in keloid and its underlying mechanism. The authors found keloid fibroblasts exhibited a higher proportion of mesenchymal phenotypes, and SDC1 was significantly upregulated in keloid fibroblasts. Then, the authors transfected small interfering RNA targeting SDC1 in keloid fibroblasts and tested the abilities of cell migration and invasion, as well as the expression of EMT-related markers, including N-cadherin, vimentin, and E-cadherin. The results showed that the knockdown of SDC1 markedly suppressed the migration and invasion abilities of keloid fibroblasts and reduced the phenotypes of EMT by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The authors' findings suggest that SDC1 may influences keloid fibroblasts migration and invasion through targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway mediated EMT, which supports its potential value as a therapeutic target for the treatment of keloid.
Modelling the interaction between silver(I) ion and proteins with the 12-6 Lennard-Jones potential: a bottom-up parameterization approach
Authors: Manciocchi Luca , Bianchi Alexandre , Mazan Valérie , Potapov Mark , Fromm Katharina M. , Spichty Martin
Published: December 2024

Silver(I) ions and organometallic complexes thereof are well established antimicrobial agents. They have been employed in medical applications for centuries. It is also known that some bacteria can resist to silver(I) treatments through an efflux mechanism. However, the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. All-atom force-field simulations can provide valuable structural and thermodynamic insights on the molecular processes of the underlying mechanism. Lennard-Jones parameters of silver(I) have been available for quite some time; their applicability to describe properly the binding properties (affinity, binding distance) between silver(I) and peptide-based binding motifs is, however, still an open question. Here, we demonstrate that the standard 12-6 Lennard-Jones parameters (previously developed to describe the hydration free energy with the TIP3P water model) significantly underestimate the interaction strength between silver(I) and both methionine and histidine. These are two key amino-acid residues in silver(I)-binding motifs of proteins involved in the efflux process. Using free-energy calculations, we calibrated non-bonded fix (NBFIX) parameters for the CHARMM36m force field to reproduce the experimental binding constant between amino acid sidechain fragments and silver(I) ions. We then successfully validated the new parameters on a set of small silver-binding peptides with experimentally known binding constants. In addition, we could monitor how silver(I) ions increase the α-helical content of the LP1 oligopeptide, in agreement with previously reported Circular Dichroism (CD) experiments. Future improvements are outlined. The implementation of these new parameters is straightforward in all simulation packages that can use the CHARMM36m force field. It sets the stage for the modeling community to study more complex silver(I)-binding processes such as the interaction with silver(I)-binding-transporter proteins.
Charge lifetime improvement of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility photogun with a biased anode
Authors: Yoskowitz J. T. , Krafft G. A. , Palacios-Serrano G. , Wijethunga S. A. K. , Grames J. , Hansknecht J. , Hernandez-Garcia C. , Poelker M. , Stutzman M. L. , Suleiman R. , Valerio-Lizarraga C. A. , Van Der Geer S. B.
Published: December 2024

GaAs photocathodes in dc high-voltage photoguns are highly susceptible to ion back-bombardment, which reduces the photocathode quantum efficiency and limits the useful operating lifetime for producing polarized electron beams. This paper demonstrates that applying a small positive bias to the photogun anode can significantly suppress ion back-bombardment and increase charge lifetime. This technique was studied extensively using the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility photogun, where highly polarized electron beams created using a strained-superlattice GaAs/GaAsP photocathode were used and charge lifetimes improved by almost a factor of 2. A new simulation code was developed to model ion production and tracking in order to better understand and explain the factors that led to the performance improvement. Results of the experiments and simulations are discussed in detail.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Constraints on freeze-in dark matter from Lyman-
α
forest and 21-cm signal: Single-field models
Authors: Xu Zixuan , Zhou Quan , Zheng Sibo
Published: December 2024

We report new Lyman-α and 21-cm constraints on freeze-in dark matter (FIDM) which injects energy into the intergalactic medium either through annihilation or decay to photon(s) or electron-positron pair. With respect to Lyman-α we fix the baseline ionization history using low redshift data about astrophysical reionization, whereas for 21-cm signal we adopt the baseline values of 21-cm power spectrum through a standard modeling of star formation developed so far. Using the latest numerical tools, we show that (i) for sterile neutrino FIDM, current Lyman-α data and future sensitivity of SKA-low (1000 hrs) on the 21-cm power spectra excludes the FIDM mass up to 1.8×10−3  GeV at 95% CL and 5.46×10−4  GeV, respectively, and (ii) for millicharged FIDM, current Lyman-α data only excludes the millicharge down to 10−8 within the FIDM mass range of 10−3–1  GeV at 95% CL, suggesting that the surviving parameter space of millicharged FIDM is still intact.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Tailored pseudopotentials for magnesium surface core level shift calculations
Authors: Xing Zhe , Orlov Dmytro , Schröder Elsebeth
Published: December 2024

In x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), identifying the origin of peaks in the spectrum can be guided by theory calculations. With density functional theory (DFT), using pseudopotentials, one can obtain the difference in photoelectron energy for electrons originating from atoms of different environments, for example surface and bulk atoms, and thus model the surface core level shift (SCLS) energies. The focus in this work is to prepare for calculations of magnesium (Mg) 2p SCLSs in material systems where dispersion interactions play a role, primarily in Mg surface degradation and adsorption of molecules as relevant, for example, in degradable bioimplants. For SCLS DFT calculations in metallic surfaces, the state of the photoelectron must be treated as a core state. In the case of Mg, standard pseudopotentials treat the 2p state as a valence state, not a core state. We therefore need Mg pseudopotentials with the 2p electrons in the core, leaving only two electrons for the valence region (the 3s electron); Two-valence electron pseudopotentials are not common, because DFT calculations of Mg-containing materials usually are better or more easily described using 10 valence electrons. In this work, new two-electron Mg pseudopotentials are therefore created for use in dispersion-inclusive DFT calculations. To our knowledge, no such two-electron Mg pseudopotentials exist, proven to work well with the nonlocal, dispersion-inclusive, exchange-correlation functional vdW-DF-cx or similar functionals. We create a number of two-electron Mg pseudopotentials and their 2p-hole partners, and for four of the most promising we assess their performance in vdW-DF-cx. We provide results for Mg and MgO bulk phases and for the Mg(0001) surface energy, structure, and SCLS, and where possible we compare with results that we obtain by using conventional 10-electron Mg pseudopotentials, all-electron calculations, and with experiments. This work not only reports and tests the specific conditions for creating 2p Mg results, it will also, we believe, be of help in creating other similar pseudopotentials to aid the analysis of XPS spectra in other materials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Origins of background signal effects in all-metallic non-local spin valves
Authors: Wright A. J. , Bromley D. , Watts J. , Ramberger J. , Kaiser B. , Erickson M. J. , Crowell P. A. , Leighton C. , O’Brien L.
Published: December 2024

The non-local spin valve (NLSV) is a useful device for studying spin transport at nanoscopic dimensions, with potential technological applications. Despite this appeal, background signals, unrelated to spin diffusion, often hinder the interpretation of spin signals in NLSVs and could compromise performance in future devices. In this paper, we comprehensively investigate these background signals in all-metallic NLSVs fabricated from a variety of ferromagnetic (FM; Ni80Fe20, Fe, Co) and nonmagnetic (NM; Al, Cu) metals. We demonstrate that a background signal emerges in AC measurements, with contributions from both current spreading and thermoelectric effects, with a complex dependence on both temperature and FM injector-detector separation. Despite the complexity of these dependencies, we demonstrate excellent agreement with three-dimensional finite-element modelling that accounts for current-spreading and thermoelectric effects, across a wide range of temperatures, FM separations, and FM/NM pairings. This approach additionally offers a means to estimate the Seebeck coefficients for the tested FM/NM pairings, providing further insight into the charge and heat flow in such nanoscopic spintronic devices.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Slow molecular beams from a cryogenic buffer gas source
Authors: White A. D. , Popa S. , Mellado-Muñoz J. , Fitch N. J. , Sauer B. E. , Lim J. , Tarbutt M. R.
Published: December 2024

We study the properties of a cryogenic buffer gas source that uses a low-temperature two-stage buffer gas cell to produce very slow beams of ytterbium monofluoride molecules. The molecules are produced by laser ablation inside the cell and extracted into a beam by a flow of cold helium. We measure the flux and velocity distribution of the beam as a function of ablation energy, helium flow rate, cell temperature, and the size of the gap between the first and second stages of the cell. We also compare the velocity distributions from one-stage and two-stage cells. The one-stage cell emits a beam with a speed of about 82ms−1 and a translational temperature of 0.63 K. The slowest beams are obtained using the two-stage cell at the lowest achievable cell temperature of 1.8 K. This beam has a peak velocity of 56ms−1 and a flux of 9×109 ground-state molecules per steradian per pulse, with a substantial fraction at speeds below 40ms−1. These slow molecules can be decelerated further by radiation pressure slowing and then captured in a magneto-optical trap.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Multiband Josephson effect in an atomic scale Pb tunnel junction
Authors: Uhl Maximilian , Kot Piotr , Drost Robert , Huang Haonan , Ankerhold Joachim , Cuevas Juan Carlos , Ast Christian R.
Published: December 2024

Multiband superconductivity plays an important role in many emergent novel superconductors and has attracted great interest over the years. Various related experimental aspects have been intensely researched, but a quantitative understanding on the Cooper-pair transport remains still elusive, despite its fundamental and technological importance. We study a Josephson junction with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), where both tip and sample are Pb, a prototypical type I two-band superconductor. We map the properties of the junction across a wide range of normal state conductances revealing in-gap features originating from multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) and the Josephson effect. We present the theoretical framework to extract the transmission through the transport channels and describe the Cooper-pair tunneling with quantitative precision through two superconducting bands. This paves the way for the understanding of increasingly complicated superconductors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Shaping sustainable development of tomorrow: generation Z competencies, green consumption values and the role of knowledge acquisition sources
Authors: Cyfert Szymon , Górka Joanna , Piórkowska Katarzyna , Dyduch Wojciech , Glabiszewski Waldemar , Batko Roman
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Based on studies combining sustainable development competencies and green consumption values, this paper aims to explore the relationship between Generation Z's sustainable development competencies and green consumption values and to determine how sources of sustainable knowledge acquisition moderate this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collected from 1,570 students were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Our research confirms that sustainable development competencies positively and significantly impact Generation Z’s attitudes toward green consumption values. Furthermore, sources of sustainability knowledge acquisition moderate the relationship between sustainability literacy and Generation Z attitudes toward green consumption values. The findings suggest that the acquisition of sustainability knowledge from multiple sources is critical in shaping Generation Z attitudes toward green consumption values.

Practical implications

The key to increasing attitudes toward green consumption values among Generation Z is to provide access to sources of sustainable development knowledge acquisition. Adequate information support generated by sources of sustainable development knowledge acquisition can help shape attitudes toward green consumption values that translate into appropriate purchasing decisions.

Social implications

The survey indicates the significance of diversifying sources of sustainable development knowledge. Although the study received results suggest that Generation Z’s sustainable development competencies influence attitudes toward green consumption values, they allow us to note that much greater effects are generated when a variety of sources of sustainable development knowledge acquisition are used. Thus, it is desirable not only to communicate about sustainable development but also to tailor the sources of sustainable development knowledge acquisition to the audience’s expectations are desirable.

Originality/value

This study analyzes the relationships between sustainable development competencies and green consumption attitudes, thus filling the gap in sustainable development competencies research and broadening its scope. The results indicate the need to change attitudes through the development of competencies that should enable active and responsible participation in sustainability. At the same time, the research shows some links between green consumption and purchasing behavior, suggesting the influence of green consumption values and orientations on sustainable and environmentally friendly consumption.
Sexual harassment and employee performance in the construction industry: the mediating role of psychological distress and employee engagement
Authors: Kissi Ernest , Mireku Evans Kwesi , Labaran Musah , Simons Barbara
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The construction industry presents a particularly notable and demanding setting where sexual harassment demands special consideration. With its largely male-dominated workforce, intense work settings and entrenched workplace norms, the construction sector provides a unique backdrop in which the complexities of sexual harassment manifest. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sexual harassment and employee performance in the construction industry, with a particular focus on examining the mediating roles of psychological distress and employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to collect data from 188 construction industry professionals. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing their experiences with sexual harassment, levels of psychological distress, employee engagement and self-reported performance indicators. Partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to examine the direct and mediated effects of sexual harassment on employee performance through psychological distress and employee engagement.

Findings

The findings reveal a lack of statistical significance in the negative relationship between sexual harassment and employee performance within the construction sector. Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between sexual harassment and employee engagement. Employee engagement emerged as a full mediator, buffering the negative effects of harassment on performance and suggesting that engaged employees may be better equipped to cope with and mitigate the impact of harassment.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s findings contribute to understanding workplace dynamics amidst sexual harassment in construction. Work engagement fully mediates the relationship, highlighting the need to prioritize initiatives aimed at enhancing employee engagement, such as promoting a supportive and fostering open communication channels between management and employees, can mitigate the occurrence and negative impacts of sexual harassment on employee performance. Continuous monitoring of engagement levels is crucial for sustaining positive work environments.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by providing quantitative evidence of the relationship between sexual harassment and employee performance in the construction industry. By examining the mediating roles of psychological distress and employee engagement, the research offers a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The findings underscore the importance of addressing sexual harassment and promoting employee well-being to foster a safe and productive work environment in the construction industry.
Digital twin for sustainable development in building automation
Authors: Zhang Jingqi , Jiang Shaohua
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the impact and role of digital twin technology in building automation (DTBA) from a sustainability viewpoint. It aims to enhance the understanding of how DTBA can boost efficiency, optimize quality and support sustainable practices in contemporary construction. By exploring the integration of DTBA with sustainable practices, the study seeks to demonstrate how DT can revolutionize building management and operations, leading to significant improvements in resource efficiency, environmental impact and overall operational excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs a bibliographic analysis and systematic review of 176 publications from the past five years (January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023), focusing on the application and development of DTBA. The study methodically analyzes current trends, identifies research gaps and suggests future directions by synthesizing data from various studies, offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of DTBA research. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to provide robust insights into the advancements and challenges in the field.

Findings

The review identifies key development areas in DTBA, such as energy and environmental management, resource utilization within a circular economy and technology integration and interoperability. It highlights the necessity for further research to maximize DTBA’s potential in sustainable building automation. The findings suggest that while significant progress has been made, there is a critical need for innovations in data interoperability, predictive analytics and the integration of renewable energy sources to fully realize the benefits of DTBA in enhancing building sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper provides a thorough review of DTBA from a sustainability perspective, offering valuable insights into its current applications and future development potential. It serves as a crucial resource for researchers and practitioners looking to advance sustainable practices in the construction sector using DT technology. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, the paper underscores the transformative potential of DTBA in driving sustainable development and provides a roadmap for future research and innovation in the field.
The impact of Islamic banks’ non-Shariah-compliant income on customers’ trust and commitment: case of Islamic banks in Pakistan
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Allah Pitchay Anwar , Azhar Zubir , Shaharudin Muhammad Shabir , Ganesan Yuvaraj
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Islamic banking is a financial institution that is concerned with the regulation of the Shariah guidelines. Several full-fledged and Windows-based Islamic banks in Pakistan have reported non-Shariah-compliant income (NSCI) due to various operational investment activities. Hence, this issue has attracted this study to examine the impact of NSCI, especially from the perspective of Islamic bank (IB) customers’ trust and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used trust-commitment theory as the underlying theory to examine customers’ trust and commitment. A total of 341 questionnaires have been distributed, and the data is analysed using the structural equation modelling (SEM) method.

Findings

The results show the commitment of IB customers has a significant relationship with the benevolence, trust and shared values of the top management of IBs. Meanwhile, the other two constructs, the ability and integrity of the top management, are found to be insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

The gender diversity among banks’ customers in Pakistan is the main limitation in this study. There were difficulties in selecting a more representative sample due to gender domination issues in the country. Thus the data revealed that 62.8% were male respondents, which confirms the prior research on the gender disparity.

Originality/value

This study provides interesting insights into the context of Pakistan’s Islamic banking sector as it examines top management’s ability, integrity, benevolence and shared values to affect trust and commitment, and the role of trust as a mediator.
Micro-celebrity marketing-induced travels: a psychological ownership perspective
Authors: Chan Suk Ha Grace , Tang Binglin Martin , Lin Zhiwei (CJ) , Gao Kang Ying Connie
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Despite the growing interest in micro-celebrities in destination marketing, their role in transferring cognitive, emotional and behavioral outcomes to destination psychological ownership (DPO) is underexplored. This study aims to address this void by investigating how the perceived characteristics of micro-celebrities influence travel intentions through interactive engagement, perceived information quality and DPO. It highlights three pathways for fostering DPO.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based design was developed with 302 samples collected and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling and artificial neural network to examine the hypothesized model.

Findings

Findings reveal that the expertise and attractiveness of micro-celebrities enhance their perceived personal trustworthiness. This perception encourages social media users to view travel information from micro-celebrities as higher quality and to engage more with them, leading to DPO. Consequently, when social media users experience this psychological ownership, they show a stronger intention to travel to the destination, influenced partly by micro-celebrity marketing.

Originality/value

This study provides a psychological–developmental perspective on micro-celebrity marketing-induced travels. It underscores the importance of fostering micro-celebrity-induced DPO to establish a sustained, mutually beneficial relationship between tourists and destinations.
Secular procreation: Metaphysics of birth in the 21st century
Authors: Jiang Jack
Published: December 2024

This article examines how modern anti‐natalist movements have emerged in Japan, India, China and the United States. Drawing on interviews, online discussions and public protests, it explores these movements' distinctive secular understanding of human procreation. While traditional societies interpreted birth using religious or spiritual frameworks, anti‐natalists consider procreation an ethical decision shaped by legal reasoning, scientific knowledge and existential philosophy. They portray birth as a random event subject to calculation, raise questions about consent to life and position parents as ethically responsible ‘small gods’. These movements, which have found resonance among urban youth, point to deep changes in how people think about family ties and social obligations. Questions about having children have become more complex as reproductive technologies multiply and environmental pressures mount. What was once taken for granted now prompts serious ethical reflection.
‘Journey to the Future’: Temporal imaginaries in contemporary Dubai
Authors: Cheung Ross , McGonigle Ian
Published: December 2024

This article introduces ‘temporalized sociotechnical imaginaries’ to analyse how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deploys technology‐focused visions across timeframes to construct national identity. We examine how Dubai's Museum of the Future and the UAE Vision Pavilion at Expo 2020 project futuristic technological narratives linked to the nation's centennial in 2071. Unlike traditional museums presenting history, these exhibitions offer carefully crafted visions of the future, serving as deliberate performances of state‐led nation‐building. These imaginaries reinforce national cohesion and legitimize current governance by integrating technological progress with national identity across past, present and future. This study contributes to our understanding of contemporary nationalism in rapidly developing states and the role of temporal imaginations of technology in nation‐building.
The Chagos Archipelago: A limited victory for decolonization
Authors: Jeffery Laura
Published: December 2024

The UK's October 2024 agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius marks a turning point in Indian Ocean decolonization, though Mauritius must delegate control of Diego Garcia back to the UK for 99 years to maintain the US military base. This article traces the forced displacement of Chagossians from 1968‐1973 and their current responses as their future hangs in the balance. Despite promises of resettlement in parts of the archipelago, many Chagossians remain wary of their continued exclusion from decisions about their ancestral homeland. Their experiences reveal the human costs when military strategy outweighs indigenous rights.
Disclosure spillover from going‐private activity
Authors: Hinson Lisa A. , Piao Zhenhao (Jeffery)
Published: December 2024

Public firms that go private are no longer subject to SEC financial reporting requirements. This study examines peer firms' disclosure responses following the lost information spillover from going‐private events. We first support the lost information transfer, finding evidence that analyst forecasts of peers' earnings are less accurate and more disperse and that peer liquidity is lower immediately following going‐private transactions. In response, industry peers increase disclosure quality in mandatory filings. Peers that enhance disclosure regain some of the lost informational benefits. The disclosure response is most evident in firms that rely more on intra‐industry information spillover, firms with lower competitive concerns, and firms with the greatest deteriorations in their information environments after going‐private activity. Our study examines an underexplored aspect of going‐private transactions—the loss of public disclosure—and finds that the lost information imposes a negative externality that prompts peers to increase self‐disclosure to regain informational benefits.
Spatial immune heterogeneity in a mouse tumor model after immunotherapy
Authors: Smahel Michal , Johari Shweta Dilip , Smahelova Jana , Pfeiferova Lucie , Nunvar Jaroslav
Published: December 2024

Cancer immunotherapy is increasingly used in clinical practice, but its success rate is reduced by tumor escape from the immune system. This may be due to the genetic instability of tumor cells, which allows them to adapt to the immune response and leads to intratumoral immune heterogeneity. The study investigated spatial immune heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment and its possible drivers in a mouse model of tumors induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV) following immunotherapy. Gene expression was determined by RNA sequencing and mutations by whole exome sequencing. A comparison of different tumor areas revealed heterogeneity in immune cell infiltration, gene expression, and mutation composition. While the mean numbers of mutations with every impact on gene expression or protein function were comparable in treated and control tumors, mutations with high or moderate impact were increased after immunotherapy. The genes mutated in treated tumors were significantly enriched in genes associated with ECM metabolism, degradation, and interactions, HPV infection and carcinogenesis, and immune processes such as antigen processing and presentation, Toll‐like receptor signaling, and cytokine production. Gene expression analysis of DNA damage and repair factors revealed that immunotherapy upregulated Apobec1 and Apobec3 genes and downregulated genes related to homologous recombination and translesion synthesis. In conclusion, this study describes the intratumoral immune heterogeneity, that could lead to tumor immune escape, and suggests the potential mechanisms involved.
Beyond Words: ESC‐Net Revolutionizes VQA by Elevating Visual Features and Defying Language Priors
Authors: Chowdhury Souvik , Soni Badal
Published: December 2024

Language prior is a pressing problem in the VQA domain where a model provides an answer favoring the most frequent related answer. There are some methods that are adopted to mitigate language prior issue, for example, ensemble approach, the balanced data approach, the modified evaluation strategy, and the modified training framework. In this article, we propose a VQA model, “Ensemble of Spatial and Channel Attention Network (ESC‐Net),” to overcome the language bias problem by improving the visual features. In this work, we have used regional and global image features along with an ensemble of combined channel and spatial attention mechanisms to improve visual features. The model is a simpler and effective solution than existing methods to solve language bias. Extensive experiment show a remarkable performance improvement of 18% on the VQACP v2 dataset with a comparison to current state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) models.
Eco‐Evolutionary Interactions With Multiple Evolving Species Reveal Both Antagonistic and Additive Effects
Authors: Vanvelk Héléne , Govaert Lynn , van den Berg Edwin M. , De Meester Luc
Published: December 2024

Most eco‐evolutionary research focuses on ecological effects of single‐species evolution. We, therefore, know little of eco‐evolutionary dynamics when multiple species evolve simultaneously. We quantified evolution‐mediated ecological effects in communities equivalent in genetic diversity and starting biomass, but different in selection background (heatwave exposure) of one or all four zooplankton species (three Daphnia and one Scapholeberis species). We observed transient eco‐evolutionary effects that differed depending on which species in the community had evolved. Evolution did not always lead to higher abundances of the evolved species. Indirect effects on species abundances caused by evolution of another species could be as strong as direct effects mediated by its own evolution. The cumulative effect of evolution in multiple species was antagonistic for community composition and grazing pressure but additive for community‐wide biomass. Our results imply that focusing on single species' evolutionary effects on ecology may lead to unreliable predictions when multiple species evolve simultaneously.
Coordination Between Bioelements Induce More Stable Macroelements Than Microelements in Wetland Plants
Authors: Zuo Zhenjun , Reich Peter B. , Qiao Xiujuan , Zhao Haocun , Zhang Liangjian , Yang Lei , Lv Tian , Tang Zhiyao , Yu Dan , Wang Zhong
Published: December 2024

Elements are the basic substances that make up living organisms, and the element composition in plants quantitatively reflect the adaptation of plants to environment. However, the drivers that constitute the species‐specific plant elementome, as well as the bivariate bioelemental correlations in determining the stability of different bioelements are yet unclear. Based on 1058 leaf observations of 84 plant species from 232 wetlands across large environmental gradients, we found that bioelements with higher concentration were more stable and evolutionary constrained. We proposed a stability of well‐coordinated elements hypothesis, suggesting that bioelements that coordinate well in driving certain physiological functions constrain each other, thus maintaining relatively stable ratios in plants. In contrast, those functionally independent bioelements fluctuate greatly with environmental nutrient availability. Cold and saline stresses decreased plant stoichiometric network connectivity, complexity, and stability. Our research filled the gap in study of wetland plant elementome, and provided new evidences of plant–environment interactions in regions sensitive to climate change.
Levodopa–entacapone–carbidopa intestinal gel: Data from the Swedish national registry for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Öthman Mezin , Bergquist Filip , Odin Per , Scharfenort Monica , Johansson Anders , Markaki Ioanna , Svenningsson Per , Dizdar Nil , Nyholm Dag
Published: December 2024

Background

Levodopa–entacapone–carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) was introduced on the Swedish market in 2019. The therapy is aimed at patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with fluctuations and dyskinesias. Long‐term efficacy and safety data are lacking.

Objective

To investigate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of LECIG in regular clinical practice for Parkinson's disease in Sweden.

Methods

Real‐world data were collected from the Swedish registry for Parkinson's disease (ParkReg) for all patients reported to receive LECIG during the period from 2019 until 31 August 2022.

Results

A total of 150 patients were identified. Sixty‐one (41%) of 150 patients were females. At the start of treatment, the median age was 73 years (range: 43–86). The median duration since motor symptoms onset was 17 years (IQR: 9). Fifty (33%) of 150 patients switched from another device‐assisted therapy, mostly LCIG (39 patients).

Reported complications were mainly related to PEG‐J tube and stoma (30%). Twenty (13.3%) of 150 patients discontinued LECIG and 11 (7.3%) patients died while on LECIG.

The Parkinson KinetiGraph scores for bradykinesia, dyskinesia, fluctuations, tremor, and immobility for 53 patients during LECIG showed good therapy control. The median (IQR) p‐Hcy during LECIG was 12 (4.6) μmol/L (n = 44). The median (IQR) PDQ‐8 summary index during LECIG was 31 (17) (n = 52). The median (IQR) EQ5D during LECIG was 0.62 (0.32) (n = 41).

Conclusions

Data from ParkReg covering 150 patients over 3 years show LECIG to be an effective and safe device‐aided therapy for advanced PD. However, the long‐term efficacy and tolerability of LECIG need to be further investigated.
Improving fracture toughness and densification behavior of single‐phase TaC–HfC ceramic with carbon additives
Authors: Rezaei Firouz , Ghassemi Kakroudi Mahdi , Shahedifar Vahideh , Balak Zohre
Published: December 2024

This investigation was undertaken to determine the role of carbon additives on the densification behavior and fracture toughness of TaC–HfC ceramic. The composition of TaC‐19 vol% HfC‐5 vol% VC with 10 vol% nano graphite/10 vol% nano carbon black was sintered by hot‐pressing (HP) method. Also, the sintering temperature varied from 1700°C to 2000°C. Vanadium carbide was used as a sintering aid to minimize the porosity for the given hot‐pressing temperatures while keeping the consolidation temperature low. The analysis of XRD patterns revealed that the sintering process led to the formation of a ternary solid solution in the samples accompanied by the entire consumption of HfC and VC phases. Also, the presence of carbon additives increased the relative density from 96% to 100% by enhancing the sintering temperature from 1700°C to 2000°C. It was significantly higher than the carbon‐free sample, which had a maximum value of 96.7% at 2000°C. The results also indicated that the maximum fracture toughness of 7.1 MPa.m1/2 was obtained for nano carbon black contained samples at the sintering temperature of 1900°C and above. The toughening mechanisms in samples were discussed, too.
Infants' Expectations for Helping in Imitators
Authors: Pepe Bill , Powell Lindsey J.
Published: December 2024

Human infants seem to make positive social inferences about individuals who imitate others. In three preregistered experiments we test if these inferences include an expectation that imitators will be helpful, and also ask if the inferences infants make are about imitators' dispositions or primarily about their relationships. In each experiment 8‐ to 9‐month‐old infants saw one individual imitate, and another individual not imitate, the same target social partner. When the imitator and non‐imitator had the opportunity to help the target individual they had previously interacted with, infants looked longer when the non‐imitator helped than when the imitator helped. However, when the potential recipient of help was a new social partner, infants' looking did not differ when the imitator or non‐imitator helped. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that infants perceive imitation as prosocial or affiliative and thus expect imitators to be helpful. However, these expectations are limited to inferences about a specific prosocial relationship between the imitator and their target.
Gender Awareness in Achieving Marital Satisfaction Among Young Professional Families in Indonesia
Authors: Mas'udah Siti
Published: December 2024

Gender awareness is considered a significant contributor in determining and impacting marital satisfaction amongst couples and making a strong family. This study explores the role of gender awareness in achieving marital satisfaction among young women professionals residing in Surabaya, Indonesia. The study deployed a qualitative research design, and 56 in‐depth interviews were carried out with women professionals who had been married for less than 5 years. The results show that gender awareness among young professional families varies based on decision‐making. The young women were aware of marital satisfaction about gender roles. There are two groups of women supporting distinctly different ideologies. The first group supports patriarchy, whereas the second group opposes the prevalence of a patriarchal culture. It further seeks to offer novelty in studying gender and marital satisfaction among professional families in Javanese society.