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The evaluation of thermal properties of actinide oxide fuels is a problem of high importance for the development of new generation reactors. In the present study, an expression obtained for n-dimensional Debye functions is used to derive a simple analytical expression for the specific heat capacity of nuclear fuels. To test the validity and reliability of this expression, the analytical expression is applied to UO2, NpO2, ThO2, and PuO2. It is seen that the formula was in agreement with the experimental and theoretical results reported in the literature.

The evolution of seismic data collection has been driven by the need for stations to capture large volumes of high-frequency signals continuously. These signals typically contain both seismic and non-seismic information. Previous research converted SEED data into CSV format and used principal component analysis (PCA) for feature extraction from the seismic dataset. Machine learning models were then employed, showing an improvement in identifying seismic and non-seismic events. This paper focuses on applying deep learning methods, specifically deep neural networks (DNN) and a hybrid model combining long short-term memory (LSTM) networks with DNN (LSTM+DNN). The proposed deep learning models demonstrate a notable improvement over traditional machine learning technique. Experimental results show a test accuracy of 99.24% using deep learning, compared to an average of 97.80% achieved with machine learning models, indicating a 1.46% enhancement in detection accuracy. This underscores the potential of deep learning in accurately detecting seismic events in real-time monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a certain impact on the satisfaction of employees working in securities companies, leading to low work productivity or job relocation. The research was conducted with the aim to address this gap by analyzing the impact of corporate culture on employee satisfaction. The database was collected by the authors through the method of sending surveys via email and collected 322 surveys from employees working at securities companies.. The data collection period was from May 2024 to September 2024. By quantitative research, the PLS-SEM linear structural model was implemented using SPSS and AMOS 20 software. The results indicate that three factors of corporate culture strongly influence employee satisfaction in securities companies, including: 1) Organizational cultural philosophy. With the characteristics of small-scale enterprises and less than 24 years of operation (Vietnam stock market came into operation in July 2000). Administrators of securities companies need to determine that building an organizational cultural philosophy is part of the soul of the enterprise, which is a strong collective strength, an invaluable asset that contributes to making a difference so that the enterprise can have exist and develop sustainably. 2) Culture of learning and sharing. Operate a diverse learning and self-training system such as online, popular on the E-learning platform. 3) Personal and organizational motivation. The article has supplemented basic theories for businesses in general, and for securities companies in particular, to improve business performance through employee management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to gain insights into how heritage destinations have adopted innovative technologies (e.g., AI, immersive technology, 3D technology, big data) into their daily operations, and to reveal future research directions that can guide technology studies in the heritage tourism domain. Innovative technologies are crucial for heritage tourism management and marketing as they provide interactive experiences for visitors, improve efficient management of resources, and enhance effective communication among all stakeholders, resulting in increased engagement and sustainability for the heritage tourism industry. To achieve this objective, we propose a conceptual framework for Technology-Destination Interaction. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, resulting in the selection of 111 articles being analyzed and discussed, drawing on the framework. Based on the results, this study proposes seven future research directions that include, but are not limited to, the latest technologies (e.g., ChatGPT, Metaverse, Geo AI) and potential challenges in technology adoption (e.g., tourism leakage, technology waste, or ethnical concerns). Thirty research questions were developed for future studies. The paper contributes to both researchers and practitioners who are interested in investigating the impact of innovative technologies on heritage tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although resident support for tourism is accepted as an important determinant of tourism success, knowledge of resident support for wineries/wine tourism has not been substantiated with academic research. This study investigates resident stakeholders' support towards wineries/wine tourism in a non-traditional wine tourism destination, more popular for its theme parks, and identifies determinants of support. Online survey data from Florida residents living close to wineries were analyzed using a two-step analysis procedure. T -tests and one-way ANOVA were used to test the categorical variables' relationship with resident support, followed by OLS multiple regression analysis to identify the relative influence of all relevant variables. Results did not support the influence of personal benefits from tourism based on Social Exchange Theory; instead, they indicated that the wine consumer typology identified as Loyal Florida Wine Consumer Type and Occasional Wine Consumer Type had a positive influence on resident stakeholders' support for wineries/wine tourism in Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral microbiome comprises over 700 distinct species, forming complex biofilms essential for maintaining oral and systemic health. When the microbial homeostasis in the periodontium is disrupted, pathogens within the biofilm can cause periodontitis and peri-implantitis, inducing host immune responses. Understanding the role of microbial communities and the immune mechanisms in oral health and disease is crucial for developing improved preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, many questions remain about how changes in bacterial populations contribute to the development and progression of these conditions. An electronic and manual literature search was conducted using PubMed, Excerpta Medica, Frontiers Reports and the Wiley Online Library databases for relevant articles. Data from these publications were extracted and the overall findings were summarized in a narrative manner. The variations in microbial communities and immune responses of periodontitis and peri-implantitis are explored. Dysbiosis of the subgingival microbiome—characterized by an increase in pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis , Tannerella forsythia , and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans —plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of periodontitis. As for peri-implantitis, alterations include a higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens and reduced microbial diversity around implants. Moreover, oral dysbiosis potentially influencing systemic health through immune-mediated pathways. Regional immunity of periodontium involving neutrophils, T helper cells-17, and immune-related cytokines is crucial for maintaining periodontal homeostasis and responding to microbial imbalances. Additionally, the impact of non-mechanical treatments—such as probiotics and laser therapy—on the oral microbiome is discussed, demonstrating their potential in managing microbial dysbiosis. These findings underscore that bacterial dysbiosis is a central factor in the development of periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Maintaining microbial balance is essential for preventing these diseases, and interventions targeting the microbiome could enhance treatment outcomes. Strategies focusing on controlling pathogenic bacteria, modulating immune responses, and promoting tissue regeneration are key to restoring periodontal stability. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the transition from peri-implant mucositis to peri-implantitis and to optimize prevention and treatment approaches, considering the complex interactions between the microbiome and host immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly transforming businesses, it is crucial to examine how AI will change the future of the hospitality and tourism industry. By integrating multiple data sources (i.e., practitioner literature, research literature, and expert opinions), we suggest three trends constituting opportunities and challenges (AI applications in different business sectors, primary AI functions, emerging AI topics), three possible themes of change (adoption and acceptance, operations management, AI in marketing), as well as four directions for future research (AI interaction, AI and organizational decision making, organizational implications, and managerial issues). Our findings present a detailed picture of AI development and applications along with predictions regarding its place in the industry. Finally, we outline a research agenda that addresses key issues for stakeholders in hospitality and tourism: individuals, including customers and employees; organizations and businesses; and public policymakers and governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this paper is modeling customer satisfaction in the mobile telecommunication industry following the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on standard customer satisfaction models, a specialized model tailored for the mobile telecommunication industry has been developed to account for its unique characteristics, including market concentration. This model was created within the Slovakian context using the Structural Equation Modelling method. The respondents were customers of all mobile operators in this market. The model revealed a positive relationship between image and perceived service quality and a negative relationship between customer expectations and perceived service value. However, it was not possible to demonstrate a relationship between image and customer loyalty or between customer expectations and customer satisfaction. Therefore, it seems that the factors influencing customer satisfaction in the telecommunications sector of an emerging EU economy differ from those in other sectors and economies in the post-Covid-19 context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of hotels and restaurants are using service robots as front-line employees, yet the lack of consumer trust in service robots affects the service experience. To enhance trust, companies have added anthropomorphism designs for service robots. This study investigated the effects of service robot anthropomorphism on trust and psychological mechanisms of trust in service robot. This study conducted three scenario-based experiments to explore the mechanisms of the service robot appearance anthropomorphism effect on trust. The results show that consumers are more likely to trust service robots with a higher degree of appearance anthropomorphism. The anthropomorphism appearance of service robots affects consumers' perceived interpersonal attraction, including physical attraction, task attraction and social attraction, which in turn affects trust. In addition, consumers' technology readiness moderates the effect of service robot anthropomorphism on interpersonal attraction. This paper develops research on consumer trust in service robots, and provides guidance for marketing practices of service robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Oral hygiene is a key factor for dental and periodontal diseases and the prognosis of any treatment to restore their consequences. The present survey aimed to evaluate how well informed patients in Albania are on oral hygiene, given the scarce evidence on this topic. Methods: This survey was performed using a Google Forms questionnaire on oral hygiene habits, type and technique of instruments used, and frequency of dental recall visits. Results: A total of 1006 questionnaires were filled in a one-month time period (January 2020) from a population of 75.2% females and 24.8% males, 32.7 ± 11.3 years of age, from whom 94.6% reported a lack of systemic diseases and 80% were non-smokers. All of the population brushed their teeth at least once daily. The most used type of toothbrush was a manual one (91.1%) with medium-bristle hardness in 71% of cases. The most prevalent way of using the toothbrush was through circular movements (36.7%) with a duration of 2–3 min in 72% of the population. Only 77.1% of the population used interdental instruments, mainly interdental floss. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, it could be concluded that the present population seemed to be mostly appropriately informed, but the information needs further revision and promotion by dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to was to investigate the relationship between miR-2861, miR-5011-5p, and colorectal carcinogenesis. Method: In the present study, it was isolated RNA from both the tumor and non-tumor tissue of a total of 80 CRC patients and after synthesizing the cDNA, it was performed qRT-PCR to determine the expression levels of miR‑2861 and miR‑5011-5p. In addition, it was predicted that dysregulated miRNAs targets, pathways and functional gene annotations that may be important in colorectal carcinogenesis using KEGG pathway and GO analysis. Results: The resulting data revealed that both expression levels of miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p were significantly decreased in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues of CRC patients. The GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p may participate in multiple the biological process, cellular components, and molecular function subcategories such as mitotic cell cycle, regulation of small GTPase mediated signal transduction, cell death, and acid binding transcription factor activity. It was also revealed that target genes of miRNAs can be found in signaling pathways such as TGF-beta, Rap1, Ras, cAMP, Wnt, mTOR and, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Conclusion: These findings imply that miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p might function as tumor suppressors in the development of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the cultural challenges and risks of global heritage tourism development, it is urgent to stimulate tourists' cultural preservation commitment (TCPC). Therefore, this study delves into the connections between factual and affective content of heritage tourism interpretation and TCPC, as well as the intermediary role of experience quality and the moderating role of message framing, across three sub-studies. Study 1 applies big data and content analysis to preliminarily examine these connections. Studies 2 and 3 conduct scenario experiments to further verify their causality and examine how experience quality and message framing affect this relationship. Findings demonstrate that affective content is more potent in eliciting TCPC, with experience quality as a crucial intermediary. Furthermore, message framing (gain and loss) moderates TCPC formation, and combining gain framing and affective content is more influential. Under loss framing, this impact is not significantly different. This study expands the research scope and method of heritage tourism interpretation, and diversifies the discussion of TCPC antecedents. Moreover, the research uncovers experience quality's intermediary role and message framing's moderating effect in forging TCPC. The findings better evoke TCPC via interpretation tools, thus enhancing heritage preservation and sustainable tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the effectiveness of two types of message framing in pro-environmental communication: prescriptive versus proscriptive appeals in daily and tourism contexts. Two experimental studies were conducted. Study 1a focused on natural park and street park scenarios, while Study 1b examined hotel and office scenarios. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and further explored the mediating role of anticipated pride and guilt. The results indicate that in tourism contexts, prescriptive-framed appeals are more effective than proscriptive-framed appeals, whereas in daily contexts, proscriptive-framed appeals are more effective. Furthermore, the message framing-context congruency effect is mediated by the anticipated pride and guilt. These findings fill a literature gap by revealing the interaction between message framing and context in pro-environmental communication, providing insights for managers to customize appeals, using prescriptive-framed messages in tourism contexts and proscriptive-framed messages in daily contexts, while leveraging anticipated pride and guilt to motivate eco-friendly actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the antecedents of service robots' adoption at restaurants in India, specifically focusing on Gen Z customers. This study sheds light on customer preferences in getting served by service robots with the moderating role of human service preference and the perceived job lose orientation of dine-in customers. Design/methodology/approach: Primary data was collected from Gen Z customers using purposive sampling from prime cities in South (n = 363) and North India (n = 303). The perceptions of respondents towards service robots were analysed in SmartPLS 3.3.9. Findings: The findings suggest that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivations and price value significantly determine service robots' acceptance by Gen Z consumers. However, such direct associations are significantly moderated by Gen Z's human service preference and perceived job loss. Furthermore, demographic factors like respondents' location, i.e. north and south, affect their preferences. Originality/value: This research provides more insights into human preferences in dining in terms of moderating variables like human service preference and job-saving orientation of customers based on which the managers can design people, processes and physical evidence strategies of restaurant service mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on social assistive robots in education faces many challenges that extend beyond technical issues. On one hand, hardware and software limitations, such as algorithm accuracy in real-world applications, render this approach difficult for daily use. On the other hand, there are human factors that need addressing as well, such as student motivations and expectations toward the robot, teachers' time management and lack of knowledge to deal with such technologies, and effective communication between experimenters and stakeholders. In this paper, we present a complete evaluation of the design process for a robotic architecture targeting teachers, students, and researchers. The contribution of this work is three-fold: (i) we first present a high-level assessment of the studies conducted with students and teachers that allowed us to build the final version of the architecture's module and its graphical interface; (ii) we present the R-CASTLE architecture from a technical perspective and its implications for developers and researchers; and, finally, (iii) we validated the R-CASTLE architecture with an in-depth qualitative analysis with five new teachers. Findings suggest that teachers can intuitively import their daily activities into our architecture at first glance, even without prior contact with any social robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to create a characterisation of the careers of women satisfied with their work. Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative study was conducted by survey (CAWI) using an online questionnaire on a sample of 517 women. The questionnaire included single and multiple choice, open-ended questions. The survey lasted 9 months (February-October 2022) and included economically active women working in medium or large enterprises in south-eastern Poland. Responses were elicited through a 'snowball' effect and invitations to participate in the survey sent to organisations meeting the criteria. Statistical analysis included descriptive characteristics and tests of intergroup comparisons. Findings: On the basis of the research carried out and the results obtained, it is possible to indicate the characteristics of the professional career of a woman demonstrating satisfaction with her work. She is a woman aged 35, with children and living in the Małopolskie Voivodeship. She is employed as an independent specialist or holds an executive position in health care, services or financial activities and earns more than 10 500 PLN gross per month. She has significant professional experience gained in her previous work in three different organisations. Her professional career is of great importance to her and she ensures its regular development by taking courses to develop her hard skills and by training independently from her work in the organisation. Research limitations/implications: The results refer only to the surveyed group, without the possibility of generalisation. The division of female respondents into groups according to job satisfaction may be a simplification that does not take into account the complexity of shades of satisfaction. The research covers only a fragment of the subject of job satisfaction among women, constituting an introduction to further research, e.g. broadening the scope of job satisfaction among women, referring to an aspect other than professional career, examining satisfaction in different regions of Poland or comparing results on a national scale. It would also be interesting to conduct an analogous study among men and analyse gender differences. Originality/value: In view of such a diverse approach to the topic of job satisfaction, however, there are few Polish studies relating to the context of women's careers, set in the realities of the domestic labour market. Therefore, it seems justified to take up the topic of women's careers demonstrating job satisfaction discussed in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the Scene Adaptive Acoustic Encoder (SAAE) method, which is tailored to diverse acoustic environments for adaptive design. Hand-crafted acoustic encoders often struggle to adapt to varying acoustic conditions, resulting in performance degradation in end-to-end speech recognition tasks. To address this challenge, the proposed SAAE method learns the differences in acoustic features across different environments and accordingly designs suitable acoustic encoders. By incorporating neural architecture search technology, the effectiveness of the encoder design is enhanced, leading to improved speech recognition performance. Experimental evaluations on three commonly used Mandarin and English datasets (Aishell-1, HKUST, and SWBD) demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The SAAE method achieves an average error rate reduction of more than 5% compared with existing acoustic encoders, highlighting its capability to deeply analyze speech features in specific scenarios and design high-performance acoustic encoders in a targeted manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has had a profound impact on the medical industry. As the ultimate consumers, patients' acceptance of medical AI plays an important role in realizing its widespread adoption in healthcare. However, previous studies have indicated that patients' acceptance of medical AI is still inconsistent. This study considered the application of medical AI in different scenarios and divided them into medical AI for diagnosis and treatment (MAI-DT) and medical AI for non-diagnosis and non-treatment (MAI-NDT). Drawing on the theories of uniqueness and dehumanization, this study explored the impacts of patients' sense of uniqueness (SOU) on their acceptance of medical AI under the two scenarios and the underlying mechanisms. Analysis of the data from 238 samples collected during the COVID-19 period in China showed that participants with a higher SOU had a lower acceptance of MAI-DT but a higher acceptance of MAI-NDT than participants with a lower SOU. In addition, perceived AI knowledge and perceived AI empathy mediated the relationship between the participants' SOU and their acceptance of AI under the two scenarios. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the impact of marketing artificial intelligence (AI) and the specific channels it uses to influence the performance of Jordanian SMEs. In contrast to prior research that focused solely on the direct effects of marketing AI on organizational performance, our study introduces innovative pathways involving customer engagement, customer satisfaction, and data-driven decision-making. These channels serve as indirect mechanisms through which the impact of marketing AI extends to influence the Sustainable Financial Performance of SMEs. Using a framework for structural equation modeling, we looked at the answers of 250 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) chosen through cluster sampling from industrially active areas in Jordan. Our findings reveal that the adoption of AI technologies leads to a notable 42.5% enhancement in Sustainable Financial Performance among SMEs, driven by a 50% increase in customer engagement and a 76% improvement through data-driven decision-making processes. While our study did not establish a direct correlation between marketing AI and long-term financial performance, it demonstrated the connection between technology adoption, customer-focused strategies, and data-driven practices. The findings offer actionable insights and recommendations for Jordanian SMEs leveraging marketing AI to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth. The study offers significant contributions to how marketing AI improves the Sustainable Financial Performance of Jordanian SMEs by identifying crucial indirect pathways. Unlike previous studies, it focuses on the roles of customer engagement, satisfaction, and data-driven decision-making as mediators rather than emphasizing direct impacts. The findings highlight the importance of integrating technology with customer-centric and data-oriented strategies to drive sustainable growth and competitiveness in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magical town designation is a distinction granted by the Mexican government to different areas that meet certain requirements that favor tourist activities. Some of these magical towns, as in the case of San Sebastian del Oeste, in Jalisco, have had different outcomes because of this distinction, and a very important one is the quality of life (QOL) of the local inhabitants, who have modified their traditional lifestyles oriented to rural activities by including tourism and all that it implies. For this reason, it is necessary to ask the following question: What has been the impact of tourism on the QOL of the local inhabitants of San Sebastian del Oeste? To answer this question, a qualitative–phenomenological methodology was used, based on interviews with local inhabitants to identify the impact of tourism on their QOL. This study found that tourism has answered some of the needs of the local population, such as economic and public services, but it is not the solution for all areas considered in QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries and periodontal disease are amongst the most prevalent global disorders. Their aetiology is rooted in microbial activity within the oral cavity, through the generation of detrimental metabolites and the instigation of potentially adverse host immune responses. Due to the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, alternative approaches to readdress the balance are necessary. Advances in sequencing technologies have established relationships between disease and oral dysbiosis, and commercial enterprises seek to identify probiotic and prebiotic formulations to tackle preventable oral disorders through colonisation with, or promotion of, beneficial microbes. It is the metabolic characteristics and immunomodulatory capabilities of resident species which underlie health status. Research emphasis on the metabolic environment of the oral cavity has elucidated relationships between commensal and pathogenic organisms, for example, the sequential metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates deemed central to acid production in cariogenicity. Therefore, a focus on the preservation of an ecological homeostasis in the oral environment may be the most appropriate approach to health conservation. In this review we discuss an ecological approach to the maintenance of a healthy oral environment and debate the potential use of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, specifically targeted at sustaining oral niches to preserve the delicately balanced microbiome. Key messages: The balance of oral homeostasis requires delicate adjustments to prevent and counteract disease. The metabolic activities of the complete microbiome, not only key pathogens or commensals, are important to the maintenance of health. Metabolomics techniques can be valuable in identifying environmental niches deficient in disease that can act as targets for probiotic and prebiotic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by astrocytes (ADEVs) mediate numerous biological processes, providing insights into damage, repair, and protection following ischemic stroke (IS). This pilot study aimed to broaden the current knowledge on the astrocyte response to ischemia by dynamically assessing the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) as cargo proteins of these vesicles in eighteen acute IS patients and nine controls. EV proteins were detected by Western blotting and followed 24 h (D1), 7 days (D7), and one month (M1) after symptoms onset. The post-ischemic ADEV AQP4 and GDNF levels were higher at D1 compared to the control group (p = 0.006 and p = 0.023). Significant differences were observed in ADEV AQP4 during the three evaluated time points (n = 12, p = 0.013) and between D1 and D7 (z = 2.858, p = 0.012), but not in EV GDNF. There was a positive relationship between the severity of stroke at D1 according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and ADEV AQP4 at D1 (r = 0.50, p = 0.031), as well as ADEV GDNF at D1 and D7 (r = 0.49, p = 0.035 and r = 0.53, p = 0.021, respectively). The release of EVs with distinct protein profiles can be an attractive platform for the development of biomarkers in IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, affects over one billion adults worldwide. It can progress to more severe conditions, like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies have highlighted the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in this progression due to their ability to regulate genes involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation. Modulating miRNAs through synthetic molecules represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Preclinical models demonstrate that miRNA-based therapies can reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis and inhibit tumorigenesis, potentially delaying or preventing HCC onset. However, challenges such as delivery mechanisms, side effects, and long-term safety remain to be addressed. This review, focusing on recent preclinical and clinical studies, explores the pharmacological potential of miRNA-based interventions to counteract MASLD/MASH and their progression to HCC. It provides insights into an emerging field with significant implications for liver disease treatment. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a growing health concern worldwide, affecting more than 1 billion adults. It may progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence has demonstrated the role in this transition of microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism, inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation. Specific miRNAs have been identified to exacerbate or mitigate fibrotic and carcinogenic processes in hepatic cells. The modulation of these miRNAs through synthetic mimics or inhibitors represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Preclinical models have demonstrated that miRNA-based therapies can attenuate liver inflammation, reduce fibrosis, and inhibit tumorigenesis, thus delaying or preventing the onset of HCC. However, challenges such as delivery mechanisms, off-target effects, and long-term safety remain to be addressed. This review, focusing on recently published preclinical and clinical studies, explores the pharmacological potential of miRNA-based interventions to prevent MASLD/MASH and progression toward HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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(1) Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. Although the changes in the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) in hepatitis B virus-related diseases have been evaluated, no study has evaluated the role of miRNAs in HBV vaccine response in MASLD patients. We aimed to determine the miRNA expression profile in MASLD patients according to HBV vaccine response. (2) Methods: Overall, 100 MASLD patients and 100 controls were included, and anti-HBs levels were measured after three doses of HBV vaccine administration. After collecting blood samples, 22 different miRNA expression profiles were analyzed by RT-PCR analysis, and changes in the expression levels of potential miRNAs were further verified in all study groups. (3) Results: The miR-146a expression level considerably increased in MASLD patients compared to the control group. Furthermore, miR-99a and miR-640 expression levels significantly increased in AntiHBs (−) healthy individuals. (4): Conclusions: miR-146a could be used as the diagnostic marker in MASLD patients. Furthermore, the miR-99a and miR-640 expression levels could predict hepatitis B vaccine response. However, validation studies are required to verify the biomarker potential of miRNAs within a more significant number of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can colonize human gastric epithelial cells and cause H. pylori infection, closely related to many gastric diseases. Compared with conventional H. pylori detection methods, emerging diagnostic approaches (such as biosensors) have become potentially more effective alternatives due to their high sensitivity, good selectivity and noninvasiveness. This review begins with a brief overview of H. pylori infection, the processes that lead to diseases, and current diagnostic methods. Subsequently, advanced biosensors in different target-based for diagnosing H. pylori infection are focused, including the detection of H. pylori-related nucleic acid, H. pylori-related protein (such as the cytotoxin, urease), and intact H. pylori. In addition, prospects for the development of H. pylori detection methods are also discussed in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine how and when different framings of sustainability performance communication influence travelers' behavioral intentions. Specifically, it examines (1) the effectiveness of sustainability performance communication framing in shaping traveler's behavioral intentions, (2) the mediating role of perceived commitment to sustainability, and (3) the moderating effect of the level of sustainability performance communicated. The findings of the four experiments conducted revealed that communicating sustainability performance is more effective than not reporting it in determining travelers' behavioral intentions. Furthermore, an enhancement framing is more effective when communicating sustainability performance than a reduction framing. We also found that tourism provider's commitment to sustainability explains the impact of sustainability performance communication framing on behavioral intentions. Furthermore, we found that communicating a moderate level of sustainability performance in enhancement framing and a high level in reduction framing is effective. The study provides implications for theory and practice in developing effective sustainability communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to determine the factors affecting the usage intention of AI technology in the hospitality and tourism sector in Malaysia. It also investigates the mediating effect of self-efficacy within some relationships. This is a quantitative study applying a cross-sectional online survey technique. The target population consisted of tourists seeking for services from the tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia. Data was collected from 250 respondents using a survey questionnaire and analysed by applying a structural equation model using the AMOS 21 version. The results indicate that accuracy experience, insight experience, and interactive experience between trust in AI and eWOM engagements are significant respectively, except for the relationship between interactive experience and eWOM. Likewise, the outcome indicates that trust in AI has a significant positive relationship between usage intention and eWOM, while eWOM significantly and positively influences usage intention. In addition, this study found that word-of-mouth mediates the association between accuracy experience and trust in AI. The results show that self-efficacy moderates the association between accuracy experience and trust in AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elucidating the dynamics of gene expression across developmental stages, including the genomic characteristics of brain expression during infancy, is pivotal in deciphering human psychiatric and neurological disorders and providing insights into developmental disorders. Results: Leveraging comprehensive human GWAS associations with temporal and spatial brain expression data, we discovered a distinctive co-expression cluster comprising 897 genes highly expressed specifically during infancy, enriched in functions related to the neuronal system. This gene cluster notably harbors the highest ratio of genes linked to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Through computational analysis, MYT1L emerged as a potential central transcription factor governing these genes. Remarkably, the infancy-specific expressed genes, including SYT1, exhibit prominent colocalization within human accelerated regions. Additionally, chromatin state analysis unveiled prevalent epigenetic markers associated with enhancer-specific modifications. In addition, this cluster of genes has demonstrated to be specifically highly expressed in cell-types including excitatory neurons, medial ganglionic eminence and caudal ganglionic eminence. Conclusions: This study comprehensively characterizes the genomics and epigenomics of genes specifically expressed during infancy, identifying crucial hub genes and transcription factors. These findings offer valuable insights into early detection strategies and interventions for psychiatric and neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea, sand, and sun allure of the Cook Islands has seen tourism become the most significant driver of the country's economic development. However, the increasing reliance on the tourism sector since the 1980's has created a mono-economy at the expense of diversification and alternative economic models. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the risks and consequences associated with an over-reliance on international tourism as the lockdown measures and international travel restrictions caused the sudden shutdown of international tourism, resulting in serious negative economic consequences for tourism-dependent communities. However, the pandemic also offered an opportunity for small island societies to reflect on pre-existing challenges associated with the tourismindustry. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews with Indigenous Cook Islanders in Rarotonga, this study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of how the lived experiences of participants responding to the sudden collapse of tourism may have influenced how Indigenous Cook Islands peoples perceive the role of tourism in supporting the wellbeing of their small island nation. The presented study is the result of a collaborative research partnership between an Indigenous Pacific scholar and non-Indigenous European scholar. While the research adopted a western methodology, the relationships developed between the researchers and participants were guided by the cultural values of reciprocity and respect, which are key principles underpinning Indigenous research in the Pacific. The findings revealed that participants adapted to the adverse impacts of COVID-19 through the revitalization of their traditional socio-economies, the resurgence of customary practices, a strengthened connection to nature, and a renewed sense of community spirit and pride in cultural identity--all of which were perceived to positively impact their spiritual, social, cultural, environmental, physical, and mental wellbeing. By demonstrating the positive adaptive responses of participants, this article aims to emphasize the non-economic dimensions of wellbeing that are critical to supporting the cultural values, social priorities, and the Indigenous ways of life that preceded the development of tourism. These findings can be used to inform and guide international development policy makers and tourism stakeholders who seek to reduce the adverse impacts of tourism on the wellbeing of Indigenous communities in the Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that preserving cultural heritage is equally crucial as preserving the surrounding environment, the majority of tourism experts have concentrated their debates on sustainable development concerning natural environment. Although certain natural areas may recover from the consequences of urbanisation and rejuvenate naturally, cultural heritage is indeed a nonrenewable treasure that, once damaged, is lost forever. Thus, the objective of the present investigation was to ascertain the cultural heritage conservation behaviour of residents and even the variables which may influence this crucial behaviour. Specifically, the research evaluated a model integrating local cultural intelligence, perceived Cultural Heritage tourism impact, and cultural heritage responsibility behaviour in the cultural heritage context. The model has been assessed via a two-stage CB-SEM, utilising data (N=450) obtained from the prominent cultural heritage locations throughout Jammu and Kashmir, India. The study findings suggest that locals with higher cultural intelligence are more likely to experience positive Cultural Heritage tourism "economic, socio-cultural, and environmental" impacts which ultimately stimulate them to engage in Cultural Heritage responsibility behaviour. This research offers novel insights concerning the cultural intelligence of locals and uncovers the influence that Cultural Heritage tourism consequences play in fostering cultural heritage conservation behavior. Finally, the research provides both theoretical and practical insights and implications which could be incorporated in long-term sustainable planning and expansion efforts for cultural heritage tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging field in the service industry. To increase customer satisfaction either through customisation or personalisation and to counter the challenge of finding skilled manpower, AI adoption in the hospitality and tourism industry (H&TI) can be a milestone achievement. Methodology - This study applied a combined approach of performance analysis and science mapping to identify the growth and citation pattern, co-word analysis and thematic development based on the literature published in Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases since its evolution. Findings and novelty - Publication growth on AI adoption in H&TI has taken a manifold turn in the last five years. Science mapping analysis, such as co-word clustering, developed themes like interconnectivity, connectivity, experience, transformation, and diversity, which can help H&TI match the growing expectations of travelers and increase business. Five central themes were developed based on the article Bibliographic Coupling Analysis (BCA), which highlighted the critical information that can lay the foundation for H&TI to move forward in AI adoption to survive and stay ahead in this competitive market. Additionally, this article has uncovered important information such as authors, countries, and organisation contributions, which can also generate critical information. Future researchers can explore the uncovered area of the study and unearth the hidden information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article examines the relationship between tourism and education through a bibliometric analysis since 1950 in the field of hospitality, tourism, leisure, and education. The aim of the paper is offering an overview of the tourism and education binomial analyzing how research on education in the tourism sector has been approached; how general education is studied to understand the touristic processes and how tourism is considered a springboard to boost environmental, cultural, and social awareness. This study expands on the existing literature of studies including the past and present research contributions. The results reveal the most influential articles, the co-occurrence of author's keywords, main topics addressed and the current areas of research, which are related to the influence of the educational background of individuals toward sustainable development and the role of tourism to sensitize stakeholders on sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]