bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of athlete performance and brand social value on product involvement: a mediation role of celebrity endorsement in social media
Authors: Jiang Nan , Khong Kok Wei , Gan Jen Ling , Turner Jason James , Teng ShaSha , Xavier Jesrina Ann
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Nowadays, star athletes are global brand personalities. The increased popularity of the professional sport has contributed to elevating exceptional athletes to international star status. This empirical study aims to assess the impact of athlete performance and brand social value on product involvement with the mediation effect of celebrity athlete endorsement.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey was conducted with 399 Chinese participants. PLS-SEM is adopted to examine the associated paths and the mediating effect of celebrity endorsement.

Findings

The results demonstrate the significant impact of athlete performance and brand social value on product involvement. Celebrity endorsement partially mediates the effects of athlete performance and brand social value on product involvement.

Originality/value

This study extends understanding of celebrity athlete endorsement and provides insight into the strategic implications for Chinese social media-based marketing initiatives in the context of the recent Olympic Game in Tokyo 2021.
Effectiveness of environmental claims in preventing food waste: exploring consumer perspectives toward suboptimal food
Authors: Chang Hsiu-Hua
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Since a significant source of food waste on the consumer end is the reluctance to purchase or consume imperfect products, it is vital for businesses to learn how to affiliate their products with social and ecological causes. This study explores whether firms' communication of suboptimal food information to reduce food waste affects consumer perceptions and behaviors based on social exchange theory.

Design/methodology/approach

A factorial between-subjects experiment designed with 4 (environmental claims) × 3 (suboptimal food) is used to design 12 scenarios. The measurement scales of variables are adapted from the literature. ANCOVA and structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses were performed to test study hypotheses using a total of 745 valid samples collected via a web-based questionnaire after testing manipulation checks, reliability and validity.

Findings

Among the four types of environmental claims, product orientation and environmental fact claims improve consumers' attitudes, ethical judgments and purchase intentions toward suboptimal food. The effect of ethical judgments on purchase intention is higher than that of attitudes. Additionally, purchase intention is a vital predictor of sustainable consumption and plays a significant mediating role between the variables.

Originality/value

The findings of this study address gaps in the literature, which lacks investigations into the effects of communication information about suboptimal food on consumer attitudes and behaviors. Unlike traditional questionnaires using scale items to measure independent variables, the quasi-experimental design with stimulus materials used in this study can reveal the varied effects of different environmental claims.
The MNE as the “crown of creation”?: a commentary on mainstream theories of multinational enterprises
Authors: Forsgren Mats , Yamin Mo
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyse what theories assume about multinational enterprises (MNEs) when they claim these are superior and to discuss possible explanations for why MNE superiority seems to be dominant in the international business (IB) research field.

Design/methodology/approach

A common theme in mainstream IB theories is that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are superior in terms of cost efficiency and innovativeness compared with other types of organizations. A closer look at transaction cost economics (TCE)/internalization theory, evolutionary theory and dynamic capability theory reveal a bias toward MNE supremacy because of how MNEs are conceptualized as firms and therefore fail to explain the essence of “multinational advantage”. These revelations and the strong dependence on the benevolence to provide unbiased data means that MNE supremacy posited by mainstream IB theories is as much a rationalized myth as an empirical fact.

Findings

Although mainstream theories differ when it comes to the building blocks that constitute MNE supremacy, they have one attribute in common: they are silent as to why MNEs are superior compared with, for example, domestic firms or other types of economic agents. Irrespective of whether the focus is the strength of the hierarchy, the skill of managers or a common identity, nothing in the theories tells us that these factors are more pronounced in MNEs than in other types of economic actors.

Originality/value

The paper deals with the issue of multinational advantage. It claims that mainstream theories of MNEs tend to assume, explicitly or implicitly, that MNEs are superior in terms of cost efficiency and innovativeness compared with other types of economic agents. The analysis demonstrates that this tendency is a consequence of how MNEs are conceptualized as firms in the different theories as well as of the strong dependence in IB research on the benevolence of MNEs to provide unbiased data. It is concluded that MNE supremacy posited by mainstream IB theories is as much a rationalized myth as an empirical fact.
Assessing the value of supply chain management in the humanitarian context – An evidence-based research approach
Authors: Stumpf Jonas , Besiou Maria , Wakolbinger Tina
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The research objective is to study the relevance of supply chain management in the humanitarian context, analyze supply chain expenditures and identify major cost-saving potentials and future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

Our research design integrates exploratory and inductive research approaches that are based on existing literature, discussions with supply chain leaders and extensive financial data collected through field studies.

Findings

Supply chain management is increasingly considered as a critical success factor for humanitarian operations and amounts on average to around 75% of the total response cost. Based on our findings, humanitarian supply chains bear tremendous potential for further improvements to provide more assistance with limited resources available.

Research limitations/implications

In particular, humanitarian supply chains in conflict situations and procurement processes offer potential for impactful and relevant research. Whilst our study focuses on international organizations, future research should give more attention to supply chain cost structures of local actors to reveal further untapped potential.

Practical implications

Our findings equipped supply chain leaders with fact-based evidence of the value of supply chain management and supported them in strategic meetings with their executive management and donors. Furthermore, we identified major cost-saving potentials.

Social implications

For researchers (and practitioners), our findings serve as motivation to intensify their efforts in studying and enhancing supply chain management in the humanitarian context.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study and provide empirical evidence of the value of supply chain management in the humanitarian context.
From servant to survivor: multimodal public service media narratives and restaurant industry identity during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nyqvist Frida , Lundgren-Henriksson Eva-Lena
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore how an industry is represented in multimodal public media narratives and to explore how this representation subsequently affects the formation of public sense-giving space during a persisting crisis, such as a pandemic. The question asked is: how do the use of multimodality by public service media dynamically shape representations of industry identity during a persisting crisis?

Design/methodology/approach

This study made use of a multimodal approach. The verbal and visual media text on the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic that were published in Finland by the public service media distributor Yle were studied. Data published between March 2020 and March 2022 were analysed. The data consisted of 236 verbal texts, including 263 visuals.

Findings

Three narratives were identified– victim, servant and survivor – that construct power relations and depict the identity of the restaurant industry differently. It was argued that multimodal media narratives hold three meaning making functions: sentimentalizing, juxtaposing and nuancing industry characteristics. It was also argued that multimodal public service media narratives have wider implications in possibly shaping the future attractiveness of the industry and organizational members' understanding of their identity.

Originality/value

This research contributes to sensemaking literature in that it explores the role of power – explicitly or implicitly constructed through media narratives during crisis. Furthermore, this research contributes to sensemaking literature in that it shows how narratives take shape multimodally during a continuous crisis, and how this impacts the construction of industry identity.
Responsible innovation assessment tools: a systematic review and research agenda
Authors: Guimarães Cristina , Amorim Vasco , Almeida Fernando
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Responsible innovation assessment tools (RIATs) are key instruments that can help organizations, associations and individuals measure responsible innovation. Accordingly, this study aims to review the current status of research on responsible innovation and, in particular, of studies that either present the relevance of RIATs or provide empirical evidence of their adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review is conducted to identify and review how RIATs are being addressed in academic research and the applications that are proposed. A systematic process is implemented using the Web of Science and Scopus bibliographic databases, aiming not only to summarize existing studies, but also to include a perspective on gaps and future research.

Findings

A total of 119 publications were identified and included in the review process. The study identifies that RIATs have attracted growing interest from the scientific community, with a greater predominance of studies involving qualitative and mixed methods. A well-balanced mix of conceptual and exploratory studies is also registered, with a greater predominance of analysis of RIATs application domains in the past years, with greater incidence in the finance, water, energy, construction, manufacturing and health sectors.

Originality/value

This study is pioneering in identifying 16 dimensions and 60 sub-dimensions for measuring responsible innovation. It also suggests the need to include multidimensional perspectives and individuals with interdisciplinary competencies in this process.
Updated analysis of nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy in Japanese patients with advanced melanoma
Authors: Takahashi Akira , Namikawa Kenjiro , Ogata Dai , Jinnai Shunichi , Nakano Eiji , Yamazaki Naoya
Published: December 2022

The efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab (N + I) combination therapy for Japanese patients with advanced unresectable melanoma was re‐evaluated in clinical practice. One hundred Japanese patients with advanced melanoma were included. The overall response rate was 24%; complete response (CR), 6%; partial response, 18%. The response rates were 33.3% in the systemic therapy‐naïve and 15.4% in the prior‐treatment groups, and 16.1% for patients who were treated with first‐line anti‐programmed death 1 antibody monotherapy followed by second‐line N + I therapy after progression of the disease. The response rate for cutaneous melanoma was 32.7%, and 47.8% in the naïve group. Response rates for non‐acral, acral, and mucosal melanoma were 34.9%, 25%, and 16.7%, respectively. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) for all patients was 3.25 months (6.5 and 2.5 months in the naïve and prior‐treatment groups, respectively). Median overall survival (OS) was 14.5 months (25.25 and 7.5 months in the naïve and prior‐treatment groups, respectively). There were no significant differences in PFS or OS for patients with non‐acral, acral, or mucosal melanoma. The 3‐year PFS and OS were both 100% in patients who achieved CR with combination therapy. Adverse events occurred in 89% and were grade three or higher in 56% of cases. Although direct comparisons cannot be made due to different patient backgrounds, N + I combination therapy in Japanese patients in clinical practice tended to be inferior when compared to global study and non‐Asian patients in clinical practice. The highest response rate was in the cutaneous melanoma therapy‐naïve group. The best tumor response was associated with survival outcome, and the PFS and OS were good in cases where CR was obtained. The proportion of grade three and four adverse events was as high as that in the global study.
Complicity: Methodologies of power, politics and the ethics of knowledge production
Authors: Hollin Gregory , Williams Ros
Published: December 2022

In this collection we develop the concept of “complicity” as a means to understand how medical sociologists might be allied in unexpected or uncomfortable ways with dominant structures of power. After giving examples of complicity from our own research, we introduce existing scholarship on complicity, describing it as a concept that comes coupled with a sense of responsibility and that is related to, yet distinct from, a range of other terms including reflexivity, collusion, guilt, and shame. We also discuss how complicity has been described to occur at the level of the institution, within theoretical frameworks, and during mundane moments that we face on a day‐to‐day basis. Building on this review, we hypothesise that medical sociology – where access to fieldsites is often hard won, where “researching up” in medical and scientific institutions is common, and where our own work frequently concerns matters central to medical institutions themselves – is a discipline wherein mundane complicity is likely. Following this gathering exercise, we introduce the interventions that comprise this collection: interventions from a diversity of sociologists of health and illness who, perhaps for the first time in written form, account for how complicities of various kinds came to shape their work and how, with varying levels of success, they have sought redress. We close by offering some insight into the process of developing this collection, celebrating its successes while also acknowledging that many gaps and complicities remain.
Exploring the feasibility of smartglass facilitated remote supervision in the emergency department: A simulation study
Authors: McTavish Arthur , Larsen Peter , Rogan Alice , Carlin Emma , Lynch Matthew , Peckler Brad
Published: December 2022

Objective

Smartglasses are a wearable computer technology that has potential to facilitate remote supervision to junior doctors working in different clinical settings. The present study aimed to explore the feasibility of smartglass technology to enable remote supervision of junior clinicians by senior clinicians during emergency simulation scenarios.

Methods

This was a feasibility simulation study using high‐fidelity mannequins and standardised patients. Trainee interns (TIs) and supervising clinicians (SCs) were invited to participate in two scenarios: a trauma case and a stroke case. There was a pre‐sim questionnaire. The TI wore the smartglasses in a simulated ED bay and performed patient assessment and management. Remote supervision was provided by the SC via a livestream on a remote computer. Upon completion, participants completed a survey regarding their experience comprising of Likert scale and free‐text questions.

Results

Fifteen TIs and 19 SCs participated. In general feedback from TIs and SCs was positive. TIs were able to identify and treat the key diagnostic problems set during the scenarios. Free‐text survey responses provided specific feedback about what did and did not work when using the glasses.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that smartglasses facilitated remote assistance has promise as an emergent technology and warrants further investigation in simulated and non‐simulated environments.
Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents in Germany from 2002 to 2020: A study based on electronic health record data from the DPV registry
Authors: Stahl‐Pehe Anna , Kamrath Clemens , Prinz Nicole , Kapellen Thomas , Menzel Ulrike , Kordonouri Olga , Schwab K. Otfried , Bechtold‐Dalla Pozza Susanne , Rosenbauer Joachim , Holl Reinhard W.
Published: December 2022

Background

To provide estimates of the nationwide prevalence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in individuals younger than 20 years of age in Germany from 2002 to 2020 and to identify trends.

Methods

Data were obtained from the electronic health record “Diabetes Prospective Follow‐up Registry (DPV)” specific to diabetes care. Prevalence was estimated based on prevalent cases at the end of each year for the years 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020 per 100 000 persons assuming a Poisson distribution and directly age‐ and/or sex‐standardized to the population in 2020. Individuals younger than 20 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of T1D or 10–19‐year‐olds with T2D were eligible for inclusion in the study.

Results

The standardized T1D prevalence per 100 000 persons was 138.9 (95% CI: 137.1; 140.6) in 2002 and 245.6 (243.1; 248.0) in 2020. The standardized T2D prevalence per 100 000 persons was 3.4 (3.1; 3.8) in 2002 and 10.8 (10.1; 11.5) in 2020. The annual percent change (APC) in prevalence declined over the three periods 2002–2008/2008–2014/2014–2020 (T1D: 6.3% [3.6%; 9.0%]/3.1% [0.7%; 5.5%]/0.5% [−1.7%; 2.85], T2D: 12.3% [5.3%; 20.8%]/4.7% [−0.6%; 10.3%]/3.0% [−1.8%; 8.0%]). From 2014 to 2020, the highest APCs were observed among 15–19‐year‐olds (T1D: 2.5% [1.3%; 3.6%], T2D: 3.4% [−0.5%; 7.5%]).

Conclusions

The increase in diabetes prevalence has slowed, but medical care should be prepared for an increase in adolescents with diabetes.
Organising Thinking about Disinflation Policy*
Authors: Pol Eduardo
Published: December 2022

This paper offers a plain model to organise thinking about the disinflation policy. It exploits the insight that monetary and fiscal policy are intertwined. The model links inflationary expectations, monetary policy and fiscal policy, and contemplates a disinflation policy consisting of two plans, not necessarily connected: a monetary plan and a fiscal plan. The central question examined is which type of policy generates a lower policy interest rate – a monetary plan without fiscal cooperation or a monetary plan with fiscal austerity? The economic logic articulated by the model generates the following answer: the equilibrium policy rate set by the central bank can always be brought down by reducing the budget deficit. This qualitatively unambiguous prediction may be dependent on silent omissions, which are briefly discussed at the end of the paper.
Looking for your cross‐group friends after the breakout? Children's intergroup contact behaviours before and after the onset of COVID‐19
Authors: Bagci Sabahat Cigdem , Yalcin Faruk Tayyip , Turnuklu Abbas , Vezzali Loris , Tercan Mustafa , Yilmaz Aysenur Didem
Published: December 2022

While COVID‐19 implications for prejudice have been investigated among adults in previous research, children's intergroup reactions to the pandemic and specifically how native children's contact behaviours with refugees might have changed after the pandemic has not been examined yet. Drawing on a unique longitudinal school dataset (N = 861, 5th graders, Mage reported at T1 = 10.38, SD = 0.68) collected before the onset of the pandemic (T1, pre‐lockdown), after the onset of the pandemic (T2, post‐lockdown), and 6 months after the post‐lockdown (T3, follow‐up) in Turkey, we examined how children's contact behaviour (positive and negative contact), contact motivation (self‐efficacy and volition), as well as behavioural tendencies (approach and avoidance) have shifted during this period (2.5 years). We observed a consistent pattern of improvement in contact behaviours demonstrated by increases in positive contact variables and decreases in negative contact variables particularly from T1 to T2. The change in some positive contact variables was stable for 6 months, while negative contact and avoidance rapidly regressed to the baseline during the normalization period (T3). The boosting effect of the pandemic was particularly pronounced among children who displayed greater prejudice towards refugees before the pandemic. Findings contribute to the growing research literature delineating the potential benefits of COVID‐19 at the collective level.
Stochastic Time‐Series Analyses Highlight the Day‐To‐Day Dynamics of Lexical Frequencies
Authors: Holdaway Cameron , Piantadosi Steven T.
Published: December 2022

Standard models in quantitative linguistics assume that word usage follows a fixed frequency distribution, often Zipf's law or a close relative. This view, however, does not capture the near daily variations in topics of conversation, nor the short‐term dynamics of language change. In order to understand the dynamics of human language use, we present a corpus of daily word frequency variation scraped from online news sources every 20 min for more than 2 years. We construct a simple time‐varying model with a latent state, which is observed via word frequency counts. We use Bayesian techniques to infer the parameters of this model for 20,000 words, allowing us to convert complex word‐frequency trajectories into low‐dimensional parameters in word usage. By analyzing the inferred parameters of this model, we quantify the relative mobility and drift of words on a day‐to‐day basis, while accounting for sampling error. We quantify this variation and show evidence against “rich‐get‐richer” models of word use, which have been previously hypothesized to explain statistical patterns in language.
Application issue of anthraquinonoid vat dyes on inherently flame‐resistant fabrics
Authors: Glogar Martinia , Pušić Tanja , Lovreškov Veronika , Kaurin Tea , Sutlović Ana
Published: December 2022

The vat dyeing process of specific fabrics with protective, inherently fire retardant properties that have a high content of aramid fibres in their composition, is presented. The research was performed on fabric samples that differ in raw material composition and aramid content. The samples were dyed in raw form (group 1) as well as after pretreatment with alkaline scouring (group 2). Measured limiting oxygen index (LOI) values showed that the selected fabrics meet the properties of inherently fire retardant fabrics. Dyeing was performed with Indanthren® Olive Green HB (manufactured by DyStar) vat dye, in exhaustion process, with a bath ratio of 1:30. The dye concentration was 3%, and sodium‐hydrosulphite (Na2S2O4) was used as a reducing agent. The colouristic analyses were performed based on spectrophotometric measurement and results interpretation according to CIELab system. The evaluation of primary tactile properties was performed which show an increase of smoothness and softness after scouring and dyeing. Also, wash fastness as well as light fastness tests have shown satisfactory fastness properties.
Plasma‐derived factor VIIa and factor X mixture agent (MC710) prophylaxis in haemophilia B patients with inhibitors
Authors: Sakai Michio , Amano Kagehiro , Chin Motoaki , Takedani Hideyuki , Ishida Hiroyuki , Sakashita Kazuo , Taki Masashi , Migita Masahiro , Watanabe Hiroyoshi , Ishimura Masataka , Nogami Keiji , Harano Sho , Shirahata Akira
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Haemophilia B patients with factor IX inhibitors have particularly unmet needs for conventional therapy.

Aim

Phase II/III clinical trial, multicentre, open‐label, prospective, self‐controlled study was conducted to assess MC710 prophylaxis in haemophilia B patients with inhibitors.

Methods

We enrolled haemophilia patients who had received episodic or prophylactic treatment with bypassing agents up to that time. The participants continued their conventional therapy for 24 weeks and then MC710 was prophylactically infused intravenously every 2 or 3 days at 60 to 120 μg as FVIIa per kilogram of body weight for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the annual bleeding rate (ABR) requiring bypassing agents, which was compared intraindividually between the conventional therapy period and the MC710 prophylaxis period.

Results

A total of 11 male haemophilia B patients were enrolled. The median ABR ratio for each participant (the prophylaxis period ABR divided by the conventional therapy period ABR) was .33 (2.1/6.5), range from .00 to 3.77. ABR ratios for 9 of the 11 patients ranged from .00 to .60, and 3 of the 9 patients had zero bleeding events during the prophylaxis period. Meanwhile, ABR ratios for the remaining two patients were 2.53 and 3.77, respectively. Although a fibrinogen decrease recovered by the dose reduction was reported for only one participant as the sole adverse drug reaction in this study, no thrombotic events or other safety concerns were reported.

Conclusion

MC710 prophylaxis is considered to be decrease the bleeding rate in haemophilia B patients with inhibitors without safety concerns.
Porous Ce:YAG ceramics with controllable microstructure for high‐brightness laser lighting
Authors: Cheng Ziqiu , Wang Yanbin , Li Wanyuan , Liu Qiang , Deng Taoli , Liu Xin , Li Shuxing , Zhou Guohong , Xie Rong‐Jun , Li Jiang
Published: December 2022

In order to meet the increasing demand for high‐power laser diode lighting and displays, phosphor converters with high‐brightness and high‐directionality ought to be constructed to enhance the luminance and luminous efficacy. However, the pores formed during the sintering of phosphor ceramics affect the scattering effect and directionality of light. Therefore, porosity optimization and pore size regulation need to be explored. In this work, a series of Ce:YAG ceramics with various porosities and pore sizes were prepared. The influences of porosity and pore size on the microstructure, light confinement ability, and optical properties of Ce:YAG ceramics were studied. The ceramic phosphor with a porosity of 10 vol.% and a pore size of 3 μm exhibits a good spot confinement ability and shows a high luminous flux value of 3430 lm and a central luminance (1669 592 cd/m2) under blue laser excitation. The 10 vol.% Ce:YAG ceramic phosphor with a pore size of 5 μm has the highest emission intensity and gives a maximum luminous efficacy of 268 lm/W and a luminous flux of 4020 lm under 30 W/mm2 blue laser excitation. Thus, the porous Ce:YAG ceramics are expected to be a promising candidate for high‐brightness laser lighting and projection applications.
Circ_0000052/miR‐382‐3p axis induces PD‐L1 expression and regulates cell proliferation and immune evasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang De‐Jun , Fu Ze‐Ming , Guo Ying‐Yuan , Guo Fang , Wan Yi‐Ning , Guan Guo‐Fang
Published: December 2022

A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying PD‐L1 aberrant expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) will help reveal predictive biomarkers and overcome resistance to treatment. In this study, the prognostic significance of PD‐L1 in forty‐five HNSCC archival samples was determined by qRT‐PCR. The biological function associated with malignant behaviour was assessed by PD‐L1 depletion, miR‐382‐3p re‐expression and regulation of circ_0000052. The interactions of PD‐L1‐miRNA and miRNA‐circRNA were determined by qRT‐PCR, Western blot analysis, dual‐luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. PD‐L1 was highly expressed in patient samples and cancer cell lines. Higher levels of PD‐L1 were associated with patient recurrences and play a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, clonogenicity and apoptosis. In addition to demonstrating that the IFN‐γ/JAK2/STAT1 signalling pathway can induce PD‐L1 overexpression in HNSCC, a novel mechanism by which upregulated circ_0000052 mediates PD‐L1 overexpression was also demonstrated. To do this, circ_0000052 competitively binds to miR‐382‐3p and alleviates its repression of PD‐L1. This leads to overexpression of PD‐L1, causing the aggressiveness of the cells. Our data demonstrate that circ_0000052 is oncogenic, and the circ_0000052/miR‐382‐3p/PD‐L1 axis is critical in HNSCC progression. The manipulation of circRNAs/miRNAs in combination with anti‐PD‐L1 therapy may improve personalized disease management.
Comparative efficacy of different eating patterns in the management of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: An arm‐based Bayesian network meta‐analysis
Authors: Zeng Ben‐tuo , Pan Hui‐qing , Li Feng‐dan , Ye Zhen‐yu , Liu Yang , Du Ji‐wei
Published: December 2022

Aims/Introduction

Diet therapy is a vital approach to manage type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. However, the comparative efficacy of different eating patterns is not clear enough. We aimed to compare the efficacy of various eating patterns for glycemic control, anthropometrics, and serum lipid profiles in the management of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a network meta‐analysis using arm‐based Bayesian methods and random effect models, and drew the conclusions using the partially contextualized framework. We searched twelve databases and yielded 9,534 related references, where 107 studies were eligible, comprising 8,909 participants.

Results

Eleven diets were evaluated for 14 outcomes. Caloric restriction was ranked as the best pattern for weight loss (SUCRA 86.8%) and waist circumference (82.2%), low‐carbohydrate diets for body mass index (81.6%), and high‐density lipoprotein (84.0%), and low‐glycemic‐index diets for total cholesterol (87.5%) and low‐density lipoprotein (86.6%). Other interventions showed some superiorities, but were imprecise due to insufficient participants and needed further investigation. The attrition rates of interventions were similar. Meta‐regression suggested that macronutrients, energy intake, and weight may modify outcomes differently. The evidence was of moderate‐to‐low quality, and 38.2% of the evidence items met the minimal clinically important differences.

Conclusions

The selection and development of dietary strategies for diabetic/prediabetic patients should depend on their holistic conditions, i.e., serum lipid profiles, glucometabolic patterns, weight, and blood pressure. It is recommended to identify the most critical and urgent metabolic indicator to control for one specific patient, and then choose the most appropriate eating pattern accordingly.
New psychotropic medication use among Medicare beneficiaries with dementia after hospital discharge
Authors: Growdon Matthew E. , Gan Siqi , Yaffe Kristine , Lee Alexandra K. , Anderson Timothy S. , Muench Ulrike , Boscardin W. John , Steinman Michael A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Hospitalizations among people with dementia (PWD) may precipitate behavioral changes, leading to the psychotropic medication use despite adverse outcomes and limited efficacy. We sought to determine the incidence of new psychotropic medication use among community‐dwelling PWD after hospital discharge and, among new users, the proportion with prolonged use.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study using a 20% random sample of Medicare claims in 2017, including hospitalized PWD with traditional and Part D Medicare who were 68 years or older. The primary outcome was incident prescribing at discharge of psychotropics including antipsychotics, sedative‐hypnotics, antiepileptics, and antidepressants. This was defined as new prescription fills (i.e., from classes not used in 180 days preadmission) within 7 days of hospital or skilled nursing facility discharge. Prolonged use was defined as the proportion of new users who continued to fill newly prescribed medications beyond 90 days of discharge.

Results

The cohort included 117,022 hospitalized PWD with a mean age of 81 years; 63% were female. Preadmission, 63% were using at least 1 psychotropic medication; 10% were using medications from ≥3 psychotropic classes. These included antidepressants (44% preadmission), antiepileptics (29%), sedative‐hypnotics (21%), and antipsychotics (11%). The proportion of PWD discharged from the hospital with new psychotropics ranged from 1.9% (antipsychotics) to 2.9% (antiepileptics); 6.6% had at least one new class started. Among new users, prolonged use ranged from 36% (sedative‐hypnotics) to 63% (antidepressants); across drug classes, prolonged use occurred in 51%. Predictors of newly initiated psychotropics included length of stay (≥median vs. <median; aOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.4–1.6) and delirium (aOR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.7–1.9).

Conclusions

Hospitalized PWD have a high prevalence of preadmission psychotropic medication use; against this baseline, discharge from the hospital with new psychotropics is relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, prolonged use of newly initiated psychotropics occurs in a substantial proportion of this population.
Longitudinal network models and permutation‐uniform Markov chains
Authors: Schwartz William K. , Petrović Sonja , Kaul Hemanshu
Published: December 2022

Consider longitudinal networks whose edges turn on and off according to a discrete‐time Markov chain with exponential‐family transition probabilities. We characterize when their joint distributions are also exponential families with the same parameter, improving data reduction. Further we show that the permutation‐uniform subclass of these chains permit interpretation as an independent, identically distributed sequence on the same state space. We then apply these ideas to temporal exponential random graph models, for which permutation uniformity is well suited, and discuss mean‐parameter convergence, dyadic independence, and exchangeability. Our framework facilitates our introducing a new network model; simplifies analysis of some network and autoregressive models from the literature, including by permitting closed‐form expressions for maximum likelihood estimates for some models; and facilitates applying standard tools to longitudinal‐network Markov chains from either asymptotics or single‐observation exponential random graph models.
Adjusted incidence, remission, and relapse of self‐reported physician‐diagnosed asthma and asthma medication usage in endurance athletes
Authors: Stenfors Nikolai , Irewall Tommie , Lindberg Anne
Published: December 2022

Longitudinal studies are needed to increase our knowledge of the natural history of asthma in athletes. Our aims were to estimate the incidence, remission, and relapse, of self‐reported asthma among endurance athletes. A postal questionnaire on self‐reported physician‐diagnosed asthma, asthma medication, allergy, and respiratory symptoms was sent annually 2011–2015 to 666 Swedish elite athletes competing in cross‐country skiing, biathlon, ski orienteering, or orienteering. Athletes at risk for (1) incident asthma were those without previous self‐reported asthma, use of asthma medication, or asthma‐like symptoms, (2) remission those who discontinued asthma medication usage and (3) relapse those who resumed asthma medication usage during the observation period. The population at risk was used as denominator in the calculations of subsequent event rate. At baseline, 89% responded, the median age was 17 years and 47% were females. Of the 373 athletes with never asthma nor use of asthma medication/asthma‐like symptoms at baseline, 31 (8%) reported physician‐diagnosed asthma during follow‐up, giving an adjusted incidence rate of asthma of 42/1000 person years. Among the 110 athletes with self‐reported asthma and use of asthma medication at baseline, 26 (24%) discontinued use of asthma medication during the follow‐up, giving a remission rate of 142/1000 person years. Of the 31 athletes with previous asthma and no use of asthma medication at baseline, 9 (29%) resumed use of asthma medication during follow‐up, giving a relapse rate was 148/1000 person years. Elite endurance athletes have a high incidence of self‐reported physician‐diagnosed asthma. The remission and relapse of self‐reported asthma medication usage in endurance athletes appear similar to that of the general population.
From Non‐Believer to Believer: What Leads People to Change Their Climate Views
Authors: Jeon June , Gurney Rachel , Bell Michael M.
Published: December 2022

Studies have highlighted the political, economic, and psychological factors in the debate over anthropogenic climate change—a hegemony approach—but have rarely focused on the stories and possibilities of people's transitions from climate change non‐believer to climate change believer. Based on publicly accessible narratives, this study examines the stories of those who have switched from non‐believer to believer—a narrative approach—and the dilemmas involved in those switches. Our investigation illuminates that a transition to climate change believer is a cultural and moral matter based on changing social relations of knowledge and what people regard as ignorable. We find that narratives of transition commonly describe interrelated shifts in three social relational factors: the narrator's notions of self, material reality, and justice. We term this contextualized transformative experience a relational rupture. Our narrative approach thus contextualizes climate change denialism within a person's web of social relations, not the hegemony of climate change communication alone. Moreover, we suggest that, since public debate and polarization on scientific topics such as climate change, vaccination, and COVID‐19 are socially situated, they may potentially be socially bridged.
Evaluation of cell collection efficiency in non‐mobilized adult donors for autologous chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell manufacturing
Authors: Piñeyroa Juan A. , Cid Joan , Vlagea Alexandru , Carbassé Gloria , Henao Paola , Bailo Noemí , Ortiz‐Maldonado Valentín , Martínez‐Cibrian Núria , Español Marta , Delgado Julio , Urbano‐Ispizua Álvaro , Lozano Miquel
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives

Data about collection efficiency 1 (CE1), which takes into account blood cell counts before and after collection, thus providing a more accurate estimate, in the collection of autologous T lymphocytes by apheresis for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cells remain scarce. We evaluated donor‐ and procedure‐related characteristics that might influence the CE1 of lymphocytes.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all mononuclear cell (MNC) collections) performed for CAR T‐cell manufacturing in our institution from May 2017 to June 2021 in adult patients. Age, gender, weight, total blood volume (TBV), prior haematopoietic cell transplant, diagnosis, days between last treatment and apheresis, pre‐collection cell counts, duration of apheresis, TBV processed, vascular access, inlet flow and device type were analysed as potential factors affecting CE1 of lymphocytes.

Results

A total of 127 autologous MNC collections were performed on 118 patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n = 53, 45%), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 40, 34%), multiple myeloma (n = 19, 16%), and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n = 6, 5%). The median CE1 of lymphocytes was 47% (interquartile range: 32%–65%). In multiple regression analysis, Amicus device was associated with higher CE1 of lymphocytes (p = 0.01) and lower CE1 of platelets (p < 0.01) when compared with Optia device.

Conclusion

The knowledge of the MNC and lymphocyte CE1 of each apheresis device used to collect cells for CAR T therapy, together with the goal of the number of cells required, is essential to define the volume to be processed and to ensure the success of the collection.
DEVELOPMENT OF A REHABILITATION ROBOT: MODELING AND TRAJECTORY TRACKING CONTROL
Authors: Trinh Minh-Chien , Do Trong-Hieu , Dao Quy-Thinh
Published: December 2022

Recently, assistive robots have attracted great attention from researchers in the rehabilitation field. These types of robots support patients to perform designated movements during a training process. Despite the existence of commercial rehabilitation systems, growing demands for improvement in both hardware and control design are evident. Therefore, this paper introduces a prototype pneumatic artificial muscle-based assistive robot named BK-Gait and its control strategy for trajectory tracking purposes. Firstly, a brief description of the robot mechanism is presented. Secondly, the mathematical model of the robot’s actuator is built. Third, an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) strategy is developed to enhance the tracking performance of the robot. Finally, multi scenarios experiments are carried out to evaluate the applicability of the robot and the proposed controller in the rehabilitation field.
DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMUM LOAD PROFILE UNDER ENHANCED OF USE TARIFF (ETOU) SCHEME USING COMBINATION OF OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS AND SELF ORGANIZING MAPPING
Authors: Sulaima Mohamad Fani , Dahlan Nofri Yenita , Abd. Razak Intan Azmira , Bohari Zul Hasrizal , Ali Amira Noor Farhanie , Noor Din Muhd Muhtazam
Published: December 2022

Demand side management (DSM) has been conventionally adopted in many ways to efficiently managing the appropriate electricity loads. However, with the sophisticated design of the Time of Use (TOU) tariff to reflect electricity cost reduction, implementing proper Load Management (LM) strategies is challenging. To date, consumers still struggle to define a figure for the LM percentage to be involved in the demand response program. Due to that reason, this study proposes a method to find the best load profile reflecting the new tariff offered by using a combination of optimization algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Evolutionary PSO (EPSO), and Self-Organizing Mapping (SOM). The evaluation has been made to the manufacturing operation with the existing flat tariff to be transferred to the Enhanced Time of Use (ETOU). The test results show that the ability of the proposed combination method to define the optimal outputs such as energy consumption cost, maximum demand cost, load factor index, and building electricity economic responsive index. Meanwhile, the SOM algorithm has been used to classify the enormous numbers of those simulation results produced by algorithms while defining the best LM weightage. As the test results for the case study, it was found that the practical 6% LM weightage was able to reflect the optimal required load profile shifting to be applied by manufacturing operation. Thus, by determining the optimal load profile that suits the ETOU scheme, the consumers can enjoy cost benefits while supporting the demand response program concurrently.
DETERMINATION OF EVALUATION INDICATORS FOR PRE-ABANDONED PROJECT BASED ON SUSTAINABLE GOAL DEVELOPMENT ASPIRATION
Authors: Abdullah Siti Norhidayah , Nor Anuar Aznah , Md Din Mohd Fadhil , Mat-Taib Shazwin
Published: December 2022

Every project management will strive to ensure that one project can operate without any problems. Unfortunately, some projects are still abandoned due to certain reasons. If the abandonment occurs, the requirement to submit an abandonment plan is stipulated on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guideline in Malaysia, 2016. Unfortunately, still lack of resources on pre-project abandonment guidelines which will lead to poor project abandonment report preparation and assessment. Thus, this study aims to determine crucial indicators for assessing the pre-abandoned project, proposing a framework of Malaysia Guidelines for Pre- Project Abandonment Plan (PAP), and validating the draft of the Malaysia Guidelines Framework for PAP. The collected data was compiled from various sources, including document review, survey, and Delphi Method (focus group discussion). The survey conducted proved that the most crucial indicators for the assessment of pre-abandoned project were (i) waste management, (ii) allocation of environmental budgeting, (iii) inventory of scheduled waste, (iv) slurry management, (v) method of demolished, (vi) safety and health of workers, (vii)drainage management system, (viii) site management, (ix) type of treatment plant, and (x) site housekeeping. This framework will assist both report preparer and policymakers on project abandonment report preparation and evaluation, respectively. The development of this framework was strengthened by comprising related legislations, and each indicator synchronized towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030.
UTILIZING INTERACTIVE VECTOR GRAPHICS TO ENHANCE USER EXPERIENCE IN ENGAGING WITH COMPLEX USER INTERFACE DESIGN
Authors: Hui Soon  Eu , Abdul Manaf Nur’azah , Mahrin Mohd Naz'ri
Published: December 2022

In the shift towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), there are a multitude of user interventions that are heavily dependent on screen-based content which are highly correlated with the Internet of Things (IOT). This has raised certain usability issues, primarily when utilizing pixel graphics in dealing with complex User Interface (UI) design on devices with smaller screen size. This paper addresses the delay in timing, as the main part of the usability issue, which is caused by the increased of user interaction in completing task given. This paper studies the conversion rate outcomes from pixel graphics to interactive Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as a solution in reducing user interaction thus enhancing overall user experience (UX). The research design focuses on 2 analysis stages, which starts with a comparison stage that is exploratory in nature, followed by a regression analytics as part of the usability testing. The comparative analysis utilizes A/B testing that is composed of a control group and a treatment group, which measures the time spent based on actions per-page, in determining the effect size of both pixel and vector graphics through specified observations. The regression analytics that follows through is explanatory in nature and measures the indirect effects of the time delay, in defining that there is a significant relationship between time spent against actions per-page. The findings contribute towards establishing a more impactful use of graphic format in the adaptation to UI design that maximizes UX outcomes, which defines effective usability towards conversion optimizations.