17628 research outputs found
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Investigating the effectiveness of virtual influencers in prosocial marketing
Get PDFHeeding the rising popularity of virtual influencers on social media, many established brands are beginning to collaborate with them. Although virtual influencers are perceived as novel and exciting, their effectiveness in different areas of consumer behavior has not been examined. While previous research has compared several attributes of virtual and human influencers, our research is specifically motivated to answer: how can marketers increase the effectiveness of virtual influencers in promoting prosocial causes? Across four experiments employing different prosocial contexts, we compared the effectiveness of virtual and human influencers in increasing consumers' prosocial intentions and behaviors. Findings suggest that although human influencers are more persuasive in promoting prosocial behaviors, this effect only occurs when a virtual influencer is perceived as a standalone influencer (i.e., not affiliated with a brand). Overall, our results imply that marketers can substantially increase the effectiveness of virtual influencers by making the cues of brand affiliation salient in influencers' posts
Automated bus services – To whom are they appealing in their early stages?
Get PDFAmidst a period of operational and financial challenges for the bus industry, the advent of Automated Buses (ABs) could be an opportunity to boost the attractiveness of public transport. This paper examines the determinants of changes in bus use after automated buses have been deployed. Given that any impact of automation on bus use is highly subject to the public acceptance of ABs, we also investigate the determinants of eagerness to use ABs. As part of the CAVForth project, which aims to deploy the first AB pilot service in the UK, an online questionnaire was completed by 1,054 bus passengers in Scotland who were asked about their attitudes and expectations towards ABs operating with a trained human safety driver onboard. To identify the factors that shape expectations about ABs and future bus use, random parameter ordered probit and binary logit models with heterogeneity in the means were estimated. The results suggest a high prevalence of people who would be eager to use ABs, and a slight prevalence of people who intend to use buses more often because of automation. Five major categories of factors were identified as influential including exposure to AVs, system evaluation, travel behaviour and attitudes, personality, and socio-demographic profile of the potential users. Factors relating to current bus use, satisfaction, and car dependency induced mixed effect on respondents’ expectations. Our findings are relevant for service providers and can inform the development of policies aimed at operational issues that could potentially impede the deployment of ABs and the recovery of the bus industry, especially in the fragile aftermath of COVID-19
A decoupling interpretation of an old argument for Vinogradov's Mean Value Theorem
No full textWe interpret into decoupling language a refinement of a 1973 argument due to Karatsuba on Vinogradov's mean value theorem. The main goal of our argument is to answer what precisely solution counting in older partial progress on Vinogradov's mean value theorem corresponds to in Fourier decoupling theory
Advancing sepsis clinical research: harnessing transcriptomics for an omics-based strategy - a comprehensive scoping review
Get PDFSepsis continues to be recognized as a significant global health challenge across all ages and is characterized by a complex pathophysiology. In this scoping review, PRISMA-ScR guidelines were adhered to, and a transcriptomic methodology was adopted, with the protocol registered on the Open Science Framework. We hypothesized that gene expression analysis could provide a foundation for establishing a clinical research framework for sepsis. A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was conducted with a particular focus on original research and systematic reviews of transcriptomic sepsis studies published between 2012 and 2022. Both coding and non-coding gene expression studies have been included in this review. An effort was made to enhance the understanding of sepsis at the mRNA gene expression level by applying a systems biology approach through transcriptomic analysis. Seven crucial components related to sepsis research were addressed in this study: endotyping (n = 64), biomarker (n = 409), definition (n = 0), diagnosis (n = 1098), progression (n = 124), severity (n = 451), and benchmark (n = 62). These components were classified into two groups, with one focusing on Biomarkers and Endotypes and the other oriented towards clinical aspects. Our review of the selected studies revealed a compelling association between gene transcripts and clinical sepsis, reinforcing the proposed research framework. Nevertheless, challenges have arisen from the lack of consensus in the sepsis terminology employed in research studies and the absence of a comprehensive definition of sepsis. There is a gap in the alignment between the notion of sepsis as a clinical phenomenon and that of laboratory indicators. It is potentially responsible for the variable number of patients within each category. Ideally, future studies should incorporate a transcriptomic perspective. The integration of transcriptomic data with clinical endpoints holds significant potential for advancing sepsis research, facilitating a consensus-driven approach, and enabling the precision management of sepsis
Rating to economic profit: Valuation properties, implementation issues, and the justification of target prices
Get PDFThis study offers a comprehensive theoretical and empirical analysis of a fundamentals-based investment criterion (HSBC’s Rating to Economic Profit – REP). By employing a large sample of US-listed firms over a 12-year time-period and conducting univariate, multivariate and portfolio analyses, we provide robust empirical results that support the ability of REP to explain contemporaneous stock market valuations, justify financial analysts’ target prices, and predict one-year ahead stock returns. Through content analysis of selected financial analysts’ equity research reports, we also provide some descriptive evidence of the usefulness of accrual accounting numbers over dividends for valuation purposes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first academic study that offers a comprehensive analysis of REP as a value-based stock screening method that should be of interest to market-based accounting researchers, valuation educators, and capital market participants
Creative Informatics Final Report
No full textThis Creative Informatics Final Report summaries the work of Creative Informatics, a partnership project which has been supporting creatives in Edinburgh and South East Scotland from 2018-2024. We look back over the different strands of the programme, the work that has been enabled through Creative Informatics support and funding, the long term impacts on creative SMEs and the local economy, and we reflect on our learnings as well as sharing our plans for the future. Creative Informatics (https://creativeinformatics.org/) is part of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme; a UK wide initiative designed to drive innovation, growth, and sustainability in the Creative Industries, through a first of-its-kind research and development investment of £80m by the UK government. With a focus on Edinburgh and South East Scotland, Creative Informatics is working to drive growth and sustainability in this region’s world class creative industries by supporting creative individuals and organisations to do inspiring things with data. The programme is led by the University of Edinburgh and is delivered in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, CodeBase and Creative Edinburgh
Effect of Hearing Intervention versus Health Education Control on Fatigue: A Secondary Analysis of the ACHIEVE study
No full textBackgroundFatigue is a common complaint among older adults with hearing loss. The impact of addressing hearing loss on fatigue symptoms has not been studied in a randomized controlled trial. In a secondary analysis of the ACHIEVE study, we investigated the effect of hearing intervention versus health education control on 3-year change in fatigue in community-dwelling older adults with hearing loss.MethodsParticipants aged 70-84 years old with untreated hearing loss recruited across 4 study sites in the United States (Forsyth County, NC; Jackson, MS; Minneapolis, MN; Washington County, MD) were randomized (1:1) to hearing intervention or health education control and followed for 3 years. Three-year change in fatigue symptoms was measured by 2 instruments (RAND-36 and PROMIS). We estimated the intervention effect as the difference in the 3-year change in fatigue between intervention and control groups using a linear mixed-effects model under the intention-to-treat principle.ResultsParticipants (n=977) had a mean age (SD) of 76.8 (4.0) years, were 53.5% female and 87.8% White. Over 3 years, a beneficial effect of the hearing intervention versus health education control on fatigue was observed using the RAND-fatigue score (β= -0.12 [95% CI -0.22, -0.02]). Estimates also suggested beneficial effect of hearing intervention on fatigue when measured by the PROMIS fatigue score (β= -0.32 [95% CI -1.15, 0.51]).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that hearing intervention may reduce fatigue over 3 years among older adults with hearing loss
Revolutionising orthopaedic implants—a comprehensive review on metal 3D printing with materials, design strategies, manufacturing technologies, and post-process machining advancements
Get PDFThis paper conceptualises an understanding of advanced manufacturing methods to develop 3D-printed metallic orthopaedic implants, including a brief discussion on post-process machining. The significance of Metallic Additive Manufacturing (MAM) and its practicality for industrial applications is discussed through a juxtaposition with conventional casting and machining approach. Different alloys and suitable MAM techniques are thoroughly reviewed to determine optimum operating conditions. Although MAM can produce near-net shape parts, post-processing is an unavoidable requirement to improve surface quality and dimensional accuracy. A comparative study is presented, highlighting the importance of machining for post-processing in terms of cost savings and performance. Different materials are evaluated aiming to overcome problems associated with existing orthopaedic implants. The consequence of bone-implant mechanical mismatch leading to stress shielding and inadequate corrosion properties obstructing biodegradability are explored in detail. The effect of additive manufacturing parameters on mechanical, corrosion, and surface properties including biocompatibility is analysed. Evidence of MAM’s advantages over conventional manufacturing approaches, such as the use of functionally graded lattices and patient-specific customised designs, is also presented. Finally, for future studies, a two-way approach is conceptualised with material selection and manufacturing process control in progressions of implant development using MAM
Navigating brand purpose in the post-pandemic era: insights from marketing agencies on supporting SDGs through strategic delineation and execution
Get PDFPurposeThis study aims to investigate the role of marketing agencies in aligning brand purpose with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the post-pandemic era. This study explores whether and how marketing agencies delineate and execute brand purpose in a way that supports sustainable consumption and marketing models.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from semi-structured interviews with 35 senior managers at UK-based marketing agencies. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using NVivo software for inductive coding.FindingsThe study reveals that brand purpose in the post-pandemic era is increasingly aligned with the SDGs. Marketing agencies play a pivotal role in this alignment, as they not only help to delineate and execute the brand purpose but also do so in a way that amplifies perceived authenticity in the eyes of the brand stakeholders.Originality/valueThis research underscores the significance of marketing agencies in delineating and executing brand purpose that aligns with the SDGs. It enriches the literature by illustrating how agency expertise contributes to the evolution of brand purpose, guiding businesses towards responsible marketing practices and consumption patterns that support a sustainable future
Inter- and intra-observer reliability and agreement of O2Pulse inflection during cardiopulmonary exercise testing: A comparison of subjective and novel objective methodology
Get PDFCardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the ‘gold standard’ method for evaluating functional capacity, with oxygen pulse (O2Pulse) inflections serving as a potential indicator of myocardial ischaemia. However, the reliability and agreement of identifying these inflections have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the inter- and intra-observer reliability and agreement of a subjective quantification method for identifying O2Pulse inflections during CPET, and to propose a more robust and objective novel algorithm as an alternative methodology. A retrospective analysis was conducted using baseline data from the HIIT or MISS UK trial. The O2Pulse curves were visually inspected by two independent examiners, and compared against an objective algorithm. Fleiss’ Kappa was used to determine the reliability of agreement between the three groups of observations. The results showed almost perfect agreement between the algorithm and both examiners, with a Fleiss’ Kappa statistic of 0.89. The algorithm also demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC) when compared to both examiners (0.92–0.98). However, a significant level (P ≤0.05) of systematic bias was observed in Bland-Altman analysis for comparisons involving the novice examiner. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the reliability of both subjective and novel objective methods for identifying inflections in O2Pulse during CPET. These findings suggest that further research into the clinical significance of O2Pulse inflections is warranted, and that the adoption of a novel objective means of quantification may be preferable to ensure equality of outcome for patients
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