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A bibliometric review of customer engagement in the international domain:reviewing the past and the present
Get PDFThis study addresses/examines how the conceptual structure of customer engagement in the international context has changed since its emergence. These layers of analysis will assist researchers to uncover the historical basis, and identify the changes in the knowledge structure of customer engagement research in the international business domain. Our bibliometric analysis included 151 customer engagement articles. We employed cluster visualization (VOS) along with text mining to classify the most important and informative research in customer engagement in the international context
Monte-Carlo study of some robust estimators: the simple linear regression case
Get PDFIn this study, Least Trimmed Squares (LTS), Theil’s Pair-wise Median (Theil) and Bayesian estimation methods (BAYES) are compared relative to the OLSE via Monte-Carlo Simulation. Variance, Bias, Mean Square Error (MSE) and Relative Mean Square Error (RMSE) were calculated to evaluate the estimators’ performance. The Simple Linear Regression model is explored for the conditions in which the error term is assumed to be drawn from three error distributions: unit normal, lognormal and Cauchy. Theil’s non-parametric estimation procedure was found to have the strongest and most reliable performance. The subsequent-best results are acquired from LTS approach Though it was observed that the Bayesian estimators are affected by deviation of the dataset from normality, yet it is established from the results that the Bayesian estimators performed optimally more than all other competitors, even under non normal situations (especially under the standard lognormal distribution) in some cases, except whenever the error is drawn from a heavy tail distribution (Lognormal and Cauchy)..OLSE is most effective reliable as long as the normality assumptions preserv
Disability and Quality of Life Measures in older frail and prefrail people with type 2 diabetes. The MIDFRAIL-Study
Get PDFAim: To explore the individual response to a multimodal intervention on quality of life (QOL) and disability. Methods: 843 (77.83 years, 50.65 % men) prefrail and frail individuals ≥ 70 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Participants were randomized to the usual care group (UCG) or the multicomponent intervention (IG). Intervention consisted in 16-week progressive resistance training program, 7 educational sessions and the achievement of HbA1c (7–8 %, 53–64 mmol/mol)) and BP (<150 mmHg) targets. QOL (EuroQol EQ-5D-5L), basic (Barthel Index, BI) and instrumental (Lawton and Brody Index) activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed. Multivariate binomial and multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore the effect of the IG, and adherence on the outcomes studied. Results: The IG was associated with a significant higher probability of improvement in the QOL [OR(95 %CI): 1.75 (1.20, 2.54), p-value 0.004] and a lower probability of deterioration in QoL [0.61 (0.87, 0.54), 0.006] and Barthel Index [0.59 (0.37, 0.93), 0.023]. A high adherence (≥93 %) was needed to achieve benefits in the QOL while > 84.38 % was needed for achieving the benefits in Barthel Index. Conclusions: IG has proven to be effective in increasing QOL and avoiding the worsening of QOL and basic ADL.</p
Exploring the attitudes and beliefs of women regarding the implementation of midwife-led care in India:a mixed methods study
Get PDFProblem: Despite the recent introduction of midwifery services in India to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, there is limited research on women's perspectives on midwife-led care. Background: The Government of India initiated midwifery services guidelines in 2018 to improve the quality of care for pregnant women and newborns across the country. It is important to develop evidence-based strategies which can optimise the implementation of these new midwifery services. Aim: This study explored women's attitudes and beliefs towards the implementation of midwife-led care in two southern states of India. Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was employed using an online questionnaire and semi-structured online interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis used a framework approach. Data from both sources were then integrated through merging techniques. Findings: A total of 307 women completed the online survey, and 23 participated in in-depth interviews. The study highlighted inadequate knowledge of midwife-led care among women. Despite this, 60 % expressed optimism about its benefits. Key factors to women's acceptance included better understanding outcomes, having trust in midwives, receiving respectful care, and having autonomy in decision-making. They also required midwife-led birthing units would be clean, accessible, and well resourced. Discussion: Most participants perceived midwife-led care as beneficial, valuing its skilled, responsive and compassionate services. Conclusion: Insights from this study have implications for the implementation of midwife-led care which should consider the informational needs, safety standards and cultural contexts of women and their families living in both urban and rural areas of India.</p
Cross-sectional associations between dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, physical function, and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults
Get PDFObjectives: The present study examined the associations between the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), physical function, and the prevalence of sarcopenia in Italian community-dwelling older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Unconventional settings across Italy (e.g., exhibitions, health promotion campaigns). Participants: Older adults (65+ years) who provided a written informed consent. Methods: Physical function was evaluated according to isometric handgrip strength (IHG) and 5-time sit-to-stand (5STS) performances. Muscle power parameters were estimated based on 5STS values. Sarcopenia was operationalized according to the presence of low physical function (IHG or 5STS) plus low appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), estimated according to calf circumference. A 12-item food questionary was used to estimate the dietary intake of PUFAs, which included omega-3 (α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) and omega-6 fatty acids. Results: Multiple linear regression results indicate negative and significant associations between the dietary intake of α-linolenic acid and muscle power, and between docosahexaenoic acid consumption and ASM. No significant associations were found between PUFAs-related variables and sarcopenia. Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate that PUFAs-related variables were negatively and significantly associated with physical function and body composition in older adults. Nevertheless, no significant associations were found with sarcopenia. These findings suggest that a more detailed analysis of covariates should be conducted in future investigations that aim to examine the associations between the dietary intake of PUFAs and sarcopenia-related parameters.</p
Pauca verba on the association between protein intake and sarcopenia in older adults
Get PDFSarcopenia is a prevalent neuromuscular condition among older adults, marked by significant reductions in muscle mass and strength, which result in notable impairments in physical performance. Modifications in lifestyle habits have been frequently highlighted as essential approaches to mitigate the progression of sarcopenia, with a particular focus on protein consumption. Over the past few decades, a wealth of knowledge has emerged, driven by both observational and experimental studies exploring various factors related to protein intake, such as amount, timing, and sources. This review provides a pauca verba overview of these findings, presenting a concise yet informative summary of key insights.</p
Functional exercise circuit with dual task training on clinical outcomes related to sarcopenia in older adults:a nonrandomized controlled trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Most of exercise interventions to prevent sarcopenia have focused on individuals with sarcopenia or pre-sarcopenia. The effect of functional exercise with dual task on clinical variables of sarcopenia, have not been studied previously. Objective: This study analyzed the effects of a functional exercise program with dual task compared to aerobic exercise on outcomes related to sarcopenia, in older adults without clinical suspicion of sarcopenia. Methodology: This was a nonrandomized controlled trial (Registration: RBR-2HJJ7G/UTN:U1111-1254-3147). Forty-eight older adults were allocated into two interventions: 1) functional exercise circuit (FEC) with dual-task and 2) aerobic exercise. Both interventions were conducted for 12 weeks, 3 times a week, 50 minutes each session. Clinical suspicion of sarcopenia was determined by the algorithm of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Measurements of fat-free mass, fat mass, calf circumference, handgrip strength, 5-repetition sit-to stand, 4-meter gait speed, six-minute walking test and oxidative stress blood biomarkers were assessed before and after both interventions. Analyzes were performed using the SPSS version 22.0 and JAPS version 0.16.1. Results: Fat-free mass (p=0.049) and calf circumference (p<0.001) increased, and fat mass (p=0.017) reduced after FEC (ES: 0.1-0.6). Both groups showed improvement in the 5-repetition sit-to stand, 4-meter gait speed, six-minute walking test (p< 0.05 for all). All antioxidant biomarkers increased after FEC (ES: 0.2-0.6; p< 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Our study showed that FEC with dual task training improved muscle mass, muscle strength, physical performance, and antioxidant capacity, which are important outcomes related to sarcopenia.</p
Strategic communication:opportunities, challenges, and their innovative solutions in CSR
No full textThe world is facing many issues related to climate change and other environmental problems. In this context, every individual, business, and organization are taking an active part in bringing the measures. Firms are promoting CSR activities more rapidly than ever before, and strategic communication is the main tool that assists the firms. This chapter contributes by reflecting on the roles of strategic communication and the connection between strategic communication and CSR, highlighting the opportunities and challenges and suggesting innovations and unique solutions. Firstly, this chapter provides deep insight into strategic communication and CSR. After that, options are described along with the challenges. To cope with the challenges, solutions are also presented. By making effective strategies to promote CSR activities through strategic communication, firms not only enjoy profitable results but also a great reputation in the business environment.</p
A multidisciplinary hyper-modeling scheme in personalized in silico oncology:coupling cell kinetics with metabolism, signaling networks, and biomechanics as plug-in component models of a cancer digital twin
Get PDFThe massive amount of human biological, imaging, and clinical data produced by multiple and diverse sources necessitates integrative modeling approaches able to summarize all this information into answers to specific clinical questions. In this paper, we present a hypermodeling scheme able to combine models of diverse cancer aspects regardless of their underlying method or scale. Describing tissue-scale cancer cell proliferation, biomechanical tumor growth, nutrient transport, genomic-scale aberrant cancer cell metabolism, and cell-signaling pathways that regulate the cellular response to therapy, the hypermodel integrates mutation, miRNA expression, imaging, and clinical data. The constituting hypomodels, as well as their orchestration and links, are described. Two specific cancer types, Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) and non-small cell lung cancer, are addressed as proof-of-concept study cases. Personalized simulations of the actual anatomy of a patient have been conducted. The hypermodel has also been applied to predict tumor control after radiotherapy and the relationship between tumor proliferative activity and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Our innovative hypermodel holds promise as a digital twin-based clinical decision support system and as the core of future in silico trial platforms, although additional retrospective adaptation and validation are necessary.</p
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