Alternative Indicators Research Articles

Usefulness of Vitamin D Deficiency Questionnaire for Japanese (VDDQ-J) for Screening of Vitamin D Deficiency and Low Muscle Mass in Relatively Healthy Japanese Anti-Aging Health Checkup Examinees.

The Vitamin D Deficiency Questionnaire for Japanese (VDDQ-J) has been developed as an alternative indicator of the vitamin D nutritional status when serum 25(OH)D measurement is unavailable. In the present study, we compared the usefulness of the VDDQ-J with that of serum 25(OH)D concentration and examined the relationship among vitamin D, DXA-based body composition, and muscle strength in 163 anti-aging health check examinees. The median age, 25(OH)D concentration and VDDQ-J score were 62.0 y, 20.1 ng/mL and 22.0 points, respectively. In total, 47.9% of the subjects had serum 25(OH)D concentrations of <20 ng/mL. The VDDQ-J score was significantly negatively correlated with the serum 25(OH)D concentration, and the positive predictive value for vitamin D deficiency was 86.3%. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.1%. Low 25(OH)D levels and high VDDQ-J scores were significantly associated with low muscle mass in both univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The serum 25(OH)D level showed a significant negative correlation with body fat mass. The VDDQ-J score was selected as a significant determinant of low skeletal muscle mass index (<7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.4 kg/m2 for women) by a multiple logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, the present study showed that a low vitamin D nutritional status as indicated by both low 25(OH)D levels, and high VDDQ-J scores was associated with low muscle mass and the VDDQ-J is considered useful not only for the detection of vitamin D deficiency but also in the screening of individuals with low muscle mass and a high risk of sarcopenia.

Convolutional Neural Network Model for Sex Determination Using Femur Bones

Forensic anthropology is the critical discipline that applies physical anthropology in forensic education. One valuable application is the identification of the biological profile. However, in the aftermath of significant disasters, the identification of human skeletons becomes challenging due to their incompleteness and difficulty determining sex. Researchers have explored alternative indicators to address this issue, including using the femur bone as a reliable sex identifier. The development of artificial intelligence has created a new field called deep learning that has excelled in various applications, including sex determination using the femur bone. In this study, we employ the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method to identify the sex of human skeleton shards. A CNN model was trained on 91 CT-scan results of femur bones collected from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, comprising 50 female and 41 male patients. The data pre-processing involves cropping, and the dataset is divided into training and validation subsets with varying percentages (60:4, 70:30, and 80:20). The constructed CNN architecture exhibits exceptional accuracy, achieving 100% accuracy in both training and validation data. Moreover, the precision, recall, and F1 score attained a perfect score of 1, validating the model's precise predictions. The results of this research demonstrate excellent accuracy, confirming the reliability of the developed model for sex determination. These findings demonstrate that using deep learning for sex determination is a novel and promising approach. The high accuracy of the CNN model provides a valuable tool for sex determination in challenging scenarios. This could have important implications for forensic investigations and help identify victims of disasters and other crimes.

경제적 어려움 하에서 ESG와 기업가치의 관계

[Purpose] This study examines the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on corporate value in the face of economic difficulties. If a company’s survival is at stake, we predict that the capital market will focus on increasing the viability of a firm more important than the long-term benefits of ESG engagements.&#x0D; [Methodology] We use sales decline as a proxy for economic hardship. A firm’s sales decline is measured in a variety of ways：relative to the firm’s own sales in the preceding year or relative to the change in aggregate sales of the industry in the concurrent year. Additionally, we use operating profit decline as an alternative indicator of economic hardship. We collect ESG performance (ratings) data from Korea Corporate Governance System (KCGS) from 2011 to 2020.&#x0D; [Findings] We find that the positive value effect of ESG performance is weaker for firms that experience such shocks. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effect of enhancing the value of ESG performance is not observed. Our results are robust to controlling for potential endogeneity of ESG performance using the two-stage least squares (2SLS) approach.&#x0D; [Implications] Our findings suggest that the beneficial effects of ESG performance on long -term corporate value is attenuated when firms face economic difficulties and severe economic crisis.

Convolutional Neural Network Model for Sex Determination Using Femur Bones

Forensic anthropology is the critical discipline that applies physical anthropology in forensic education. One valuable application is the identification of the biological profile. However, in the aftermath of significant disasters, the identification of human skeletons becomes challenging due to their incompleteness and difficulty determining sex. Researchers have explored alternative indicators to address this issue, including using the femur bone as a reliable sex identifier. The development of artificial intelligence has created a new field called deep learning that has excelled in various applications, including sex determination using the femur bone. In this study, we employ the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method to identify the sex of human skeleton shards. A CNN model was trained on 91 CT-scan results of femur bones collected from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, comprising 50 female and 41 male patients. The data pre-processing involves cropping, and the dataset is divided into training and validation subsets with varying percentages (60:4, 70:30, and 80:20). The constructed CNN architecture exhibits exceptional accuracy, achieving 100% accuracy in both training and validation data. Moreover, the precision, recall, and F1 score attained a perfect score of 1, validating the model's precise predictions. The results of this research demonstrate excellent accuracy, confirming the reliability of the developed model for sex determination. These findings demonstrate that using deep learning for sex determination is a novel and promising approach. The high accuracy of the CNN model provides a valuable tool for sex determination in challenging scenarios. This could have important implications for forensic investigations and help identify victims of disasters and other crimes.

How to Measure Glycemic Variability? A Literature Review.

Optimal glycemic control without the presence of diabetes-related complications is the primary goal for adequate diabetes management. Recent studies have shown that hemoglobin A1c level cannot fully evaluate diabetes management as glycemic fluctuations are demonstrated to have a major impact on the occurrence of diabetes-related micro- and macroangiopathic comorbidities. The use of continuous glycemic monitoring systems allowed the quantification of glycemic fluctuations, providing valuable information about the patients' glycemic control through various indicators that evaluate the magnitude of glycemic fluctuations in different time intervals. This review highlights the significance of glycemic variability by describing and providing a better understanding of common and alternative indicators available for use in clinical practice.

Comparison on removal performance of virus, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, cell-associated and cell-free antibiotic resistance genes, and indicator chemicals by ozone in the filtrated secondary effluent of a sewage treatment plant

Due to the widespread appearance of viruses, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the aquatic environment, more powerful oxidation processes such as ozonation are needed to enhance the efficiency of their inactivation and removal during wastewater treatment. However, information is lacking on the elimination rates of viruses, ARBs, cell-associated ARGs (ca-ARGs), and cell-free ARGs (cf-ARGs) during ozonation. This study examined the kinetics and dose-dependent inactivation of a virus (MS2 coliphage) and an ARB (Ampicillin-resistant [AmpR] E. coli) and the removal of ca- and cf-ARGs (plasmid-encoded blaTEM) by ozonation in a filtered secondary effluent (SE) of a municipal sewage treatment plant (STP). In addition, the ozonation kinetics of carbamazepine (CBZ) and metoprolol (MTP)—ubiquitous organic micropollutants with different removal rate constants—were also investigated in order to monitor their effectiveness as indicators for the abovementioned biological risk factors. Our results showed that ozonation was an efficient way to remove MS2, AmpRE. coli, ARGs, CBZ, and MTP. We investigated the kinetics of their inactivation/removal with respect to exposure in terms of CT (dissolved ozone concentration C and contact time T) value, and found their inactivation/removal constants were in the following order: MS2 (8.66 ×103 M−1s−1) ≈ AmpRE. coli (8.19 ×103 M−1s−1) > cf-ARG (3.95 ×103 M−1s−1) > CBZ (3.21 ×103 M−1s−1) > ca-ARG (2.48×103 M−1s−1) > MTP (8.35 ×102 M−1s−1). In terms of specific ozone dose, > 5-log inactivation of MS2 was observed at > 0.30 mg O3/mg DOC, while > 5-log inactivation of AmpRE. coli was confirmed at 1.61–2.35 mg O3/mg DOC. Moreover, there was almost no removal of ca-ARG when the specific ozone dose was < 0.68 mg O3/mg DOC. However, 2.86–3.42-log removal of ca-ARG was observed at 1.27–1.31 mg O3/mg DOC, while 1.14–1.36-log removal of cf-ARG was confirmed at 3.60–4.30 mg O3/mg DOC. As alternative indicators, > 4-log removal of CBZ was observed at > 1.00 mg O3/mg DOC, while > 2-log removal of MTP was confirmed at > 2.00 mg O3/mg DOC. Thus, it was observed that inactivation of E. coli needs a greater ozone dose to achieve the same level of inactivation of AmpRE. coli; for ARGs, cf-ARG can persist longer than ca-ARG if low dosages of ozone are applied in the filtrated SE, CBZ might act as an indicator with which to monitor the inactivation of viruses and ARBs, while MTP might act as an indicator with which to monitor removal of ARGs. Moreover, cf-ARG cannot be neglected even after ozonation due to the possibility that ca-ARGs can become cf-ARGs during ozonation and be discharged with the final effluent, posing a potential risk to the receiving environment.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Its Correlates: Associations with Serum Creatinine and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in a Cross-Sectional Study from CHARLS 2011-2015.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a significant global public health challenge, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is widely used due to its convenience, low cost, and broad clinical applicability. Concurrently, insulin resistance (IR) serves as a crucial marker of metabolic disturbance, and alternative indicators have garnered increasing attention in CKD research in recent years. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between IR-related indices (TyG index, TyG-BMI index, and TyG-WC index) and serum creatinine levels, as well as the eGFR, with the intention of uncovering their potential roles in the assessment of renal function. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data from a cohort of individuals aged 45 and above in China, comprising 11,608 participants. Participants were categorized into different groups based on quartiles of the TyG index, and multiple factors, including gender, age, lifestyle, and co-morbidities, were adjusted for using linear regression models. Results: By linear regression, TyG, TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC indices were significantly positively correlated with serum creatinine and significantly negatively correlated with eGFR. Results showed similar trends when TyG, TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC indices were used as categorical variables. In the fully adjusted model, the highest quartile of serum creatinine was higher than the first quartile for TyG, TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC indices, with β values of 2.673, 3.67, and 1.937 mg/dL, respectively; the highest quartile of eGFR was lower than the first quartile, with β values of -2.4, -2.955, and -1.823 mL/min/1.73 m2. P values were statistically significant. Conclusions: This study indicates a consistent correlation between the TyG index and its related indices with serum creatinine levels and eGFR among the middle aged and elderly population in China. These findings suggest the potential utility of these indices in early screening and management of the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Analysis of Practical Design for Making Natural Acid-Base Indicator Paper from Purple Golden Flower Extract (Ruellia simplex) as Teaching Material for Acid-Base Material

Experiments are an essential part of chemistry. An indicator in the form of a synthetic indicator is generally used in acid-base practice. Using synthetic indicators can cause waste that is dangerous for the environment and is relatively expensive. Purple golden flowers are one of the plants that contain high levels of anthocyanin compounds, which have the potential to be an alternative in making natural acid-base indicators. This research aims to determine the curriculum and learning outcomes of acid-base material, the potential of natural indicator paper for purple golden flowers as a substitute for synthetic indicators, and the feasibility of indicator paper as a design for chemical experiments in SMA/MA. This research uses descriptive qualitative methods, which include literature studies, interviews, observations, and experiments. The purple golden flower indicator is produced by extraction using the maceration method using 96% ethanol solvent. The research results show that paper from purple golden flower extract can be used as a natural acid-base indicator by producing a pink color change in acidic solutions and a green color in essential solutions. Based on the natural indicator paper analysis, the purple golden flower can be used as an alternative indicator in practicum design in schools

Relationship between antihypertensive drug use and number of people with high blood pressure in FY 2018: a descriptive epidemiological study based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan open data

BackgroundIn most countries barring Japan, antihypertensive drug use has been reported using the defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DID). Although DID has been shown to allow for the assessment of the number of patients treated with a particular drug, the relationship between DID and the number of patients with hypertension has not been clarified. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between antihypertensive drug use and the number of people with high blood pressure based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) open data.MethodsDID was calculated by extracting the use of oral antihypertensive drugs from outpatient prescriptions in the NDB Open Data in FY 2018. The number of people with high blood pressure was calculated using the number of enrollees in each sex–age group for systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the 40–74 years age group. The correlation between the DID of antihypertensive drugs and the number of people with high blood pressure by sex and age class was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.ResultsThe use of antihypertensive drugs increased with age in both men and women. Furthermore, in both sexes, dihydropyridine derivatives, calcium antagonists, and angiotensin II receptor blockers were the main drugs used from the age of 20 years onward. In addition, a very strong positive correlation was found between the number of people with high systolic blood pressure and DID in both sexes (men: r = 1, P < 0.05; women: r = 1, P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the number of people with high diastolic blood pressure and DID in both sexes (men: r = − 0.214, P > 0.05; women: r = 0.393, P > 0.05).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the use of oral antihypertensive drugs in outpatient settings in Japan. In addition, the DID of antihypertensive drugs can be used as an alternative indicator of the number of people with high systolic blood pressure.

Analisis kemampuan pemecahan masalah materi kecepatan dan debit berdasarkan teori john dewey pada peserta didik kelas 5 sekolah dasar

&lt;p class="Abstract"&gt;&lt;em&gt;This aim of this research is to describe the ability to solve problems in speed and debit material based on John Dewey's theory on the 5th grade students of SD Djama'atul Ichwan Surakarta in the academic year 2019/2020. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with a phenomenological approach. The data source of this study was students of grade 5Bth at SD Djama'atul Ichwan, consisting of six children as research samples were taken by using a purposive sampling technique . The data collection technique was carried out by observation, interview, and document analysis with data validity testing using technique triangulation and time triangulation. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman data analysis models. The results of this study indicate that students can determine the problem by meeting the two specified indicators. Students are quite able to formulate and evaluate problem-solving hypotheses because they only have one way as an alternative to problem-solving so that they only meet one indicator out of the two indicators set. Students are quite capable of applying the chosen problem-solving method because they have not been able to write problem-solving steps systematically so that they only meet three indicators out of the four indicators set. It can be concluded that the students did not succeed in meeting the indicators determining several alternative problem-solving and indicators of the problem-solving flow were written systematically. The result of this research provide insight into problem-solving abilities based on John Dewey’s theory and orm the basis of the further research. The result of this research also encourage teachers to determine effective strategies, models, and methods so they can improve students’ problem solving abilities.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Axial length to corneal radius of curvature ratio and refractive error in Chinese preschoolers aged 4–6 years: a retrospective cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the associations of axial length to corneal radius of curvature (AL/CRC) ratio with refractive error and to determine the effect of AL/CRC ratio on hyperopia...

Determination of sound-field diffusion indices based on FMBEM incidence directivity analysis

Regarding the diffuseness of sound field, several indices and their measurement methods have been proposed in terms of isotropy of traveling waves. In this paper, we attempt to calculate two kinds of diffusion indices based on the incidence directivity analysis employing the fast multipole boundary element method (FMBEM). The directivity analysis is performed for steady-state sound fields in a rectangular room with changing the absorption condition of the walls. As for diffusion indices, the directional diffusion coefficient is determined from the deviation of directivity of sound intensity, while alternative isotropy indicator is calculated through the spherical expansion of the directivity. The numerical results show general tendencies that the former index is almost constant, whereas the latter index decreases with increasing the frequency. As a common tendency, it is confirmed that the indices become higher in a reflective room condition, and remarkable dips occur around the natural frequencies when absorbing walls are unevenly distributed. Moreover, concerning the receiving cell, the size of it has little effect on the indices. On the other hand, it is verified that the indices become higher with the receiving cell near the point source.

The monetary policy pass-through mechanism: Is the search-for-yield incentive at work?

The paper investigates the possible mechanism behind the link between monetary policy and bank lending/risk-taking behaviors. Using a sample of Vietnamese commercial banks during 2007–2019, we find that the impact on bank output associated with monetary policy shocks is attributable to banks’ incentives to search for yield. Concretely, if interest rates remain lower amid monetary expansions, banks are likely to expand their lending activities more aggressively and take more risks to offset their reduced revenues. Moreover, this crucial supply-side effect is also at work for the bank liquidity creation channel of monetary policy transmission. Accordingly, we document that demotivated banks appear to undermine the impact of monetary policy on the core function of banks in creating liquidity to the real economy. Our finding is robust against a series of alternative monetary policy indicators, different bank output measures, multiple search-for-yield proxies, and substitute econometric methodologies. In sum, as the monetary policy pass-through transmission through the key banking channels is found due to banks’ own decisions, monetary authorities need to take this underlying mechanism into account when setting their monetary policy.

Thromboelastography (TEG) parameters as potential predictors of malignancy and tumor progression in colorectal cancer

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the use of thromboelastography (TEG) in patients with colorectal cancer and to examine whether the TEG parameters can be used as potential markers for disease screening and prediction of disease severity.MethodsOne-hundred fifteen healthy controls (HC), 43 patients with benign adenoma (BA), and 387 patients with colorectal cancers (CRC) were included in the study. TEG parameters (reaction time, R; clot kinetics, K; alpha angle, α-angle; maximum amplitude, MA), conventional laboratory parameters, and clinical information were collected and analyzed among the HC, BA, and CRC groups. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were used for differential analysis. The correlation between TEG parameters and pathological information of CRC (differentiation degree, vaso-nerve infiltration, TNM stage) was analyzed. The differences in TEG parameters at different stages of disease and pre-/post operation were compared.ResultsShorter K and higher α-angle/MA were found in patients with CRC compared with HC and BA (P < 0.001). TEG parameters demonstrated moderate diagnostic value (distinguish CRC from HC + BA: K-AUC = 0.693, α-angle-AUC = 0.687, MA-AUC = 0.700) in CRC but did not outperform traditional laboratory parameters. TEG hypercoagulability was closely associated with tumor markers (carcinoma embryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19–9) and pathological information (differentiation degree, vaso-nerve infiltration, and TNM stage) (P < 0.05). Trend analysis showed that K decreased, but α-angle/MA increased gradually as the tumor progressed (P < 0.001). K- and α-angle showed slightly better sensitivity in predicting advanced tumors compared to traditional laboratory parameters. In CRC patients, 3–6 months after tumor resection, K [from 1.8 (1.5, 2.3) to 1.9 (1.6, 2.6)], α-angle [from 65.3 (59.0, 68.6) to 63.7 (56.6, 68.5)], and MA [from 61.0 (58.2, 66.0) to 58.9 (55.8, 61.3)] exhibited modest improvements compared to their preoperative values (P < 0.05).ConclusionTEG parameters possess moderate diagnostic value in CRC diagnosis and predicting advanced tumors, and they are closely linked to surgical interventions. Although TEG parameters do not significantly outperform traditional laboratory parameters, they still hold promise as potential alternative indicators in CRC patients.

The interplay between diversity climate and multiculturalism policy: How diversity contexts shape student collective voice

AbstractExisting research has largely acknowledged the importance of context in facilitating voice in culturally diverse institutions. However, most research has been situated empirically at the individual‐ rather than collective or context‐level. In the present research, multilevel modelling was used to examine the effect of school diversity context on students' perceived collective voice. Based on data from 4,690 students within 69 schools in Flanders, Belgium, we examined how multiculturalism policies as well as collectively perceived school climates of respect for diverse cultural groups may facilitate or hinder native and immigrant‐origin students' perceived collective voice. Results showed that diversity climates of respect were related to a greater perceived collective voice among all students, while multiculturalism policies had no effect. Nevertheless, an interplay between policy and climate showed that multiculturalism policy narrowed the gap in perceived collective voice between schools with stronger or weaker diversity climates. These results were robust to alternate indicators of climate and across minority/majority status groups. They raise the question of whether critical consciousness of unequal respect may be a first step in establishing socially just schools where multiculturalism policies value cultural identities and where all students can feel they have a collective voice. Future research directions are discussed. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Abstract 13237: The Combined Effect of Triglyceride-Glucose Index and High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a proven non-invasive alternative indicator of insulin resistance. There is an interconnection between insulin resistance and inflammation, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is one of the most commonly used biomarkers of systemic inflammation. We aimed to investigate the combined association of TyG and hsCRP with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methods: A total of 9421 patients with CCS were finally included in this study. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) covering all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between TyG, hsCRP, and cardiovascular events. Results: During the 2-year follow-up period, 660 (7.0%) cases of MACE were recorded. Participants were divided equally into 3 groups according to TyG levels. Compared to the TyG T1 group, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in the TyG T3 group (adjusted HR 1.283, 95% CI 1.037-1.587, P=0.022). In addition, there was a significantly higher risk of MACE in the TyG T3 group with a higher level of hsCRP (&gt; 3 mg/l) (adjusted HR 1.735,95% CI 1.126-2.674, P=0.012). However, the association between TyG and MACE events was attenuated with hsCRP ≤ 3 mg/l (adjusted HR 1.077,95% CI 0.834-1.391, P=0.568). When patients were divided into 6 groups according to hsCRP and TyG, the Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the TyG T3&amp;hsCRP&gt;3 mg/l group had a significantly higher risk of MACE than those in the TyG T1&amp;hsCRP≤3 mg/l group (adjusted HR: 1.577, 95%CI: 1.180-2.108, P=0.002). The Cox regression analysis of secondary endpoints showed that all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction appeared to be the main contributors to the increased risk of MACE. Conclusion: Elevated TyG index serves as a strong predictor of poor prognosis in patients with CCS. Additionally, participants with concurrently elevated hsCRP and TyG had worse clinical outcomes. The concurrent assessment of TyG and hsCRP may be valuable in identifying high-risk groups among CCS patients.

Identifying the discs, bulges, and intra-halo light of simulated galaxies through structural decomposition

ABSTRACT We perform a structural decomposition of galaxies identified in three cosmological hydrodynamical simulations by applying Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) to the kinematics of their stellar particles. We study the resulting disc, bulge, and intra-halo light (IHL) components of galaxies whose host dark matter haloes have virial masses in the range M200 = 1011–$10^{15}\, {\rm M_\odot }$. Our decomposition technique isolates galactic discs whose mass fractions, fdisc, correlate strongly with common alternative morphology indicators; for example, fdisc is approximately equal to κco, the fraction of stellar kinetic energy in corotation. The primary aim of our study, however, is to characterize the IHL of galaxies in a consistent manner and over a broad mass range, and to analyse its properties from the scale of galactic stellar haloes up to the intra-cluster light. Our results imply that the IHL fraction, fIHL, has appreciable scatter and is strongly correlated with galaxy morphology: at fixed stellar mass, the IHL of disc galaxies is typically older and less massive than that of spheroids. Above $M_{200}\approx 10^{13}\, {\rm M_\odot }$, we find, on average, fIHL ≈ 0.37, albeit with considerable scatter. The transition radius beyond which the IHL dominates the stellar mass of a galaxy is roughly $30\, {\rm kpc}$ for disc galaxies, but depends strongly on halo mass for spheroids. However, we find that no alternative IHL definitions – whether based on the ex situ stellar mass, or the stellar mass outside a spherical aperture – reproduce our dynamically defined IHL masses.

Estimating multicountry tourism flows by transport mode

This article describes the methodology used to obtain a harmonized database of country-to-country flows of tourists and visitors built upon the UNWTO original database. Focusing on 74 countries for the period 1995–2018 and starting with data on outbound tourism, we develop a methodology using other alternative indicators from the UNWTO which fills the gaps related to two main indicators (Foreign Visitors by country of Residence and Foreign Tourists by country of Residence). Subsequently, intra-national domestic tourism and the transport mode specific flows are obtained. The paper finally contrasts the robustness of the results obtained with the gravity equation for all flows, thereby confirming the solvency of the process and the final data retrieved.

How Useful are Mid-Arm and Calf Circumferences to Indicate Reduced Muscle Mass in Order to Recognize GLIM-Defined Malnutrition in Elderly Individuals?

The aim of this study was to estimate cutoff values of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) for reduced muscle mass and analyze their accuracy in identifying malnutrition among individuals of 65 years of age or older in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study is a secondary analysis dataset assessing nutritional risk and malnutrition among 446 community-dwellers and nursing home residents in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Malnutrition assessment included phenotypic criterions (weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced muscle mass) and etiologic criterions (inadequate food intake, disease-related inflammation, or albumin levels) according to recommendations of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). Receiver operating curves were used to calculate MUAC and CC's cutoff values as compared to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The optimal cutoff value for MUAC in men was 24 cm (AUC = 0.910, sensitivity 100%, specificity 77%), and in women 23 cm (AUC = 0.792, sensitivity 64%, specificity 83%). Optimal cutoff value of CC in men was 31 cm (AUC = 0.818, sensitivity 100%, specificity 67%) and in women 29 cm (AUC = 0.882, sensitivity 86%, specificity 74%). Two hundred fifty nine elderly individuals were categorized as malnourished/at risk for malnutrition per MNA. The prevalence of malnutrition based on GLIM criteria ranged from 19% to 30%. The study suggested that MUAC and CC may be used as the alternative indicators of muscle mass when other assessment methods are unavailable. Future validation and reliability studies for GLIM using anthropometric parameters as a proxy of reduced muscle mass are needed.

Fintech adoption, the regulatory environment and bank stability: An empirical investigation from GCC economies

The study analyzes the impact of fintech adoption on the banking sector's stability in GCC countries from 2010 to 2022. The study also considers the role of fintech regulations in this framework. We construct an index of fintech adoption by banks by considering several factors such as banks' digital presence, mobile banking capabilities, support for open APIs, fintech partnerships, digital payment solutions, automation and artificial intelligence integration, innovation initiatives, user experience focus and embracing new technologies. The regulatory environment is measured through the existence or introduction of fintech-related regulations such as the regulatory sandbox. The findings imply that fintech adoption has reduced banks' stability in GCC. The fintech-stability relationship varies over various bank-specific and country-specific variables. For instance, large and well-capitalized banks are less likely to experience adverse effects of fintech adoption. Moreover, the negative impact of fintech on financial stability is lower for Islamic, foreign and government banks. In addition, banks operating in well-developed and more competitive banking sectors experience lower financial instability when adopting fintech innovation. We confirm these findings with an alternative indicator of fintech adoption. The study also discusses essential policy implications for the sample countries.