Big Changes Research Articles

Unlocking the Shopper’s Mind: How Emerging Technologies Like Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping the Future of Retail

The fast-changing landscape of consumer behavior, driven by digitalization in retail, fosters big changes in industry. Two other major trends are omnichannel strategies, integrating physical experience with online shopping, and the rise of experiential shopping technologies such as AR (augmented reality) in shaping how retailers connect with consumers. The increasing function of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize supply chains also raises crucial questions regarding the ethics of these developments in retail marketing. This paper also discusses neuromarketing, an innovative approach whereby neuroscience is combined with marketing, as a tool to help optimize sales techniques and improve customer service. Techniques such as EEG (electroencephalogram), eye-tracking, and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) offer retailers insight into customers’ unconscious responses to stimuli, from advertising to product placement. While these approaches have been increasingly adopted by retailers, the current study investigates whether the drift toward digital platforms impacts the efficiency of neuromarketing strategies and how AI takes further priority in this direction (Goncalves et al., 2024). The backbone of this research is to establish the level at which businesses have integrated neuromarketing into their greater marketing strategies and to find any new consumer behavior that could be proposed within a retail context. This paper will attempt to contribute, by exploratory research and secondary data analysis, to a better understanding of how these new trends adapts to the digitization of retail due to technological development and ethical concerns raised by its increased use. JEL classification: M310, M160 Article History: Received: October 18, 2024; Reviewed: November 29, 2024; Accepted: December 9, 2024; Available online: December 17, 2024.

Big practice change coming? How fast do you correct hyponatremia?

Big practice change coming? How fast do you correct hyponatremia?

Big changes to the NHS patient safety landscape expected in 2025.

John Tingle, Associate Professor, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, looks to 2025 and how the NHS patient safety landscape might change along with some recent patient safety and clinical negligence reports.

Restructuring of Femoral Cortical Bone During Growth and Locomotor Development of Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus)

ABSTRACTObjectiveChimpanzees are altricial in terms of their locomotor development and transition from being carried to engaging in suspensory and arboreal locomotor behaviors to eventually relying on terrestrial quadrupedalism as their main form of locomotion. Here, we consider the mechanical implications of femoral cortical bone restructuring during growth and locomotor development in wild chimpanzees.Materials and MethodsCortical bone structure was examined in an ontogenetic sample of wild chimpanzees from a single subspecies (P. t. verus) spanning in age from 2 weeks to 12.6 years. Diaphyseal cross‐sections were extracted from micro‐CT scans of the femur at 35%, 50%, and 65% of total intermetaphyseal length and variation in cortical bone structure was assessed based on bending rigidity (Imax/Imin, Ix/Iy), relative medullary area, and cortical bone porosity.ResultsDiaphyseal shape is relatively circular with a high amount of cortical bone porosity and a large relative medullary area during early infancy. Distinct shifts in cortical bone structure occurred for each studied parameter with the biggest changes occurring within the first 5 years. Values appear to stabilize as quadrupedal walking increases in frequency and is established as the main form of locomotion.DiscussionCollectively, the results suggest a degree of integration in which cortical bone restructures in response to rapid changes in locomotion in addition to nonmechanical influences such as hormonal, and growth factors, without compromising function and structural integrity. The extent of influence of each factor varies throughout growth and highlights the need for caution in functional interpretations of cortical bone geometry.

Eu3+- activated Sr2GdF7 colloid and nano-powder for horticulture LED applications

A series of multifunctional Sr2Gd1-xEuxF7 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.40, 0.60. 0.80, and 1.00) phosphors in stable colloidal form and as nanopowders have been prepared using a hydrothermal method. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the materials crystallize in a cubic crystal structure. Transmission electron microscopy shows quasi-spherical nanoparticles with an average particle size of ∼24 nm. Photoluminescence measurements show highly efficient red emission in both colloids and nanopowders, with intensity continually increasing up to 80 mol% of Eu3+ content without concentration quenching. The most prominent emission peaks are around 600 nm (orange/red) and 700 nm (deep red), with the latter more pronounced. Quantum efficiency follows a similar trend, and reaches 60 % for the sample with 80 mol% of Eu3+ content. In addition, similar asymmetry ratio values and CIE coordinates show that there is not a big change in the local symmetry around Eu3+ ions or emission color across the series. This confirms that Eu3+ resides in the same crystalline environment in samples. The observed 5D0-level lifetimes gradually decrease from 12.0 ms to 6.9 ms as the Eu3+ concentration increases. Judd-Ofelt parameters show slight variation with Eu3+ concentration with Ω4 always larger than Ω2. The temperature-dependent steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements demonstrate high stability of nanopowders’ emission up to 100 °C. The combination of temperature stability and high efficiency of emission, as well as the untypical dominant deep-red emission at 700 nm labels these nanoparticles as potential nanophosphors for various applications.

Impact of Pulmonary Ligament Resection in Upper Lobectomies: A Multicenter Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Division of the pulmonary ligament is standard in lower lobectomies, but its application in upper lobectomies remains controversial due to potential complications like atelectasis and bronchial kinking. This retrospective matched cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligament resection in upper lobectomies for oncological purposes. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2020, 988 patients who underwent minimally invasive upper lobectomies across multiple centers were identified. They were categorized into ligament resection and no ligament resection groups, with propensity score matching (PSM) to minimize confounding factors. Endpoints included operative time, pleural effusion, complications (frequency and Clavien-Dindo scores), chest drainage removal, length of stay, pleural space, collapse rate, and bronchial kinking. Results: Following PSM, 276 patients were included in each group, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Ligament resection correlated with longer operative times, increased lymphadenectomy sampling at station #9 (p < 0.001), and a bigger change in the bronchial angle (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed for the other endpoints. Conclusions: Ligament resection during upper lobectomy may impact the bronchial angle without immediate postoperative outcome changes. Further research is necessary to comprehensively assess the risks and benefits of ligament resection in upper lobectomies for neoplastic disease.

"You Don't Realize What a Big Change It Is": A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Patients' Experiences of Amputation Preparation, Information Provision, and Support.

The objective of this research was to extend current knowledge on the psychological and emotional aspects around patients' preparation for amputation surgery. This research explored amputees' perspectives on their preparation for amputation surgery and how patients can be better supported for this procedure. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and online qualitative questionnaires with 17 amputees who underwent upper- or lower-limb amputation within the United Kingdom. The interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis generated three themes describing participants' experiences of being prepared for this surgery and their ideas on how this process could be improved: (1) Making sense of amputation surgery, (2) Patients' experiences of information and support from healthcare staff, and (3) Patients' views on approaches to preparation. This research highlighted the importance of information provision and support from healthcare staff, along with the potential benefits of utilizing experiential knowledge through peer support to enhance feelings of preparedness for amputation surgery.

Occupational therapy in the Snoezelen® Room: Teachers’ and therapists’ knowledge and perceptions of the changes in children's behaviour and performance

Introduction: The Snoezelen® room, a multisensory environment (MSE), is often used in conjunction with sensory integrative techniques. Therefore, it may be of support in school-based occupational therapy intervention. Research has documented positive changes in children’s performance in the MSE. However, research to suggest that changes could be carried over to external environments is limited. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of teachers and therapists regarding changes in children's behaviour and performance after therapy in the Snoezelen® room. Methodology: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional survey design by purposive sampling was used. Teachers and therapists working with children who received occupational therapy intervention in the Snoezelen® room participated. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to determine strong positive, significant correlations found between the total impact of the Snoezelen® room and the children’s level of arousal, as well as their behaviour and scholastic performance, as conveyed by 30 participants. After therapy in the Snoezelen® room, improvement in level of arousal was ranked as the biggest change, which appeared to improve for hours upon return to the classroom. Conclusion: Children’s arousal levels changed positively due to sensory input, which carried over to the external environment. Due to this, most teachers and therapists perceived that the Snoezelen® room positively changed behaviour and scholastic performance, through improved level of arousal. Implications for practice: The use of Snoezelen® rooms in schools, combined with sensory integration therapy (SIT), enhances children's self-regulation, which in turn positively impacts behaviour and academic performance. Strong, positive correlations were found between children's level of arousal and improvements in their behaviour and scholastic performance. Thus, Occupational therapy interventions in the Snoezelen® room significantly contribute to children’s ability to self-regulate, a key factor in achieving positive classroom behaviour and learning outcomes. Teachers and therapists perceive Snoezelen® rooms as beneficial, with 96.7% supporting their presence on school campuses to improve child behaviour through better self-regulation. Consistent with extensive research surrounding self-regulation of children, acquiring self-regulation skills in the early years lays the foundation for positive classroom behaviour and academic performance later.

Human peripancreatic adipose tissue paracrine signaling impacts insulin secretion, blood flow, and gene transcription.

Adipose tissue accumulation around non-adipose tissues is associated with obesity and metabolic disease. One relatively unstudied depot is peripancreatic adipose tissue (PAT) that accumulates in obesity and insulin resistance and may impact beta cell function. Pancreatic lipid accumulation and PAT content are negatively related to metabolic outcomes in humans, but these studies are limited by the inability to pursue mechanisms. We obtained PAT from human donors through the Human Pancreas Analysis Program to evaluate differences in paracrine signaling compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), as well as effects of the PAT secretome on aortic vasodilation, human islet insulin secretion, and gene transcription using RNAseq. PAT had greater secretion of IFN-γ and most inflammatory eicosanoids compared to SAT. Secretion of adipokines negatively related to metabolic health were also increased in PAT compared to SAT. We found no overall effects of PAT compared to SAT on human islet insulin secretion, however, insulin secretion was suppressed after PAT exposure from men compared to women. Vasodilation was significantly dampened by PAT conditioned media, an effect explained almost completely by PAT from men and not women. Islets treated with PAT showed selective changes in lipid metabolism pathways while SAT altered cellular signaling and growth. RNAseq analysis showed changes in islet gene transcription impacted by PAT compared to SAT, with the biggest changes found between PAT based on sex. The PAT secretome is metabolically negative compared to SAT, and impacts islet insulin secretion, blood flow, and gene transcription in a sex dependent manner.

Facilitating conversations about race: staff views on the importance of accountability and trust in a student-led project

ABSTRACT Significant conversations provide a private and safe space for teachers to develop their thinking about teaching and learning. These conversations are important to academic development but may be limited by their privacy, although Roxå & Mårtensson noted that it was possible to create a culture which led to extended networks. This study explores how the concept of such conversations can be developed further to contribute to institutional change and the development of inclusive learning communities. Led by students of colour, a project, ‘The Big Change’, was designed to provide an empowering space for open and non-judgemental conversations between students and staff about the experiences of student of colour in a modern university. The paper explores the experiences of the staff (N = 15) who participated in online focus groups in which they explored their experiences of the project and the complexities of vulnerability and public discourses. Within these focus groups we provided a space for conversations in which trust and accountability were identified as key factors for meaningful change, particularly in a sensitive area of work such as anti-racism. This approach, based on student-led interventions plus safe conversations, provides a model for facilitating cultural change within higher education.

Economic and environmental impacts of the shifts to electromobility in Spain: A multiregional input–output framework

AbstractThe decarbonization of transport is a key goal facing climate change. The electrification of the powertrain for passenger cars is part of this goal to reduce carbon emissions. This involves a big change in the global supply chain, specifically in countries with a high weight of the traditional automotive sector, such as Spain, where above 10% of the GDP comes from this industry. There is a forecasted shift from the sector of traditional automotive parts to the electric sector, where batteries and electric components will be the major part of the powertrain. This work evaluates socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the changes in the car industry from the ramp‐up of the electric vehicles market in Spain, and also in the European Union and the rest of the world. To do it, we use an environmentally extended multiregional and multi‐sectoral input–output model. Our simulations include the technological change and demand shifts estimated to achieve the penetration of electric vehicles up to 2030 and 2050. The results show significant impacts on employment and economic indicators by 2050, when the share of electric vehicles is expected to increase up to a relevant level.

Sharia as a New Culture System of Identity in the Post-Conlict Aceh, Indonesia

The research on Aceh in various fields has been conducted by many scholars so far. What is felt less of concern in academic studies is on current period of post-conflict Aceh after peace process between Free Aceh Movement and Indonesian Army since 2005. This article would like to discuss about contemporary situation, especially in the post-conflict Aceh, on what has been shifted dealing with socio-cultural in Acehnese society. However, it has been a big change and shifting within society in Aceh, particularly after sharia religious law stipulated as the main legal formal that is objected as social engineering. Why sharia is important to be studied here could be not separated from Aceh’s long history and its deep role of Islamization process to South East Asia. Beside it is used as an identity, sharia currently in Aceh has also chosen as the new culture system and as the way out of prolonged armed conflict in Aceh that has taken place for more than three decades (1976-2005). By using theory religion as a culture system, this article would like to discuss and analyze about how does sharia now in Aceh become a new culture system of identity that broadly changed Aceh and its society, not only in socio-cultural, but also any other dimensions of life in contemporary time. The findings show that sharia religious law which has been institutionalized and stipulated as the main legal formal is more being objected as social engineering projects for future oriented social transformation and being a new culture system of identity.

서울시 청년 1인 가구를 위한‘상담 멘토링’프로그램 분석 및 개선방안 연구

Perhaps the biggest change that has occurred in Korean society recently is the increase in single-person households.In line with the trend of increasing single-person households, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced and is carrying out a counseling mentoring program for single-person households from 2021.However, the discussion on the effectiveness of this program has not yet been fully conducted. Accordingly, in this study, telephone and written interviews were conducted centering on practitioners conducting counseling mentoring, and based on the contents, the program was analyzed and limitations and improvement plans were proposed from various angles. The study was conducted from late October to mid-November 2022 with an FGI interview with a person in charge who runs a single-person household counseling mentoring program. Ten Metropolitan boroughs were selected by adding 7 administrative officers who operated the counseling mentoring program and 3 administrative officers who did not operate counseling mentoring. If a counseling program for emotional support is introduced in a residential space using social housing, one of the housing services for single-person households, it is expected that community activities to be formed in social housing can be supported, and at the same time, intimacy with the current area and residential space will increase, leading to a sense of psychological stability. This study is meaningful as it proposes a highly effective counseling program tailored to the characteristics of Seoul.

First-principles study of BC3 monolayer for sensing halomethanes: a computer aided investigation

This research used a method called DFT to study how CH3Br, CH3Cl, and CH3F halomethanes stick to boron carbide (BC3) nanosheets, with and without gallium and aluminum doping. Geometric optimisation was conducted for all structures using the B3LYP/6-311 + G (d) method. Furthermore, three different methods were employed to calculate the energy: M06-2X, ωB97X-D3, and CAM-B3LYP/6-311 + G(d). NBO and the QTAIM analysis was conducted to evaluate the WBI, partial natural charge, and donor–acceptor interactions within the molecules. The adsorption energy results showed that adding gallium to BC3 made it best at adsorbing stuff, while BC3 without any additives absorbed the least. However, CH3Cl stuck best to the aluminum-doped BC3 and least to the plain BC3 because it had less energy holding onto it. Also, CH3Br stuck to the nanosheet surfaces the most, while CH3Cl stuck the least. BC3(Ga)NS was discovered to be better at detecting halomethanes than BC3(Al)NS and BC3NS. Also, when the halomethanes were absorbed, the doped nanosheets experienced big changes in their electronic behaviour. The energy gaps for BC3NS, BC3(Al)NS, and BC3(Ga)NS were found to be 3.5%, 15.2%, and 13.6%, respectively. Gallium and aluminum mixed with BC3 seem good for making new sensors to detect halomethanes.

The Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence Usage in Loyalty Programs

From the year 2022, when the GPT 3 model became publicly available, Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword in marketing. To say it still is influencing the field would be an understatement with new models and technologies continuously emerging and existing ones getting better and better. Loyalty programs as a sales promotion tool have also undergone big changes in recent years and AI is bringing new opportunities and challenges to the field. In this paper, we investigate the possibilities of artificial intelligence usage in loyalty programs. We aim to showcase the diverse opportunities through which AI can enhance loyalty program experiences. Among those usage opportunities we put specific attention on AI personalization and predictive modelling. By harnessing AI capabilities, organizations can possibly find new ways to enhance customer engagement, satisfaction, and build stronger loyalty. In this paper we are also looking at the current state of loyalty programs in the selected market and the way AI is being used in them. It is important to note that we approach the topic from two points of view – customers` and brands`. That means that we are trying to highlight how certain AI technologies can possibly improve customers` experience as well as how AI may be a helpful tool for businesses who want to manage loyalty programs. The final part of our article includes information on the suggested ways AI technologies may be implemented into loyalty programs based on the information provided in previous parts of the paper. Suggested implementation strategies are also appropriate as a starting point for further research, where every single technology would be researched more in detail. The main goal of this article is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the possibilities of how Artificial Intelligence can be used in the context of loyalty programs today. The article is theoretical-empirical and is based on external information from trustworthy sources as well as our own research of certain AI technologies in the context of loyalty programs.

Cyber intelligence and international security. Breaking the legal and diplomatic silence?

ABSTRACT In cyberspace intelligence agencies, rather than militaries, are the most prominent security actors. However, many cyber operations conducted by intelligence agencies are not ‘classic’ espionage activities, but may be best described as digital covert action (sabotage, subversion, information operations). Given the fact that international law and diplomacy traditionally do not address espionage, cyber operations conducted by intelligence agencies have developed in a legal grey zone that gets stretched by the behaviour of the intelligence agencies of the most brazen cyber powers. The digital age has significantly transformed the capabilities and the role of intelligence agencies, which raises the question if the traditional international consensus that ‘intelligence is not discussed’ is still useful in state-to-state relations. The theoretically underdefined role and activities of intelligence agencies are affected by four big changes in the digital age: increase in scale of their activities and effects, heightened ambiguity, massive expansion of the attack surface and trickle-down insecurity, which point to a need to rethink how cyber intelligence agencies should operate. Some states will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in cyberspace, unless other states break with the legal and diplomatic silence to discuss ‘guardrails’ to cyber intelligence activities.

Adaptability and growth of Hippocampus kuda and Oryzias melastigma under rapid temperature changes.

Temperature changes had a huge impact on the growth of aquaculture organisms, which mainly involved two parameters: the changing amplitude and the changing speed. Wide-adaptability and narrow-adaptability were divided by the amplitude, while fast-adaptability and slow-adaptability proposed in this article were divided based on the speed. Investigating the impact of the changing speed on artificial farming was vital. In this study, two fish species of wide-adaptability, Hippocampus kuda and Oryzias melatigma, were selected as research objects, explored the effects of temperature changing speeds on them under 2 changing amplitudes of 2°C and 4°C. The similarities and differences in their responses to temperature changes were analyzed and compared from the aspects of feeding, metabolism, physiology, immunity, and growth. The results showed that all 3 changing speeds (0.5°C/h, 1°C/h, and direct input) had no effect on the growth of O. melatigma under the 2°C amplitude, while there were significant differences in various aspects of H. kuda in the treatments with the speeds between 0.5°C/h and direct input, such as a significant difference in growth, in food intake, and in response speeds and response levels of several enzymes and related genes. Under 4°C amplitude, the impact of all 4 changing speeds (0.5°C/h, 1°C/h, 2°C/h and direct input) on both fish was more pronounced. H. kuda showed a significant difference of growth among 3 groups, and the critical safe speed was about 0.5°C/h in its heating treatments. And the growth decrease only occured the heating treatment of direct input in O. melatigma. Furthermore, some genes responded quickly and efficiently to the low-speed changes of temperature in H. kuda, but were inhibited in the treatments with high-speed changes. However, they can still express rapidly and efficiently in the high-speed treatments of O. melatigma, included several stress-related genes, lipid metabolic-related genes, and immune-related genes. Seen from these differences, the energy source used in H. kuda to resist stress was single and short-lived. So, under a long-term stress, H. kuda gradually transformed from normal physiological stress into pathological stress, leading to the outbreak of diseases. Therefore, for precise aquaculture of H. kuda, stricter and more precise control of environmental temperature is necessary to prevent rapid and big temperature changes from affecting the growth and survival of the seahorse.

Adapting to climate change in arid agricultural systems: An optimization model for water-energy-food nexus sustainability

Sustainable management of water, energy, and food (WEF) under climate change will be a significant challenge for arid agricultural systems. This study developed a fractional non-linear multi-objective programming (FNLMOP) model to optimize resource allocation and improve agricultural sustainability in these systems under climate change. The model was designed in the framework of the WEF nexus to simultaneously improved energy productivity (profit/energy), and water productivity (profit/water), while mitigating environmental damage (damage to groundwater resources/output) and ensuring food security in an arid watershed in Iran. The long Ashton research station weather generator (LARS-WG) and the coupled model intercomparison project 6 (CMIP6) were employed to project climate parameters for both future dry and wet conditions. The sustainability of the optimal solutions was then assessed using a hybrid criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC)-VIKOR approach. The optimal solutions revealed a reduction in the land under cultivation and produced less water-intensive crops. The optimization model can ensure WEF security, enhancing agricultural system sustainability by optimizing crop cultivation patterns and resource allocation. Current crop choices were highly inefficient with the bigger changes being from the current crops to optimal crops. Climate change showed a substantial but lesser influence on optimal crop choice.

A review on Priya Nighantu

The word Nighantu means a traditional collection of words, grouped into thematic categories, often with brief annotations. In the field of Dravyaguna Nighantu is one of the important classical texts. In ancient period of Samhita there was less morphological description of plants but after introduction of Nighantu it was like a big change in the field of Dravyaguna Vigyana. Ayurveda Nighantu is actually traditional collection of words with actions and properties (Rasadi Guna) of drugs. Ayurveda treatment possesses herbal, mineral, animal origin products which mainly take part in the treatment of various health ailments. Priya Nighantu is one of them and is a 21st-century lexicon in Ayurvedic Materia medica. The author of this lexicon is Acharya Shri Priyavat Sharmaji. In comparison to other Nighantu Priya Nighantu is Very easy and simple to understand and clarify many doubts come across the classical Nighantu. The Nighantu is divided into 13 sections named as Vargas, viz; Haritakyadi Varga, Pippalyadi Varga, Shatapushpadi Varga, Sharadi Varga, Kasturyadi Varga, Suvarnadi Varga, Shaka Varga, Phala Varga, Mamsa Varga, Dhanya Varga, Kritanna Varga, Drava Varga, Dravyadi Varga. Here an attempt is made to elaborate on each drug and its therapeutic application in various health ailments.

Diversity and Conservation of Wetland Avifauna in Nanjarayan Lake, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India

This paper shares the results from a big bird survey at Nanjarayan Lake in Tamil Nadu. It ran from 2022 to 2024. To check out the bird variety, see how it changes with the seasons and look at how well different bird species are doing there. Over three years, we did lots of field surveys during different times of the year. We used methods like point counts, transect walks, and habitat checks. In total, we found 184 bird species resident birds that live there all year and migrating ones that visit. We even spotted some species that need special attention. This shows how important the lake is for both local birds and those just flying between. When we looked closely at the numbers through the seasons, we found some big changes in how many birds there were. Winter was especially busy, with a lot of different kinds showing up and the migratory birds arriving. The study also identified key threats to avian biodiversity in the lake, such as habitat degradation, water pollution, and human disturbances. Based on these findings, the study recommends urgent conservation measures, including habitat restoration, pollution control, and the implementation of strict regulations to minimize human impact. This survey underscores the importance of Nanjarayan Lake as a vital bird habitat and calls for enhanced conservation efforts to protect its rich avian diversity. The findings provide valuable baseline data for future ecological studies and contribute to the broader understanding of lake ecosystems in Tamil Nadu.