bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rise of Chatbots in Customer Service: An in-depth Examination and Consequences
Authors: Jovanovska-Boshkovska Nadica , Arsovski Nikolce , Mileva Ivona , Petrovska Ilijana
Published: January 2025

In recent years, the landscape of digital marketing has undergone significant transformations propelled by technological advancements and shifts in consumer behavior. Navigating this dynamic environment poses challenges for businesses aiming to meet the expectations of tech-savvy customers, wherein customer service emerges as a pivotal element for success. In addition, chatbots, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), have garnered considerable attention and adoption as a viable solution to elevate customer service experiences. These AI-powered virtual assistants excel in conducting interactive conversations with customers, addressing inquiries, providing information, and delivering personalized recommendations. Harnessing artificial intelligence technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and deep learning, contributions to chatbots hold the potential to revolutionize the customer service industry. Therefore, this study explores the role of chatbots in communication within customer service, specifically examining their impact on consumer behavior.  By using both, quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors argue that chatbots indeed influence consumer behavior; they positively affect consumers during purchase decisions, throughout the entire purchase phase, and in the post-purchase phase. This research underscores the significance of incorporating chatbots into customer service communications to successfully execute company strategies, engage with customers, and offer appropriate services to address their queries and resolve issues.
Generation Y female consumers’ perceived value of beauty vlogs: measurement model assessment
Authors: Bevan-Dye Ayesha Lian
Published: January 2025

Beauty social media influencers are increasingly shaping consumers' beauty product preferences, particularly those of millennial female consumers. YouTube beauty vloggers disrupt the beauty product industry, notably shaping the brand preferences of Generation females. In the literarure, there is a recognised need for more research exploring YouTube vlogs, particularly in the context of beauty products. Τhis study sought to evaluate a modified rendition of the marketing communication value model proposed by Ducoffe (1996) as a measure of Generation Y female consumers’ perceived value of beauty vlogs on YouTube within the context of South Africa. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from a single cross-sectional sample of 340 Generation Y female consumers. The measurement model outlined for confirmatory factor analysis contained the latent factors of informativeness, entertainment, credibility and perceived value. The  findings suggest that the perception of beauty vlogs on YouTube by female consumers from Generation Y follows a four-factor model. This model is deemed valid, reliable, and demonstrates a good fit, with no concerns of multi-collinearity. This measurement model, validated through empirical evidence, furnishes academics and practitioners in beauty product marketing with a tool for determining Generation Y female consumers’ perceived value of beauty vlogs on YouTube.
Consumer Attitude Towards Cause-related Advertising: An Eye-tracking Experiment
Authors: Yfantidou Ioanna
Published: January 2025

Application of eye-tracking methods to understand consumer behaviour and consumer preferences has gained research attention in the last few years. Marketers’ basic intend is to tweak their advertising content or product design to meet consumer preferences. This paper examines changes in consumers’ attention to the message, attention to the brand and purchase intention when looking at a cause related advert against a typical advert. The findings show that women pay more attention to cause-related adverts and their intention to buy the product is higher. Yet, there is no difference among age groups. The eye-tracking output shows that consumers pay attention to the text compared to any other object on an advert and do not spend time looking at vague claims.
Enhance patient self-care and satisfaction with head and neck cancer health education leaflets with information visualization
Authors: Pei-Ju Lin , Chia-Wen Yeh
Published: January 2025

During radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, between 60% and 95% of patients experience the common side effect of acute and chronic skin reactions. Inadequate comprehension of text-based health education leaflets can lead to insufficient self-care awareness and heightened anxiety during treatment, potentially exacerbating this side effect. This study employed information visualization to transform traditional text-based leaflets into image-based versions, with the aim of improving patients’ understanding of the content and thus enhancing the effectiveness of their self-care. This approach was also intended to boost overall patient awareness and satisfaction with the health education received. The effectiveness of the optimized image-based leaflet was assessed by measuring differences in self-care awareness and satisfaction among patients using the traditional or optimized versions of leaflets. Results from a 14-item self-care awareness assessment form tailored to radiotherapy revealed that patients using the optimized image-based leaflet scored higher on 12 of the items than those using the traditional leaflet. This indicates a significant enhancement in patients’ awareness. Specifically, patients with head and neck cancer were better able to comprehend care instructions before, during, and after radiotherapy, effectively implemented self-care practices, and reported improved satisfaction with the health education received.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Genre Theory and Film Marketing
Authors: Gheli Vasiliki , Prassa Maria-Angela
Published: January 2025

This article explores the symbiotic relationship between genre theory and film marketing, emphasizing how the integration of genre conventions into marketing strategies enhances audience engagement and box office success. Drawing on Thomas Schatz's theory of cultural ritual, the study examines how genres function as cultural frameworks that reflect and reinforce societal norms. By understanding these frameworks, film marketers can create targeted campaigns that resonate with audiences' expectations and cultural contexts. The paper highlights the dynamic interplay between production, film, and audience, illustrating how recurring genre conventions guide both creative and marketing efforts. Through case studies such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Netflix's "To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before," the article demonstrates the practical application of genre theory in crafting compelling marketing strategies that balance tradition and innovation, ensuring the ongoing relevance and appeal of cinematic genres in a global market.
Improving management of volleyball academies through an investigation in parents’ views about services offered
Authors: Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Nanos Ioannis
Published: January 2025

The investigation and evaluation of the services provided in the field of girls' volleyball academies management in Epirus Region, Greece, reveal an important aspect of the sports community. Through data collection and analysis (sample, n = 195 parents), the positive elements and challenges faced by both the female athletes in this sport and how parents perceive the services provided, whether they are related to the coaches or the area and the condition of the facilities, are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the services provided, while considering how they affect the development and training of young female athletes. Based on the results of this research, the potential for improving training and education programs as well as management of volleyball academies is highlighted, in order to reinforce the dynamics of the region's sports community.
Corporate social responsibility and its influence on consumer behavior
Authors: Syvris Konstantinos , Grose Christos
Published: January 2025

The fast-growing concern with Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility has contributed to an unprecedented growth of non-financial business data. Companies around the world are committed to a more sustainable future and report the impact of their actions on the environmental social and governance criteria. Recent research data emphasizes the pressure that managers undertake by governments and numerous social groups such as investors, interest parties and consumer advocate. Only a few studies, however, have conducted research about business ethics under the customer perspective and whether corporate social responsibility can influence the black box of consumer behavior. For this reason, this study has investigated the purchase intention of 60 Greek customers in order to identify how specific corporate actions aiming at social economic and environmental contribution can impact people's perception and whether such policies can attire additional clients and profit. In fact, results have shown that people tend to support companies that contribute to society as a whole and that unethical and/or illegal actions can pose a negative impact on public's opinion leading to various protests, a phenomenon closely related to cancel culture.
Innovative Roadways: An Exploration of Technological Neophilia, Technophobia, and Media Richness in the Shaping of AI-VR Adoption
Authors: Sougato Das , Biplab Datta
Published: January 2025

This study explores the adoption of AI-VR systems in car sales by extending the UTAUT framework by incorporating technophobia, technological neophilia, perceived benefits, and media richness. Conducted with 401 passenger car sales executives in Kolkata, West Bengal, the analysis employs partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to elucidate complex relationships among variables and their impact on adoption. The results indicate that performance expectancy positively correlates with behavioral intention, whereas effort expectancy lacks significant influence. Social influence minimally affects behavioral intention, contrasting with a positive relationship with perceived benefits. Technological neophilia positively influences behavioral intention, whereas technophobia has a negative impact. Technological neophilia correlates positively with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, media richness, and technophobia. Social influence is positively related to technological neophilia. These findings contribute valuable insights for targeted interventions and significantly enhance our understanding of AI-VR
Apple Vision Pro: A Reddit-Based Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Koukopoulos Anastasios , Farmakis Timoleon , Katiaj Pavlina , Fraidaki Katerina , Kavatha Marina
Published: January 2025

In the digital era, emerging technologies such as Vision Pro are crucial for businesses due to their transformative potential across various industries. As an amalgamation of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), computer vision, and machine learning, Vision Pro technology represents a frontier in the intersection of human-computer interaction, offering innovative solutions and opening up new avenues for value creation in business. Considering the primary stages of this technology, this study aims to explore the spectrum of reactions in Vision Pro, presenting a sentiment analysis of the 'VisionPro' subreddit, a community dedicated to discussing vision technologies. Through sentiment analysis, we could discern patterns that suggest the factors driving positive and negative reactions within the community. This paper sheds light on the specific sentiments prevalent in the 'VisionPro' subreddit and demonstrates the applicability of sentiment analysis in understanding community dynamics in technology-focused online forums. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on public sentiment towards emerging technologies, offering implications for developers, researchers, and enthusiasts engaged in vision technology.
Intercultural application of cinematic techniques in arts marketing of video games for Japanese audiences: the case of the ''Ghost of Tsushima” trailer
Authors: Koutsoumi Christina , Kitsiou Roula , Sifaki Eirini , Makri Katerina
Published: January 2025

The emergence of video games in the 1970s marked a major cultural shift in the entertainment sector, which spread rapidly worldwide and required innovative strategies to ensure global competitiveness (Bernal-Merino, 2016). Among these strategies, video game localisation and transcreation emerged as central methods for adapting video games to different cultural contexts while maintaining their original philosophy and feel. This research explores the complexities of localisation and transcreation through a case study of the special samurai film-style trailer for 'Ghost of Tsushima', an action/adventure video game with themes deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture but developed by Sucker Punch Productions, an American company. Set in feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island, players control Jin Sakai, a samurai warrior who becomes the "Ghost" to defend his homeland using stealth and unconventional tactics.
Sporting Memorabilia, Place Branding and Dark Sports Tourism
Authors: Mavrakis Panagiotis , Apostolakis Alexandros
Published: January 2025

Tourism is a multifaceted phenomenon involving travel for personal or professional purposes,with dark tourism focusing on sites tied to tragic historical events. Dark tourism oftenintersects with sports, where certain organizations are shaped by dramatic events in theirhistories. For instance, the Cypriot football club “Nea Salamina” was deeply affected by theTurkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, which forced its relocation from Famagusta to Larnaca.Events like these influence the identities of sports organizations, which often commemoratesuch tragedies to honor individuals, reflect on their history, or highlight their growth. Recentstudies have explored how sports organizations also use these tragic events for place anddestination branding. They promote travel and cultural interaction by creating relationshipswith certain locations. Football clubs, for example, create themed memorabilia, such asjerseys, that incorporate symbols and narratives from historical tragedies. These productsintroduce tourists to local history by bridging the gap between sports, tourism and darktourism. This study examines the impact of a commemorative football jersey on a localcommunity and a football club's identity, highlighting its broader implications in the sportsand tourism sectors. It also highlights the cultural and economic value of such projects.
Muscarinic receptor agonists and positive allosteric modulators in animal models of psychosis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Siafis Spyridon , Nomura Nobuyuki , Schneider-Thoma Johannes , Bighelli Irene , Bannach-Brown Alexandra , Ramage Fiona J. , Tinsdeall Francesca , Mantas Ioannis , Jauhar Sameer , Natesan Sridhar , Vernon Anthony C. , de Bartolomeis Andrea , Hölter Sabine M. , Drude Natascha I. , Tölch Ulf , Hansen Wulf-Peter , Chiocchia Virginia , Howes Oliver D. , Priller Josef , Macleod Malcolm R. , Salanti Georgia , Leucht Stefan
Published: January 2025

Background Muscarinic receptor agonism and positive allosteric modulation is a promising mechanism of action for treating psychosis, not present in most D2R-blocking antipsychotics. Xanomeline, an M1/M4-preferring agonist, has shown efficacy in late-stage clinical trials, with more compounds being investigated. Therefore, we aim to synthesize evidence on the preclinical efficacy of muscarinic receptor agonists and positive allosteric modulators in animal models of psychosis to provide unique insights and evidence-based information to guide drug development. Methods We plan a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo animal studies comparing muscarinic receptor agonists or positive allosteric modulators with control conditions and existing D2R-blocking antipsychotics in animals subjected to any method that induces behavioural changes of relevance for psychosis. We will identify eligible studies by searching multiple electronic databases. At least two independent reviewers will conduct the study selection and data extraction using prespecified forms and assess the risk of bias with the SYRCLE’s tool. Our primary outcomes include locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition measured with standardized mean differences. We will examine other behavioural readouts of relevance for psychosis as secondary outcomes, such as social interaction and cognitive function. We will synthesize the data using multi-level meta-analysis with a predefined random-effects structure, considering the non-independence of the data. In meta-regressions we will explore potential sources of heterogeneity from a predefined list of characteristics of the animal population, model, and intervention. We will assess the confidence in the evidence considering a self-developed instrument thatconsiders the internal and external validity of the evidence. Protocol registration PROSPERO-ID: CRD42024520914
Policy Brief: Addressing Barriers and Empowering Entrepreneurs in Lebanon.
Authors: Haj Youssef Moustafa , Harakeh Mostafa , Hussein Hiba , Sayour Nagham
Published: January 2025

This policy brief examines the key factors influencing entrepreneurial success in Lebanon, focusing on gender dynamics, socio-cultural barriers, and systemic challenges. Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in Lebanon’s economic growth, innovation, and job creation, yet local entrepreneurs face significant obstacles. These challenges, including high operational costs, political instability, and gender-based discrimination, are compounded by limited access to resources such as funding, networks, and mentorship, particularly for women. The brief draws on data from the MENA Entrepreneurship and Labour Market Survey (MELMS) to provide insights into Lebanon’s entrepreneurial landscape. Based on the findings, this brief highlights the urgent need for targeted policy interventions aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem and addressing gender inequities. The recommendations include increasing awareness of support services, improving access to financial resources, fostering innovation through tech hubs and R&D incentives, and promoting a more inclusive entrepreneurial culture. To address gender-specific barriers, the brief proposes expanding training and mentorship programs tailored for women, along with targeted outreach efforts to bridge the gap in access to information. Strengthening Lebanon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through public-private partnerships, international collaborations, and leveraging the Lebanese diaspora is also critical for driving economic resilience. The proposed recommendations call for the establishment of a National Entrepreneurship Strategy that integrates public institutions, NGOs, and private sector initiatives to foster sustainable growth. By creating a more supportive environment for entrepreneurs, Lebanon can unlock its entrepreneurial potential, driving long-term innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness. This brief aims to inform policymakers, donors, and stakeholders of strategic interventions that can contribute to Lebanon’s economic revitalisation.
Experiences of Students with Disabilities Enrolling in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Arsyad Subu Muhammad , Mottershead Richard , Mahmoud Sallam Ahmed , Maria Dias Jacqueline , Kavumpurath Janisha , Refaat Ahmed Fatma , Hesham Hijazi Heba , Sara Abraham Mini , Mohamed Al Marzouqi Alounoud , Seshan Vidya , Mohammed Elabed Shahd , Rajeh Saifan Ahmad , Azizur Rahman Syed , Al Yateem Nabeel
Published: January 2025

Background Higher education is experiencing an increase in students with disabilities, necessitating considering their interests and well-being when preparing educational services. Students with disabilities make up one of the most significant minority groups among students in terms of diversity. Aims This study explored the experiences of students with disabilities at a university in the United Arab Emirates. It also aimed to understand students with disabilities’ social and academic experiences and the factors affecting their university persistence. Methods We used a descriptive qualitative research approach to understand how students with disabilities experience the phenomenon under study. Twenty-five students participated, chosen via purposeful sampling. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using content analysis. Results We found four themes that emerged from this study: (1) perceptions about the university, (2) socialization and integration, (3) barriers to the university journey, and (4) support for the journey. Conclusion We found that students with disabilities indicated positive and negative perspectives and experiences. We recommend modifying the physical, social, and educational environments to support the education of students with disabilities. Future studies should employ a more varied sample and include academics and students to collect different perspectives while stressing the students’ experiences.
Information security education: a thematic trend analysis
Authors: Rodríguez-Correa Paula Andrea , Valencia-Arias Alejandro , Martínez Rojas Ezequiel , Oré León Aarón , Mellin Rubio Ray Harvey , Vásquez Coronado Manuel Humberto , Jimenez Garcia Jesus Alberto
Published: January 2025

The evolution of information technologies has led to a significant increase in information security risks, underscoring the urgent need for professional education in this field to safeguard organizational data. Publications on this topic highlight the necessity of educating individuals about data security, and their number has grown in recent years. This study aims to identify thematic trends in information security education through a bibliometric analysis based on five research questions, following PRISMA guidelines. Ninety-nine documents from Scopus and Web of Science were analyzed, revealing a quadratic growth, with 2023 as the year of greatest research activity. Prominent contributors such as Von Solms, Safa, and Furnell stand out, along with the journal Computers & Security and the significant influence of the United States in this field. The potential is identified in the following areas: information security culture, media, information security regulations, higher education institutions, information security management, and cybersecurity. The study also identifies gaps and proposes a research agenda to address these gaps.
Effect of botanical powders and the assassin bug, Alloeocranum biannulipes Mont. and Sign. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) against Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) infesting yam chips
Authors: LOKO Yêyinou Laura Estelle , TOFFA Joelle , DJEGBE Innocent , VODOUNNON Armand , SINZOGAN Antonio , SAHAYARAJ Kitherian , TAMO Manuele
Published: January 2025

Background Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is the main pest of stored dried yam chips that causes significant losses in less than 3 months. The assassin bug, Alloeocranum biannulipes (Montrouzier & Signoret) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and the African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae)), the ackee (Blighia sapida K. Koenig (Sapindaceae)), and bridelia (Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (Euphorbiaceae)) leaf powders have proven to be efficient in the control of this pest. Methods This study aims to evaluate the compatibility of the leaf powders of these medicinal plants and the predator A. biannulipes in the integrated management of D. porcellus under laboratory and farm conditions. Various leaf powders were tested at a concentration of 6% (w/w) with or without the predator. Infested yam chips without any treatment served as negative control and those mixed with a synthetic insecticide as positive control. The mortality rate of D. porcellus was recorded under laboratory conditions. While, the dynamic population of D. porcellus, their damage, and weight loss of yam chips were recorded 8 weeks after treatment under farm conditions. Results The results revealed that no combination of leaf powders and predators could induce complete mortality of D. porcellus like the synthetic insecticide. No significant difference in terms of the survival of A. biannulipes exposed to botanical powders was observed compared to the positive control. Under farm conditions, B. ferruginea leaf powder showed a sub-lethal effect on the predator A. biannulipes and no impact on the abundance of D. porcellus. However, the survival of D. porcellus was significantly reduced by the combination of K. senegalensis leaf powder and A. biannulipes, which did not allow the reproduction of the predator. Conclusions Our results suggest that an augmentative biological control program with the release of A. biannulipes after the introduction of K. senegalensis leaf powder is practicable for the management of D. porcellus in yam chips.
Kas Suvesõda või sõjasuvi? / Summer War or Summer of War?
Authors: Kaasik Peeter
Published: January 2025

The term ‘Summer War’ is used extensively to refer to events that took place in Estonian territory in the summer of war in 1941. This term is used in various meanings in both narrower and broader frameworks in historical literature in reference to events that took place in the summer of 1941. The objective of this article is to explain how the term originated, what it comprises, and to suggest possibilities for how it could be used.
Expatriate Estonian authors extensively adopted the term ‘Summer War’ in the 1950s and it found application as the Estonians’ ‘own war’ that is clearly distinguishable within the framework of the Second World War. More precisely, the Republic of Estonia and its armed forces existed de facto in the summer of war in 1941 and the Estonians’ ‘own war’ was fought in reality and in alliance with the German Army. There was nothing new in this and that point of view relies to a great extent on propaganda from the time of the German occupation of Estonia. The Wehrmacht was admittedly the ‘liberator’ yet the narrative of the heroism and suffering of Estonians was central. The term ‘Second War of Independence’ was already used during the German occupation to refer to this narrative. The one-sided style of this approach, which relied on propaganda directed by the occupying authorities and on the memoirs of participants, can at times create the impression as if Estonians themselves (with assistance from the Germans) liberated their country. And one can come across such an angle of approach even nowadays, regardless of the fact that without the success of the German forces, there would also have been no resistance in such form.
In summary, we could ask how to use the term ‘Summer War’ and what it should comprise. In its broader meaning, everything that took place in Estonia starting from the beginning of the war between the Soviet Union and Germany until Estonian territory ultimately fell under the control of the German occupying authorities in the autumn of 1941 (in the interests of differentiation it would nevertheless be more expedient to use the term ‘Summer War’) could fit in under the general term ‘Summer War’. The armed resistance put up by Estonians fits in under the term ‘Summer War’ in its narrower meaning. Yet here I would certainly recommend to avoid mixing up the armed resistance put up by Estonians and the offensive of the German forces. Military contributions should nevertheless be assessed in accordance with proportions.
Intraday Market Return Predictability Culled from the Factor Zoo
Authors: Aleti Saketh , Bollerslev Tim , Siggaard Mathias
Published: January 2025

We provide strong empirical evidence for time-series predictability of the intraday return on the aggregate market portfolio by exploiting lagged high-frequency cross-sectional returns on the factor zoo. Our results rely on the use of modern machine-learning techniques to regularize the predictive regressions and help tame the signals stemming from the zoo together with techniques from financial econometrics to differentiate between continuous and theoretically nonpredictable discontinuous high-frequency price increments. Using the predictions from the model estimated for the aggregate market portfolio in the formulation of simple intraday trading strategies for a set of highly liquid ETFs results in sizeable out-of-sample Sharpe ratios and alphas after accounting for transaction costs. Further dissecting the abnormal intraday returns, we find that most of the superior performance may be traced to periods of high economic uncertainty and a few key factors related to tail risk and liquidity, pointing to slow-moving capital and the gradual incorporation of new information as the underlying mechanisms at work.

This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.01657 .
Health promotion and premarital education for Adolescents on Instagram @siapnikah_official
Authors: Lisnarini Naurah , Setianti Yanti , Ade muhtya Gobel Sry , Febri Erlianti Safitri Wafiq
Published: January 2025

Adolescent reproductive health and marriage readiness remains a significant issue in Indonesia, where one in nine girls marry before the age of 18, often with adverse health, social and educational impacts. To address these challenges, innovative approaches are needed, including the use of social media to provide easily accessible premarital education and health promotion. This research examines the role of the Instagram account @siapnikah_official in improving adolescent health literacy and preparing young individuals for marriage through digital engagement. This research aims to explore how @siapnikah_official provides premarital education, engages its audience, and promotes health awareness among teenagers. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, this study collected data through in-depth interviews and content analysis of the account's posts, stories, and interactive features. The findings show that @siapnikah_official effectively uses Instagram features to disseminate important health information, encourage interactive learning, and promote positive behavior change. The use of visually appealing content, easy-to-understand stories, and active audience engagement strategies have contributed significantly to its success in addressing issues such as early marriage and reproductive health literacy. However, challenges remain, particularly in measuring audience acceptance and assessing the long-term impact of its health promotion efforts. This study underscores the potential of digital platforms as tools for strategic health communication and adolescent education. This study highlights the importance of integrating social media into public health initiatives to address pressing social issues, paving the way for further research on optimizing digital interventions for sustainable outcomes.
The effect of insurance type on Medicare functional outcomes in skilled nursing facilities: a secondary data analysis
Authors: Kroll Christine , Martin Tara , Menke Brenna , West Anne Mari , Wilkins Faith , Woo Madison
Published: January 2025

Background/Aims

Section GG consists of Medicare developed functional outcome assessments used in all post-acute care interdisciplinary assessments. This study used Section GG functional performance measures to evaluate correlations between rehabilitation treatment time, patient self-care and mobility outcomes to assess the significance of functional outcome measures in post-acute care settings considering the current reimbursement system, type of medical insurance (Medicare or Medicare Advantage) and length of stay.

Methods

A secondary analysis was undertaken of a medical dataset collected from 93 skilled nursing facilities in the mid-west region of the USA (n=1352) using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 27.0). Descriptive statistics were used to find differences related to the type of insurance. General linear regressions were used to discover significant relationships among functional scores and the independent variables.

Results

The study identified relationships between insurance type, length of treatment and diagnostic category in a skilled nursing facility based on Medicare beneficiaries. There was a significant positive relationship between insurance and length of treatment where patients with Medicare had more treatment days in therapy as a result of a longer stay (mean days: 22) than those with Medicare Advantage Plans (mean days: 15) (P=0.001). The data showed a positive correlation between length of treatment and self-care and mobility functional outcomes (P=0.01).

Conclusions

The study found that changes in reimbursement systems led to reduced provision of therapy services, making the length of therapy treatment during the stay a critical factor. Functional outcome changes were higher among Medicare beneficiaries as measured by standardised Section GG measurements in post-acute care, compared with Medicare Advantage Plans, with length of treatment being a strong differentiator.

Implications for practice

This study highlights the importance of the type of Medicare insurance and the effect it will have on patients' functional outcomes as affected by the length of stay. Those patients with traditional Medicare have a statistically longer length of stay and thus higher functional outcomes on discharge, improving chances for a safe and sustainable return to the community. Those clients with a Medicare Advantage plan may need more intensive therapy (more time per session) to make the same functional gains before being discharged.
Perceptions of physiotherapists about virtual reality using exergames in cardiovascular rehabilitation: a qualitative study
Authors: da Cruz Mayara Moura Alves , de Melo Ghisi Gabriela Lima , Grigoletto Isis , Vanzella Lais Manata , da Cruz Murilo Reis Alves , Gonzaga Luana Almeida , Franco Marcia Rodrigues , Vanderlei Luiz Carlos Marques
Published: January 2025

Background/Aims

Cardiovascular rehabilitation is a secondary preventative care model for outpatients. Despite its benefits, cardiac rehabilitation is greatly underused. Virtual reality‑based therapy could be a complementary treatment for traditional cardiac rehabilitation which promotes physical activity, enhancing motivation and increasing adherence to rehabilitation programmes. This qualitative study examined physiotherapists' perceptions toward using virtual reality‑based therapy based on exergames as part of cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

Methods

This qualitative study used focus groups to evaluate the perceptions of nine physiotherapists who have used virtual reality‑based therapy with exergames in cardiac rehabilitation.

Results

Participants' attitudes towards virtual reality‑based therapy were overall positive, and found it could improve patients' adherence to a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Barriers to VRBT were also identified, including technical difficulties, patients being insecure about using a new therapeutic modality and managing the level of effort during the session. Suggestions for improvements included training for clinical staff, and having a introductory session for patients to help get used to the therapy and to find out what games they would prefer to play.

Conclusions

Virtual reality‑based therapy can provide a change from the traditional treatment routine; however, there are some barriers, including potential safety concerns and technical issues. Feedback on haemodynamic parameters and identification of signs and symptoms of a cardiac event could be incorporated into games made specifically for patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.

Implications for practice

Finding different ways to engage patients is needed. Based on the perceptions of physiotherapists from this study, VRBT could be one of the solutions to reach these goals for patients receiving cardiac rehabilitation.
Palliative care: a narrative review of information barriers faced by paramedics
Authors: Harding Elin , Sivell Stephanie , Pease Nikki
Published: January 2025

Background:

Electronic palliative care coordination systems (EPaCCS) can provide a solution to support paramedic staff. It is important to understand what needs to be in place to maximise benefits and avoid harms when providing end-of-life care (EoLC).

Aims:

To review the evidence of what is currently known about the challenges of paramedics delivering high quality EoLC, and the current use of EPaCCS.

Methods:

Narrative review of the literature, focusing on the views and opinions of ambulance emergency staff referring to palliative and EoLC and/or current use and views of EPaCCS.

Findings:

The authors included five qualitative studies, addressing three themes: lack of access to patient information; proposed electronic solution; content of electronic system.

Conclusion:

EPaCCS can support ambulance-based emergency staff with EoLC. Research is required to identify the format that information should take within the EPaCCS and the essential content needed to inform staff decision-making.
Interprofessional education
Authors: Wyatt Dan
Published: January 2025

With International Day of Education taking place on 24 January, Dan Wyatt discusses the importance of interprofessional education and his recent daunting but invaluable experiences of engaging with it through the simulation team at Keele University.
Improving the optical properties of perovskite solar cells: utilizing two-dimensional grating and nanoparticle arrays
Authors: Tavakkoli-Kakhki Amirali , Asadollahzadeh Amirreza , Naqavi Ali
Published: January 2025

We study the effect of different optical phenomena on perovskite solar cells and present a light-trapping scheme to establish relative symmetry at different angles of incidence. The Fabry–Perot resonance, plasmonic effects, and guided mode excitation are used in this research. The scheme consists of two-dimensional grating and nanoparticle arrays to enhance light trapping inside the structure. We explain the optical effects that occur in the structure with theoretical frameworks and also validate our theoretical expectations with simulation results. Our proposed structure produces higher photocurrent at most incident angles than other reference structures.
High-sensitivity plasmonic refractive index sensor based on embedded gratings with triple self-reference characteristics
Authors: Rao Xijun , Zhu Huirong , Wang Xiangxian , Chen Yizhen , Qi Yunping , Yang Hua
Published: January 2025

To enhance the sensitivity and precision in detecting the refractive index of substances in complex environments, we propose a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. This sensor features an embedded grating composite structure with triple self-reference characteristics. The design incorporates a gold nanograting encased within a magnesium fluoride (MgF2) film, coupled with a gold thin film. This configuration enables the excitation of two localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes within the MgF2 film, providing self-referential properties. The surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode, excited by the grating coupling structure, penetrates the MgF2 film and exhibits high sensitivity to analytes. Another SPP mode, which serves as a reference, interacts effectively with the substrate material, enhancing the sensor’s self-referential capabilities. This embedded grating structure facilitates high-sensitivity detection of both gas and liquid analytes, achieving sensitivities of up to 1222nmRIU−1 and 1269nmRIU−1, respectively. The sensor’s three self-reference channels have sensitivities of 0, 0, and 16nmRIU−1 for gases and 0, 9, and 37nmRIU−1 for liquids, making it a valuable tool for precise and sensitive measurement of refractive indices under challenging conditions.
High-fidelity holographic beam shaping with optimal transport and phase diversity
Authors: Swan Hunter , Torchylo Andrii , Van de Graaff Michael J. , Rudolph Jan , Hogan Jason M.
Published: January 2025

A phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) provides a powerful way to shape laser beams into arbitrary intensity patterns but at the cost of a hard computational problem of determining an appropriate SLM phase. Here, we show that optimal transport methods can generate approximate solutions to this problem that serve as excellent initializations for iterative phase retrieval algorithms, yielding vortex-free solutions with superior accuracy and efficiency. Additionally, we show that analogous algorithms can be used to measure the intensity and phase of the input beam incident upon the SLM via phase diversity imaging. These techniques furnish flexible and convenient solutions to the computational challenges of beam shaping with an SLM.
Predicting Chern numbers in photonic crystals using generative adversarial network-based data augmentation
Authors: Sun Ao , Wu Haotian , Guo Jingxuan , Zong Cheng , Huang Zhong , Chen Jing
Published: January 2025

The Chern number is the core of topological photonics, which is used to describe the topological properties of photonic crystals and other optical systems to realize the functional transmission and the control of photons within materials. However, the calculation process of Chern numbers is complex and time-consuming. To address this issue, we use the deep learning accompanied with Maxwell’s equations to predict the Chern number of a two-dimensional photonic crystal with a square lattice in this paper. We propose a numerical-to-image generative adversarial networks (GANs) augmentation method to solve the problem of insufficient training data. Our method demonstrates excellent predictive performance on the test dataset, achieving an average accuracy of 92.25%. Besides that, the proposed data augmentation method can significantly improve the accuracy of Chern number predictions by 7.95%, compared with the method that did not use this approach. This method offers what we believe to be a novel solution to the challenge of limited numerical data samples in deep learning applications like complex calculations of physical quantities. It may also have certain potential to improve deep learning algorithms in other fields of science and engineering.
Integrating thermal and anatomical imaging for thyroid 3D modeling
Authors: de Souza Mauren Abreu , Luna Romero Santiago Felipe , Fernandes Beatriz Luci , Ribeiro Izabelly Mucholowski , Barberio Alice Blazquez , Sanches Ionildo José
Published: January 2025

Thermal imaging from an infrared camera is valuable in diagnosing thyroid-related disorders by detecting temperature variations. This study presents a methodology, 3D THERMO-SCAN, to visualize 3D models of dysfunctional thyroids of volunteers, integrating thermal and anatomical images. Thermal images were complemented by computed tomography (CT) scans and processed with MIMICS software. Using structure from motion (SfM) and scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithms, dense 3D point clouds were generated and aligned with anatomical models using MeshLab. Comprehensive 3D visualization was achieved through MeVisLab, combining thermal textures with internal anatomical structures. This cost-effective and replicable technique offers significant potential for medical diagnostics.
Single-pixel computational spectrometer based on nonlinear spectrum modulation
Authors: Yang Wenqing , Gao Kong , Yuan Jie , Li Xianye , Jiang Wenjie , Li Dechun , Liu Yizhou , Sun Baoqing
Published: January 2025

Computational spectroscopy with modulated light spectrum is especially well-suited for application scenarios where active illumination is needed. Most of the existing computational spectroscopy, however, uses ambient illumination and modulates the signal spectrum that is reflected or transmitted from objects, mainly because of the lack of a light source with effective spectrum modulation. Here, we present a novel computational spectrometer featuring light-source spectrum modulation achieved through polarization-induced nonlinear spectrum modulation, offering a compact and low-cost system apparatus. The modulated spectrum can evolve periodically by managing polarization-induced nonlinear phase as well as pump power, within the range from 1000 nm to 1100 nm. Combining wavelength multiplexing and compressed sensing, we can achieve a minimum spectral resolution of 0.2 nm, which is comparable to the commercial spectrometer. The utilized objects with sparse and non-sparse spectra are successfully reconstructed both in simulation and experiment, within an effective reconstruction spectral range from 1021 nm to 1077 nm.
273.6 Tbit/s real-time S + C + L-band same-wavelength bidirectional wavelength division multiplexing transmission in anti-resonant hollow-core fiber
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wang Yaqin , Wu Yan , Luo Ming , He Qingyu , Qiu Ying , Luan Yancai , Yu Wenhai , Du Ping , Li Chao , He Zhixue , Ding Wei , Xiao Xi , Li Hanbing , Yu Shaohua
Published: January 2025

Based on its ultra-low backscattering characteristic, anti-resonant hollow-core fiber is a good medium for bidirectional transmission, which means that the wavelengths of the transmission channels are the same in both directions. In this Letter, we present the first, to the best of our knowledge, demonstration of S + C + L-band same-wavelength bidirectional transmission in an anti-resonant hollow-core fiber. By using a commercial real-time coherent optical transceivers and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source, a total net throughput of 273.6 Tbit/s is achieved over 1.4 km nested anti-resonant nodeless fiber (NANF) with 19.65 THz bandwidth and bidirectional wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission. Commercial 400 G, 1 T, and 800 G optical modules are employed in the S-band, C-band, and L-band, respectively. We experimentally evaluate the same-wavelength bidirectional WDM transmission performance by verifying 2 × 102 channels of 68 Gbaud probabilistically constellation-shaped (PCS) 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) in the S-band with 75 GHz grid, 2 × 48 channels of 118 Gbaud PCS-64QAM in a C-band with 125 GHz grid and 2 × 60 channels of 91.6 Gbaud PCS-64QAM in the L-band with 100 GHz grid. All 420 test channels could satisfy the bit error ratio (BER) requirements. The result shows great potential for same-wavelength bidirectional WDM transmission in an anti-resonant hollow-core fiber.
BaGa4Se7-based 7−15 µm tunable broadband optical parametric amplifier pumped around 2 µm
Authors: Hu Zhixuan , Gu Xingbin , Yao Jiyong , Yuan Peng , Zhang Dongfang , Wang Jing , Xie Guoqiang , Qian Liejia , Ma Jingui
Published: January 2025

The non-oxide BaGa4Se7 (BGSe) crystal with broad transparency range, large nonlinearity, and high damage threshold has been widely utilized to build optical parametric oscillators/amplifiers that convert the well-developed near-infrared pump laser around 1 µm into the developing mid-infrared radiation. However, the inherent narrow phase-matching bandwidth of BGSe with a pump around 1 µm hampers the generation of ultrashort mid-infrared pulses. Here, we demonstrate that by pumping the BGSe crystal around 2 µm, it is possible to achieve a sufficient phase-matching bandwidth to support ultrashort pulses across a broad mid-infrared spectral range. In the experiments, two synchronized 1 kHz optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification sources centered at 2.35 µm and 3.1 µm are used to pump and seed a BGSe-based optical parametric amplifier, generating 52 µJ sub-four-cycle pulses at 9.7 µm. The central wavelength of the generated mid-infrared pulse can be tuned from 7 to 15 µm by finely adjusting the pump and seed wavelengths as well as the crystal orientation. These results reveal the enormous potential and bright prospects of BGSe for generating ultrashort intense pulses in the long-wave infrared region.