bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Foreign Investors on the Turkish Construction Industry
Authors: Tanrıvermiş Yeşim , Salami Monsurat Ayojimi , Tanrıvermiş Harun
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the calendar and calendar-seasonal effects on foreign investors’ housing acquisitions in the Turkish real estate market and its influence on the Turkish construction indexes. Understanding the pattern of housing acquisition by foreign investors in Turkish real estate could be essential information for policymakers. The Turkish statistical database reflects 23 prominent countries’ foreign housing acquisitors in Turkey, and all data were analysed. This study employed quantitative analysis of unbalanced panel data obtained from Turk-Statistics, which ranges from January 2015 to May 2023. The pooled Mean Group/ ARDL Lag model was used for the analysis. The finding established a long-run positive association between foreigners’ housing acquisitions in Turkey and Turkish construction indices. The short-run trend is positively significant for all foreign investors across the model. In addition, the finding revealed that a series of lag construction indices and housing acquisitions predicted short-run deviations. The finding closes the research gap and contributes crucial information to the policymakers in taking necessary policy action when required. The study also provides essential information to foreign investors on their investment decisions, especially on the relationship between foreign housing acquisitions and the influence of the Turkish adjusted construction indexes.
The main stages and features of the development of migration processes in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Kulalieva Gulzat Tulegenovna , Ismanov Taalaybek Kadyrovich , Tulegenov Temirlan
Published: June 2024

This article describes the main stages and features of the development of migration flows in the Kyrgyz Republic. The issues of migration flows in different periods of development of the Kyrgyz statehood, territorial population movements to destinations and issues of migration flow management are analyzed. The problems of unregulated migration and the prospects for further strengthening the fight against non-systemic and illegal migration and coordinating the activities of States on the measures applied are also considered.
Synthesis of urban real estate development processes
Authors: Yaskova N.Yu. , Samoilov S.Yu.
Published: June 2024

The wave of new industrialization in the Russian Federation, associated with the restoration of a number of industries localized on the territory of the country, as well as the creation of production facilities of a new technological order, required a reassembly of financial and industrial policy and, accordingly, a conceptual rethinking of investment and construction processes. The great importance of cities in solving these problems is undeniable. The dangerous trends of the excessive growth of the service sector and the contraction of the production sector actually nullify the role of cities in solving the priority tasks of the country's development. It becomes obvious that there is a need for the recovery growth of the industrial real estate sector of cities. Despite the fact that the real estate sector is perhaps the most conservative element of the urban environment, that can become a brake on the new industrial wave. In order to prevent this situation, the investment and construction processes of urban development cannot be considered in isolation, they must be predicted, planned and implemented in a synthesized form. The author offers practice-oriented approaches to the synthesis of urban real estate development processes.
Mechanisms for the implementation of complex construction contracts within the framework of life cycle management of a capital construction facility
Authors: Shcherbakov Vitaly , Beliakov Sergei , Juraev Khusen Khairulloevich , Mohamed Ayman Othman Abdel Alim , Laamarti Yulia Alexandrovna
Published: June 2024

The development of industrial areas with difficult climatic conditions and high environmental burden on the population requires innovative management approaches from the construction industry, including energy construction as a factor of safety and reliability, as a basis for the development of enterprises in the region and urban development. The purpose of this study is to determine the place and role of complex construction contracts (CСC) in the life cycle (LC) of an industrial capital construction facility and to form mechanisms for improving the implementation of CСC to ensure the innovative nature of such an object at all stages of its LC within the framework of the relationship with the development of the economy of the studied region as a whole. The LC model proposed in the study allows us to determine the place and role of innovation engineering assessment at each stage of the implementation of large engineering projects during the construction of capital construction facilities within the framework of territorial development management. The combination of methods for assessing innovativeness will reveal the necessary reserves for accelerated development of territories with maximizing environmental and economic effects.
Features of development of a digital twin of the transport system of an urban area using simulation modeling methods
Authors: Krasnikov Aleksandr , Simonov Vladimir , Boykov Sergey
Published: June 2024

The relevance of the study is justified by the growing share of urban population and their active use of personal automobile and public transportation. All this increases the mobility of the population and requires the development of transportation infrastructure in the established urban development. Solving such problems requires the development of models that simulate all aspects of the real object of the transportation system. With their help it is possible to conduct experiments on changing individual characteristics of the system in order to assess its response to control actions. The object of the study is Pervomayskaya Street at its intersection with the Tretya Parkovaya Street in the Izmailovo district of the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow. The article presents the stages of simulation model creation and their corresponding results in the form of models characterizing traffic flows, system objects and their behavior.
Simulation modeling as a means of forecasting passenger traffic at the Moscow Central Ring station
Authors: Altunina Yulia , Simonov Vladimir
Published: June 2024

The article presents the results of creating a digital twin of the Moscow Central Ring station “Izmailovo” using simulation modeling methods. The study’s main goal is to create a formal model demonstrating, at given time intervals, the changes in the objects and processes that make up the model when certain input parameters are changed. The results obtained during the simulation of the system behavior allow for evaluating the effectiveness of the concepts for the modernization of the transport system facility in terms of passenger traffic. The conducted structural analysis of the research object allowed to establish all elements and their corresponding characteristics to create models of the behavior of key objects. Additionally, a 3D graphical model has been developed to demonstrate the behavior of all objects and their corresponding processes.
Redefining Urban Authenticity in the Digital Era: A Smart City Perspective
Authors: Nursanty Eko , Wulandari Astari , Rusmiatmoko Djudjun , Destiawan Wawan
Published: June 2024

The advent of smart cities has ushered in a new era of urban development, characterized by the integration of innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the efficiency of city services and the quality of life for its inhabitants. These defining features aim to address the complex challenges of urbanization, sustainability, and resilience. Concurrently, the concept of authenticity in urban development has gained prominence, emphasizing the preservation of historical, cultural, and social integrity amidst rapid urban transformation. This paper delves into the intricate relationship between the technological advancements inherent in smart cities and the preservation of urban authenticity. It explores how the deployment of smart technologies can potentially enhance or undermine the authentic character of urban spaces. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this study examines strategies for balancing innovation with the conservation of the unique identity of cities, ensuring that the evolution toward smart urban environments does not come at the cost of losing their soul. The scope of the paper encompasses a critical analysis of current smart city initiatives and their impact on urban authenticity, offering insights into the future trajectory of sustainable and authentic urban development.
Better to bluff than run: conservation implications of feral-cat prey selectivity
Authors: Read John L. , Moseby Katherine E. , McGregor Hugh W.
Published: June 2024

Context Predators typically select prey on the basis of their availability and traits such as body size, speed, camouflage and behaviour that influence ease of capture. Such selectivity, particularly by invasive predators, can disproportionately affect the conservation status of prey. Control of top-order predators can also trigger trophic cascades if subordinate predators have different prey preference. Aims We aimed to document prey selectivity of feral cats by comparing their diet with prey availability over a 27-year study in an Australian desert. Methods Stomach-content and demographic data were recorded from 2293 feral cats, showing 3939 vertebrate prey. These were compared with vertebrate-prey availability estimated from 224,472 pitfall-trap nights, 9791 Elliott-trap nights and opportunistic sampling that accumulated 9247 small mammal and 32,053 herptile records. Potential bird availability was assessed through 2072 quantitative counts amounting to 29,832 bird records. We compared cat selectivity among species, guilds, and physical and behavioural traits of potential prey. Key results Prey guild selectivity from two quantitative subsets of these data indicated that cats preferentially selected medium-sized rodents, snakes and ground-nesting birds over other prey guilds, and also preyed extensively on rabbits, for which selectivity could not be assessed. Species that froze or responded defensively to predators were less favoured than were prey that fled, including fast-evading species. Species inhabiting dunes were hunted more frequently relative to their abundance than were closely related species on stony plains. Conclusions The size, habitat preference and response to predators of potential prey species affect their targeting by feral cats. Implications Our results assist assessment of risk to wildlife species from cat predation and suggest that cat control will trigger changes in the relative abundance of prey species depending on their size, habitat use and behaviour.
Iridium(III) carbene complexes as potent girdin inhibitors against metastatic cancers
Authors: Ruan Mei-Ling , Ni Wen-Xiu , Chu Jacky C. H. , Lam Tsz-Lung , Law Kwok-Chung , Zhang Yiwei , Yang Guanya , He Ying , Zhang Chunlei , Fung Yi Man Eva , Liu Tao , Huang Tao , Lok Chun-Nam , Chan Sharon Lai-Fung , Che Chi-Ming
Published: June 2024

Many cancer-driving protein targets remain undruggable due to a lack of binding molecular scaffolds. In this regard, octahedral metal complexes with unique and versatile three-dimensional structures have rarely been explored as inhibitors of undruggable protein targets. Here, we describe antitumor iridium(III) pyridinium-N-heterocyclic carbene complex
1a
, which profoundly reduces the viability of lung and breast cancer cells as well as cancer patient-derived organoids at low micromolar concentrations. Compound
1a
effectively inhibits the growth of non-small-cell lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer xenograft tumors, impedes the metastatic spread of breast cancer cells, and can be modified into an antibody-drug conjugate payload to achieve precise tumor delivery in mice. Identified by thermal proteome profiling, an important molecular target of
1a
in cellulo is Girdin, a multifunctional adaptor protein that is overexpressed in cancer cells and unequivocally serves as a signaling hub for multiple pivotal oncogenic pathways. However, specific small-molecule inhibitors of Girdin have not yet been developed. Notably,
1a
exhibits high binding affinity to Girdin with a K
d
of 1.3 μM and targets the Girdin-linked EGFR/AKT/mTOR/STAT3 cancer-driving pathway, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastatic activity. Our study reveals a potent Girdin-targeting anticancer compound and demonstrates that octahedral metal complexes constitute an untapped library of small-molecule inhibitors that can fit into the ligand-binding pockets of key oncoproteins.
An approach to path movement in the diachronic study of sign languages
Authors: Napoli Donna Jo , Sanders Nathan
Published: June 2024

Sign languages seem not to be amenable to traditional historical reconstruction via the comparative method, making
it difficult to replicate the successes achieved in the diachronic study of spoken languages. We propose to alleviate this
difficulty with an alternative approach that draws upon nonarbitrariness and biomechanics, especially the drive for reducing
articulatory effort. We offer a demonstration of this approach, which can add confirmation to known relationships between sign
languages and new evidence in support of suspected relationships, helping to fill in a methodological gap in the diachronic study
of sign languages.
Hydrodynamic behavior of Janus particles in a finite inertial flow
Authors: Xu Jianbao , Ouyang Zhenyu , Lin Jianzhong
Published: June 2024

Hydrodynamic behavior of Janus particles in a finite inertial flow is studied numerically using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) in the range of Reynolds number 0.05 ⩽ Re⩽ 10 and swimming parameter −3 ⩽ β ⩽ 3. Some results are validated by comparing with the existing results. The effects of Re, β on the hydrodynamic behavior of Janus particles are analyzed. The results show that the velocity of a pusher (a type of Janus particles) monotonically increases with the increase of Re, while the velocity of a puller (another type of Janus particles) exhibits a non-monotonic change. At high Re, the puller is unstable and presents a lateral displacement, while the pusher remains stable. The power consumption for the pusher and puller, the hydrodynamic efficiency for the pusher increase monotonically with increasing Re, while the hydrodynamic efficiency for the puller exhibits a non-monotonic change. At low Re, the power consumption and hydrodynamic efficiency of Janus particles exhibit symmetry with the variation of surface velocity distribution. This symmetry is disrupted with the increase of Re, similar to the velocity changing with the surface angle.
A case of ocular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma unveiled through Pars Plana Vitrectomy: surgical insight and multidisciplinary management
Authors: Sharma Pareena , Tahiru Mustapha , Li Han , Bansari Asha , Baskaran Naveen
Published: June 2024

We present a rare case of ocular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) unveiled through Pars Plana Vitrectomy in a 74-year-old immunocompromised male, highlighting the surgical insight and multidisciplinary management required for similar cases. The patient’s progressive vision impairment led to a Pars Plana Vitrectomy, which confirmed DLBCL through cytogenetic analysis. Initial intraocular rituximab treatment showed promise; however, the lymphoma’s systemic progression necessitated a shift to more aggressive chemotherapy, underscored by pleural and pericardial effusions and central nervous system involvement. This case emphasizes the critical role of surgical techniques in diagnosing ocular lymphomas and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing the disease’s ocular and systemic manifestations. The complexities introduced by the patient’s immunosuppression highlight the necessity for individualized treatment strategies. This case calls for further research into ocular lymphomagenesis and exploring therapies with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity, and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis in ocular DLBCL cases.
Resin-Based 90Y Tumor Dose as a Predictor of Duration of Response and Survival in Patients With Surgically Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kokabi Nima , Webster Linzi A. , Dabbous Howard , Shah Anand , Brandon David , Galt James , Xing Minzhi , Villalobos Alexander , Davarpanahfakhr Amir , Kappadath S. Cheenu , Schuster David M.
Published: June 2024

Background

Personalized dosimetry improves overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with glass 90Y radioembolization. This study evaluated personalized tumor dose (TD) as a predictor of OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and local duration of response (DOR) in patients with surgically unresectable HCC treated with resin 90Y radioembolization.

Patients and Methods

This prospective, single-center, single-arm clinical trial (NCT04172714) evaluated the efficacy of scout activity of resin 90Y versus 99mTc-MAA for treatment planning. A secondary aim of this study was to evaluate personalized dosimetry as a predictor of OS, PFS, and DOR. Partition dosimetry model was utilized for nonsegmental therapies with targeted TD >200 Gy and nontumoral liver dose <70 Gy. Single compartment dose of 200 Gy was used for segmentectomies. OS, PFS, and local DOR from 90Y was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimation with log-rank analysis used to determine predictors of prolonged survival.

Findings

Thirty patients with treatment-naive HCC and 33 tumors (19 segmental and 14 nonsegmental) were included. Overall, 18 patients underwent segmental Y90-RE and 12 underwent non-segmental/lobar therapies. The mean 90Y TD was 493 Gy. The median follow-up since enrollment into the study was 37 months. The mean OS was 32.2 months for the entire cohort. A total of 5 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation post 90Y and were excluded from further survival analysis. The mean OS for the remainder of the cohort was 30.1 months (median not reached). The mean TD >250 Gy resulted in prolonged mean OS and PFS. The median local DOR was 32.7 months with mean TD 330 Gy predicting prolonged DOR.

Interpretation

For patients with surgically unresectable HCC treated with resin 90Y, there is mean TD threshold predicting prolonged OS, PFS, and local DOR. Therefore, there should be further emphasis on personalized dosimetry for optimization of patient outcomes.
Imaging in Ocular Surface Squamous Cell Carcinoma: There’s More to PET/CT Than Meets the Eye
Authors: Mandava Anitha , Koppula Veeraiah , Reddy Arvind K. , Ali A. Zakir , Mallavarapu Krishna Mohan
Published: June 2024

A 56-year-old woman presenting with swelling, redness, and pain in the left eye, initially treated with topical therapy for conjunctival squamous neoplasia, developed visual loss with progression of swelling in the left eye over the next year. Patient was referred for imaging as she also had significant weight loss and palpable neck swellings. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed hypermetabolic left eye lesion; metastases in bilateral submandibular glands; cervical, mediastinal, and axillary lymph nodes; and a right lung nodule. Patient was diagnosed with ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma with metastases and started on systemic chemotherapy (cisplatin, paclitaxel, and 5-fluorouracil).
Development of a Cloud-Based IoT System for Livestock Health Monitoring Using AWS and Python
Authors: Bhaskaran Harini Shree , Gordon Miriam , Neethirajan Suresh
Published: June 2024

The agriculture industry is currently facing significant challenges in effectively monitoring the health of livestock. Traditional methods of health monitoring are often labor-intensive, inefficient, and insufficiently responsive to the needs of modern farming. As the number of IoT devices in agriculture proliferates, issues of scalability and computational load have become prominent, necessitating efficient and scalable solutions. This research introduces a cloud-based architecture aimed at enhancing livestock health monitoring. This system is designed to track critical health indicators such as movement patterns, body temperature, and heart rate, utilizing AWS for robust data handling and Python for data processing and real-time analytics. The proposed system incorporates Narrow Band IoT (Nb IoT) technology, which is optimized for low-bandwidth, long-range communication, making it suitable for rural and remote farming locations. The architecture’s scalability allows for the effective management of varying numbers of IoT devices, which is essential for adapting to changing herd sizes and farm scales.

Preliminary experiments conducted to assess the system’s performance have demonstrated its durability and effectiveness, indicating a successful integration of AWS IoT Cloud services with the deployed IoT devices. Furthermore, the study explores the implementation of predictive analytics to facilitate proactive health management in livestock. By predicting potential health issues before they become apparent, the system can offer significant improvements in animal welfare and farm efficiency. The integration of cloud computing and IoT not only meets the growing technological needs of modern agriculture but also sets a new benchmark in the development of sustainable farming practices. The findings from this research could have broad implications for the future of livestock management, potentially leading to widespread adoption of technology-driven health monitoring systems in agriculture. This would help in optimizing the health management of livestock globally, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Deep learning of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak phylodynamics with contact tracing data
Authors: Xie Ruopeng , Adam Dillon C. , Hu Shu , Cowling Benjamin J. , Gascuel Olivier , Zhukova Anna , Dhanasekaran Vijaykrishna
Published: June 2024

Deep learning has emerged as a powerful tool for phylodynamic analysis, addressing common computational limitations affecting existing methods. However, notable disparities exist between simulated phylogenetic trees used for training existing deep learning models and those derived from real-world sequence data, necessitating a thorough examination of their practicality. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of model performance by assessing an existing deep learning inference tool for phylodynamics, PhyloDeep, against realistic phylogenetic trees characterized from SARS-CoV-2. Our study reveals the poor predictive accuracy of PhyloDeep models trained on simulated trees when applied to realistic data. Conversely, models trained on realistic trees demonstrate improved predictions, despite not being infallible, especially in scenarios where superspreading dynamics are challenging to capture accurately. Consequently, we find markedly improved performance through the integration of minimal contact tracing data. Applying this approach to a sample of SARS-CoV-2 sequences partially matched to contact tracing from Hong Kong yields informative estimates of SARS-CoV-2 superspreading potential beyond the scope of contact tracing data alone. Our findings demonstrate the potential for enhancing deep learning phylodynamic models processing low resolution trees through complementary data integration, ultimately increasing the precision of epidemiological predictions crucial for public health decision making and outbreak control.
Phase I Dose Escalation trials in cancer immunotherapy: Modifying the Bayesian Logistic Regression Model for Cytokine Release Syndrome
Authors: Chapman-Rounds Matt , Pereira Miguel
Published: June 2024

We extend Bayesian Logistic Regression to model the dose-toxicity relationship in the setting of phase I dose-escalation/ dose-finding trials for cancer immunotherapies. Immunotherapy drugs are associated with Cytokine Release Syn-drome, a systemic immune system reaction that can be mitigated when initial lower doses of the drug are administered to generate immune tolerance. This changes the classic dose-finding problem of determining an optimal safe dose, to a more complex problem where the search is for both the optimal safe dose and the dose regimen that allows patients to quickly and safely reach that dose without CRS. As part of solving this methodological challenge, we show how to jointly model CRS and non-CRS toxicities, which have distinct mechanisms, while controlling for the overall toxicity rate to make dose-escalation decisions.
Translational profiling reveals novel gene expression changes in the direct and indirect pathways in a mouse model of LDOPA-induced dyskinesia
Authors: Jafri Sabika , Ghani Mahdi , Stickle Natalie , Virtanen Carl , Hazrati Lili-Naz , Visanji Naomi P.
Published: June 2024

The molecular mechanisms underlying L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (LDOPA) induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease are poorly understood. Here we employ two transgenic mouse lines, combining translating ribosomal affinity purification (TRAP) with bacterial artificial chromosome expression (Bac), to selectively isolate RNA from either DRD1A expressing striatonigral, or DRD2 expressing striatopallidal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the direct and indirect pathways respectively, to study changes in translational gene expression following repeated LDOPA treatment. 6-OHDA lesioned DRD1A and DRD2 BacTRAP mice were treated with either saline or LDOPA bi-daily for 21 days over which time they developed abnormal involuntary movements reminiscent of dyskinesia. On day 22, all animals received LDOPA 40 minutes prior to sacrifice. The striatum of the lesioned hemisphere was dissected and subject to TRAP. Extracted ribosomal RNA was amplified, purified and gene expression was quantified using microarray. 195 significantly varying transcripts were identified among the 4 treatment groups. Pathway analysis revealed an overrepresentation of calcium signaling and long-term potentiation in the DRD1A expressing MSNs of the direct pathway, with significant involvement of long-term depression in the DRD2 expressing MSNs of the indirect pathway following chronic treatment with LDOPA. Several MAPK associated genes (NR4A1,GADD45G,STMN1,FOSandDUSP1) differentiated the direct and indirect pathways following both acute and chronic LDOPA treatment. However, the MAPK pathway activatorPAK1was downregulated in the indirect pathway and upregulated in the direct pathway, strongly suggesting a role forPAK1in regulating the opposing effects of LDOPA on these two pathways in dyskinesia. Future studies will assess the potential of targeting these genes and pathways to prevent the development of LDOPA-induced dyskinesia.
Procoagulant effect of phosphatidylserine exposed to extracellular vesicles, blood cells and endothelial cells in patients with aortic stenosis
Authors: Du Zhaona , Wang Haiyang , Shao Yibing , Wu Wei , Tong Dongxia , Xie Fangyu , Li Jihe , Xia Wei , Zhou Yujie
Published: June 2024

Background

The mechanism of thrombotic complications in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the levels of phosphodiesterase (PS) in blood cells, endothelial cells (ECs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and its procoagulant activity (PCA) in different degrees of AS.

Methods

Exposed PS in blood cells, ECs and EVs were analyzed by flow cytometry. PCA was evaluated by clotting time (CT), intrinsic factor Xa (FXa), extrinsic FXa, thrombin and fibrin formation assays. We also evaluated the inhibitory effects of lactadherin (Lact) and anti-tissue factor (anti-TF) on PCA in severe AS patients.

Results

Our results demonstrated that positive phosphatedylserin (PS+) with total EVs, platelet EVs (PEVs), positive tissue factor EVs (TF+EVs), and endothelial-derived EVs (EEVs) levels were significantly higher in mild to severe AS than controls. Patients with AS had significantly higher percentages of PS+red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets (PLTs) and ECs compared to controls. In addition, we further confirmed that PS+blood cells, ECs and EVs significantly contributed to shortened CT and dramatically increased FXa, thrombin and final fibrin generation in mild to severe AS compared to controls. Furthermore, in severe AS, lactadherin significantly inhibited PCA of PS exposure in blood cells, ECs and EVs, whereas anti-TF had no effect.

Conclusion

Our study revealed a previously unrecognized association between exposed PS levels on blood cells, ECs and EVs and PCA in AS. Lactadherin promises to be a new therapy by blocking PS to prevent thrombosis in AS patients.
How perceived overload leads to WeChat passive usage intention: the mediating roles of social network exhaustion and discontented feeling
Authors: Pang Hua , Liu Yanxinyue
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The principal purposes of the research are to empirically investigate three forms of perceived overload on social media and shed light on their associations with users’ passive usage intention by contemplating the mediating influence of social network exhaustion and discontented feelings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a cross-sectional methodology to collect statistical data (N = 679) from WeChat users in mainland China. Primitive analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to test the corresponding hypotheses.

Findings

The findings reveal that three dimensions of perceived overload influence social network exhaustion positively. In addition, communication overload and system feature overload exert positive impacts on the discontented feeling. Furthermore, it is uncovered that social network exhaustion and discontented feeling are related to passive usage intention positively.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, this paper offers a conceptual framework to explicate passive usage intention through elucidating social network exhaustion and the discontented feeling that arises from perceived overload in contemporary social media-mediated environments. Practically, the current research has certain realistic implications for WeChat users and SNS operators.

Originality/value

Probing what triggers people’s passive usage intention of social media has been an emerging theme in recent years, yet there is a dearth of discourse that delves into the antecedents of WeChat users’ passive usage intention. The results obtained from the study have enhanced the understanding of the adverse consequences associated with the utilization of social media in mainland China.
Revisiting the interest rate-investment nexus in India: fresh perspective from non-parametric analysis
Authors: Bindra Riya , Pandey Amrendra , Misra Pooja , Shettigar Jagdish
Published: June 2024

Purpose

It is generally believed that business spending on capital expenditure tends to decrease as interest rates rise, and vice versa, this is not always the case. The previous literature produces inconclusive results vis-à-vis the interest rate and investment nexus. This study analyzes the responsiveness of investment to changes in high and low levels of interest rates in India through a quantile-based, non-parametric method utilizing annual data from 1980 to 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses Quantile-on-quantile (QQ) technique proposed by Sim and Zhou (2015) to examine the impact of interest rate quantiles on quantiles of investment. In addition, long-term association and the direction of causality are estimated through the Cho et al. (2015) test of quantile cointegration and the Jeong et al. (2012) Granger causality in quantile (GCQ) test, respectively.

Findings

The empirical evidence validates that the linkage between investments and interest rate is not consistently negative and varies from quantile to quantile. The study finds a negative impact at median quantiles and a positive impact at extreme higher quantiles. Conversely, the impact at lower quantiles is negligible, which is also observed from quantile cointegration, indicating the presence of a statistically significant association above the median quantiles. Additionally, the study finds one interesting finding that there exists unidirectional causality from investment to interest rates in India rather than other way around.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides significant implications for policymakers as it suggests that during extreme economic conditions, the effectiveness of traditional monetary policy tools to boost capital formation is restricted. Policymakers may consider alternative measures to stimulate investment during these time periods. The study additionally posits that the neoclassical theory of investment may not be readily applicable in emerging economies in its unaltered state, mostly due to the lack of well-developed financial markets.

Originality/value

There is a limited literature available on non-linear linkage between interest rates and investment. The present study adds to the existing knowledge by investigating how investment responds differently to fluctuations in interest rates, while incorporating the complete distribution of both the variables.
Organisations’ and employees’ perceptions of the impact of activity-based working on the organisational culture
Authors: Nanayakkara Kusal , Wilkinson Sara , Halvitigala Dulani
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Challenged by the effects of organisational flexibility and high corporate real estate (CRE) costs, organisations increasingly seek flexibility and operational efficiency in their physical office layouts. This paper examines and compares how the existing organisational culture of organisations changed with the introduction of activity-based working (ABW) from the perspectives of organisations and their employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The research focused on large organisations that had introduced ABW during the period of 2012–2019 and their employees. Two surveys were implemented with the management of organisations and employees. In-depth interviews with the management were also undertaken. The research focused on three different industry sectors in Australia – financial, IT and public. The competing value framework was used to measure the dimensions of organisational culture.

Findings

Findings identify major finance, internal business, learning and growth and staff and client-oriented motives affecting organisations’ decisions to introduce ABW. Findings illustrate that the nature of workplace design has a considerable impact on organisations’ culture and can be used to leverage and change it. However, a noticeable discrepancy between the perceptions of the organisation and employees in the public and private sectors was identified, where public sector employees felt that standardised procedures still governed their actions even in ABW.

Originality/value

This research highlights that workplace designs directly influence the culture of organisations. It emphasises the importance of an in-depth examination of the behavioural and attitudinal characteristics of organisations and their employees to obtain a better understanding of how they perceive and interact in ABW layouts.
Uniform or demand-driven allocation? Optimal management of social donations distribution in response to sudden outbreaks
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxiao , Liu Ming , Zhang Ding
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to address challenges in the distribution of social donations during epidemic emergencies, focusing on issues such as uneven distribution and material stacking. The goal is to propose optimized strategies that enhance equity and efficiency in the allocation of donated resources.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the satisfaction function is constructed from two perspectives of the designated hospital and the Red Cross. On this basis, the fairness perception level of the two is portrayed. Then, we set the time weights, and construct a multi-objective programming model by combining the resource constraints in the social donation distribution process. The combined algorithm of NSGA-II and TOPSIS is also designed for model solving. Finally, an example of social donation distribution of the Red Cross Society of China Wuhan Branch is conducted for numerical analysis.

Findings

Numerical analysis reveals that timely transmission of demand information favors a demand-oriented distribution strategy for optimal efficiency. However, in scenarios with poor demand information transmission, an equal distribution of social donations proves to be a more effective strategy. Equal distribution ensures rapid allocation while minimizing perceived unfairness at designated hospitals, ultimately improving overall satisfaction levels and emergency response effectiveness.

Practical implications

The findings provide practical insights for emergency response planners. These include translating the developed methods into guiding principles, establishing real-time monitoring systems, enhancing training for relevant departments, and implementing evaluation mechanisms. Practitioners can utilize this knowledge to optimize the efficiency of social donation distribution during sudden outbreaks.

Social implications

The equitable distribution of social donations ensures efficient resource allocation and minimizes perceived unfairness, contributing to improved social satisfaction levels. This has broader implications for community resilience and support during emergencies.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field by proposing a comprehensive model for optimizing social donation distribution in emergencies. The integration of fairness perception, time weights, and a multi-objective planning approach, along with the application of the combined algorithm of NSGA-II and TOPSIS, adds novelty and practical value to the existing literature. The study serves as a decision-making reference for enhancing emergency response theories in sudden event.
Exploring the motivating factors for opportunity recognition among social entrepreneurs: a qualitative study
Authors: Viswanath Parvathy , Sadananda Reddy A.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper explores the motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition among social entrepreneurs in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed an exploratory, qualitative design based on thematic analysis of the interview data collected from 13 Indian social entrepreneurs.

Findings

The study identifies two aggregate factors that motivate social entrepreneurs: personal and contextual. Personal factors include life experiences, social awareness, social inclination since childhood, spiritual motives, the need for a meaningful career and entrepreneurial intention. Contextual factors included institutional voids, community development, the presence of a role model and volunteer experiences.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature by providing a model for motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition. This study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.

Practical implications

This study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.

Originality/value

The study uniquely contributes to the social entrepreneurship field by offering deep qualitative insights into the motivational and opportunity recognition patterns of social entrepreneurship.
Use of population pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic modelling to inform antimalarial dose optimization in infants
Authors: Banda Clifford G. , Tarning Joel , Barnes Karen I.
Published: June 2024

Infants bear a significant malaria burden but are usually excluded from participating in early dose optimization studies that inform dosing regimens of antimalarial therapy. Unlike older children, infants' exclusion from early‐phase trials has resulted in limited evidence to guide accurate dosing of antimalarial treatment for uncomplicated malaria or malaria‐preventive treatment in this vulnerable population. Subsequently, doses used in infants are often extrapolated from older children or adults, with the potential for under‐ or overdosing. Population pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) modelling, a quantitative methodology that applies mathematical and statistical techniques, can aid the design of clinical studies in infants that collect sparse pharmacokinetic data as well as support the analysis of such data to derive optimized antimalarial dosing in this complex and at‐risk yet understudied subpopulation. In this review, we reflect on what PK‐PD modelling can do in programmatic settings of most malaria‐endemic areas and how it can be used to inform antimalarial dose optimization for preventive and curative treatment of uncomplicated malaria in infants. We outline key developmental physiological changes that affect drug exposure in early life, the challenges of conducting dose optimization studies in infants, and examples of how PK‐PD modelling has previously informed antimalarial dose optimization in this subgroup. Additionally, we discuss the limitations and gaps of PK‐PD modelling when used for dose optimization in infants. To utilize modelling well, there is a need to generate useful, sparse, PK and PD data in this subpopulation to inform antimalarial optimal dosing in infancy.
Fast prediction of optimal reaction conditions and dyeing effects of natural dyes on silk fabrics by lightweight integrated learning (XGBoost) models
Authors: Chen Jie , Lin Yuyang , Liu Ying
Published: June 2024

There is a lot of repetitive work involved in exploring the dyeing performance of natural dyes. To improve the experimental efficiency, save material, reduce time costs and shorten the research cycle, this study collects and analyses the literature data of 350 natural dye experiments to construct the Natural Dyes Dataset, and achieves rapid prediction of the optimal reaction conditions and dyeing effects of natural dyes using a lightweight integrated learning model. The size of the trained XGBoost model is only 562 KB; only the name of the dye and its approximate chemical composition need to be input to predict the results of the reaction environment pH, colour fastness to washing (CFW) and colour fastness to rubbing (CFR) of the natural dye on silk fabrics with the highest K/S in a very short time of 52 ms. The prediction accuracies for pH, CFW and CFR in the validation set are as high as 94.12%, 93.75% and 100%, respectively, and 77.78%, 91.67% and 83.33% for the real test set, with both validity and transferability. The integrated learning approach provides valuable guidance for exploring the dyeing performance of natural dyes with very small deployment costs and a very short inference time, expanding the possibilities of cross‐application of the disciplines of machine learning and textile dyeing.
Optimising the oral midazolam dose for premedication in people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Higuchi Hitoshi , Miyake Kota , Miyake Saki , Fujimoto Maki , Nishioka Yukiko , Maeda Shigeru , Miyawaki Takuya
Published: June 2024

Background

In people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder, oral midazolam (OM) is very effective as premedication for facilitating medical treatment. In this retrospective study, we investigated the optimal dosage of OM for premedication.

Methods

Patients with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder who were given OM as a premedication were selected from anaesthesia records. The primary outcome variable was the dose of OM (mg/kg) required to produce an adequate sedation.

Results

The mean OM dose required was 0.32 ± 0.10 mg/kg. The required OM dose decreased significantly as age and weight increased, and age and weight were also shown to be significantly associated with the dose of OM in the multivariate linear regression analysis.

Conclusion

The dosage of OM to achieve adequate sedation should decrease as the patient ages. Furthermore, adequate sedation can be achieved with even lower doses of OM in obese people.
Comparation of fixed‐ratio (IDegLira and iGlarLixi) versus free combination of basal insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Weng Junling , Tao Ying , Xu Zian , Zhou Shanyan , Xiao Dunming , Zhu Zhixu , Zheng Ruizhi , Yang Yi , Chen Yingyao
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the fixed‐ratio combination (FRC) and free combination of basal insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and four Chinese databases were searched for relevant studies from inception to April 13, 2023. Phase III clinical trials involving FRC or free combination in patients with uncontrolled T2DM were included. A network meta‐analysis (NMA) was used to evaluate the effects of FRC and free combination. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to evaluate the risk‐of‐bias. The primary outcomes were changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body weight, and incident hypoglycemia. Secondary outcomes included changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023409585).

Results

Forty‐two trials with 23,619 patients were included in the NMA, and treatments were categorized as FRC, free combination and NOINSGLP (neither FRC nor free combination). The forest plots revealed comparable HbA1c control (mean difference (MD) = 0.07%, 95% confidence interval (CI): –0.17 to 0.30) between free combination and FRC. However, there were significant differences in the body weight (MD = –2.06 kg; 95% CI: –3.34 to –0.77), SBP (MD = –1.22 mmHg; 95% CI: –2.41 to –0.04), and DBP (MD = –1.09 mmHg; 95% CI: –1.94 to –0.24) between the two groups.

Conclusions

In patients with uncontrolled T2DM, the safety and efficacy of FRC and free combination therapy were comparable. The use of FRC is justifiable in patients requiring free combination.
Effects of Mobile App‐Based Positive Psychology Intervention for Well‐being
Authors: Uechi Hiroaki , Shimazaki Takashi , Takenaka Koji
Published: June 2024

This study examined the feasibility of a mobile app‐based positive psychology intervention (PPI) for enhancing well‐being. A total of 24 Japanese students (11 men and 13 women) were assigned to the intervention group and 24 students with the same attributes (sex and grade) as the intervention group were assigned to the control group. The mobile app‐based PPI consisted of three PPI activities for 2 weeks. Participants recorded how many character strengths they used (character strengths), how many letters they sent (gratitude letters), and the events that went well on that day (three good things). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance, and the results revealed significant intervention effects on engagement and achievement among well‐being. Moreover, favorable results were observed regarding the feasibility of the intervention, where women had a more favorable attitude toward acceptability, implementation, adaptation, integration, and expansion of the app than men.