Instant Buying of Fast Fashion: Are Influencers to Blame?

Social media influencers (SMIs) have become a powerful force within the fast-fashion sector and can sway our purchasing behaviors and influence trends within the industry. An increasing number of SMIs are promoting sustainable and ethical fashion products, to encourage followers to be more environmentally-friendly, but at the same time buy fast-fashion. With Instagram now enabling in-app checkout for e-commerce brands, opportunities for an immediate reaction to SMIs’ recommendations are endless. To date, no evidence was presented to demonstrate the link between SMI content and consumer impulsiveness that benefits fast-fashion brands. In an attempt to fulfill this gap, survey data of 465 respondents shows that SMI content as a result of being perceived as both informative and entertaining has a significant role to play in stimulating instant buying. It was also found that the perceived credibility and authenticity of SMIs has a direct and positive link with consumers’ tendencies to buy spontaneously and unreflectively. In light of our findings, we question fast-fashion brands' intent in working with SMIs. It seems that by collaborating with SMIs in an attempt to educate consumers about sustainable and ethical consumption, fast-fashion is triggering a different outcome - commercial gains

Comparison between Capsule Endoscopy and Magnetic Resonance Enterography for the Detection of Polyps of the Small Intestine in Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) compared with capsule endoscopy (CE) for the detection of small-bowel polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Methods. Patients underwent MRE and CE. The polyps were classified according to size of polyp: <5 mm (small size), 5–10 mm (medium size), or >10 mm (large size). The location (jejunum or ileum) and the number of polyps (1–5, 6–20, >20) detected by CE were also assessed. MRE findings were compared with the results of CE. Results. Small-bowel polyps, were detected by CE in 4 of the 6 (66%) patients. Three patients had small-sized polyps and one patient had medium-sized polyps. CE detected polyps in four patients that, were not shown on MRE. Desmoid tumors were detected on anterior abdominal wall by MRE. Conclusion. In patients with FAP, CE can detect small-sized polyps in the small intestine not seen with MRE whereas MRE yields additional extraintestinal information

A Study on Understanding the Changing Diaspora and Virtual Communities through Digitalization

The article was submitted on 21.06.2023.Рассмотрены проблемы чеченских переселенцев, вынужденных в 1860-е гг. покинуть Северный Кавказ и поселиться на территории Турции, и вопросы их связи с исторической родиной. Показана эволюция понятия «диаспора», обусловленная наступлением цифровой эпохи и появлением новых средств связи, виртуальных коммуникационных платформ, а также улучшением социальной и географической мобильности, позволяющими сохранять связь с членами диаспоры, удаленными на большие расстояния, а также с исторической родиной. Диаспорные сообщества могут создавать виртуальные сообщества, сотрудничать и устанавливать культурные контакты через новые медиа. Данный процесс еще не охватил все аспекты жизни, но первые шаги в этом направлении уже предпринимаются. Цифровое пространство предоставляет в этом отношении новые возможности. В указанном контексте виртуальные сообщества, созданные чеченцами, проживающими в Турции и связанными с исторической родиной на Кавказе, рассматриваются на основе глубинных интервью с ключевыми лицами кавказских даспорных сообществ и их соотечественниками на родине.This article contains a research study within the framework of the diaspora approach, focusing on the connection of the Circassian community, which had to leave the Caucasus during the Tsarist Russia period in the 1860s and settle in Turkey, their new homeland. Although various definitions exist, the concept of diaspora is generally used to describe people who were forcibly separated from their homelands during historical processes and settled in at least two countries. With the advent of the digital age, the diaspora concept has evolved, particularly in terms of diaspora communities, as communication tools with the homeland have improved, and social and geographical mobility has changed through virtual communication platforms. In a physical sense, it enables access to numerous resources, such as maintaining connections with the homeland and diaspora members who are physically distant. Diasporic communities can create virtual communities, collaborate, and establish cultural connections through new media. Although this process has not yet spread to every aspect of life, initial steps have been taken through communication initiated by Caucasian Associations. The digital realm adds a digital dimension to the concept of diaspora. In this context, the virtual communities established by Circassians living in Turkey with their homelands in the Caucasus are examined through in-depth interviews with key figures from Caucasian Associations in the diaspora and participants from the homeland

Fabrication, Characterization and Simulation of Sputtered Pt/In-Ga-Zn-O Schottky Diodes for Low-Frequency Half-Wave Rectifier Circuits

Amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) is a high-mobility semiconductor employed in modern thin-film transistors for displays and it is considered as a promising material for Schottky diode-based rectifiers. Properties of the electronic components based on IGZO strongly depend on the manufacturing parameters such as the oxygen partial pressure during IGZO sputtering and post-deposition thermal annealing. In this study, we investigate the combined effect of sputtering conditions of amorphous IGZO (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1) and post-deposition thermal annealing on the properties of vertical thin-film Pt-IGZO-Cu Schottky diodes, and evaluated the applicability of the fabricated Schottky diodes for low-frequency half-wave rectifier circuits. The change of the oxygen content in the gas mixture from 1.64% to 6.25%, and post-deposition annealing is shown to increase the current rectification ratio from 10 5 to 10 7 at ±1 V, Schottky barrier height from 0.64 eV to 0.75 eV, and the ideality factor from 1.11 to 1.39. Half-wave rectifier circuits based on the fabricated Schottky diodes were simulated using parameters extracted from measured current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics. The half-wave rectifier circuits were realized at 100 kHz and 300 kHz on as-fabricated Schottky diodes with active area of 200 μm × 200 μm, which is relevant for the near-field communication (125 kHz - 134 kHz), and provided the output voltage amplitude of 0.87 V for 2 V supply voltage. The simulation results matched with the measurement data, verifying the model accuracy for circuit level simulation

Individualized Wound Closure—Mechanical Properties of Suture Materials

Wound closure is a key element of any procedure, especially aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. Therefore, over the last decades, several devices have been developed in order to assist surgeons in achieving better results while saving valuable time. In this work, we give a concise review of the literature and present a biomechanical study of different suturing materials under mechanical load mimicking handling in the operating theatre. Nine different suture products, all of the same USP size (4-0), were subjected to a standardized crushing load by means of a needle holder. All materials were subjected to 0, 1, 3 and 5 crushing load cycles, respectively. The linear tensile strength was measured by means of a universal testing device. Attenuation of tensile strength was evaluated between materials and between crush cycles. In the pooled analysis, the linear tensile strength of the suture materials deteriorated significantly with every cycle (p < 0.0001). The suture materials displayed different initial tensile strengths (in descending order: polyglecaprone, polyglactin, polydioxanone, polyamid, polypropylene). In comparison, materials performed variably in terms of resistance to crush loading. The findings were statistically significant. The reconstructive surgeon has to be flexible and tailor wound closure techniques and materials to the individual patient, procedure and tissue demands; therefore, profound knowledge of the physical properties of the suture strands used is of paramount importance. The crushing load on suture materials during surgery can be detrimental for initial and long-term wound repair strength. As well as the standard wound closure methods (sutures, staples and adhesive strips), there are promising novel devices

Transparency in persuasive technology, immersive technology, and online marketing: facilitating users’ informed decision making and practical implications

In the current age of emerging technologies and big data, transparency has become an important issue for technology users and online consumers. However, there is a lack of consensus on what constitutes transparency across domains of research, not to mention transparency guidelines for designers and marketers. In this review, we explored the question of what transparency means in current research and practices by reviewing the literature in three domains: persuasive technology, immersive technology and online marketing. Literature reviewed, including both empirical research and position articles, covered multidisciplinary areas including computer science and information technology, psychology, healthcare, human computer interaction, business and management, law and public health. In this paper, we summarized our findings through a framework of transparency and provided insights into the different aspects of transparency, categorized into ten themes (i.e., Organizational Transparency, Information Transparency, Transparency of System Design, Data Privacy and Informed Consent, Transparency of Online Advertising, Potential Risks, User Autonomy, Informed Decision Making, Information Visualization, Personalization and User-centered design) along three dimensions (i.e., Types of transparency, Impact on User and Potential Solutions). Addressing aspects of transparency will facilitate users’ autonomy and contribute to their informed decision making

Effects of the hippocampal deep brain stimulation on cortical epileptic discharges in penicillin - induced epilepsy model in rats

Aim: Experimental and clinical studies have revealed that hippocampal DBS can control epileptic activity, but the mechanism of action is obscure and optimal stimulation parameters are not clearly defined. The aim was to evaluate the effects of high frequency hippocampal stimulation on cortical epileptic activity in penicillin-induced epilepsy model. Material and Methods: Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted DBS electrodes. In group-1 (n=10) hippocampal DBS was off and in the group-2 (n=10) hippocampal DBS was on (185 Hz, 0.5V, 1V, 2V, and 5V for 60 sec) following penicillin G injection intracortically. In the control group hippocampal DBS was on following 8μl saline injection intracortically. EEG recordings were obtained before and 15 minutes following penicillin-G injection, and at 10th minutes following each stimulus for analysis in terms of frequency, amplitude, and power spectrum. Results: High frequency hippocampal DBS suppressed the acute penicillin-induced cortical epileptic activity independent from stimulus intensity. In the control group, hippocampal stimulation alone lead only to diffuse slowing of cerebral bioelectrical activity at 5V stimulation. Conclusion: Our results revealed that continuous high frequency stimulation of the hippocampus suppressed acute cortical epileptic activity effectively without causing secondary epileptic discharges. These results are important in terms of defining the optimal parameters of hippocampal DBS in patients with epilepsy

Investigation of efficacy of mitomycin-C, Sodium hyaluronate and human amniotic fluid in preventing epidural fibrosis and adhesion using a rat laminectomy model

Study Design: A retrospective study. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evalute the effects of mitomycin-C, sodium hyaluronate and human amniotic fluid on preventing spinal epidural fibrosis. Overview of Literature: The role of scar tissue in pain formation is not exactly known, but it is reported that scar tissue causes adhesions between anatomic structures. Intensive fibrotic tissue compresses on anatomic structures and increases the sensitivity of the nerve root for recurrent herniation and lateral spinal stenosis via limiting movements of the root. Also, neuronal atrophy and axonal degeneration occur under scar tissue. Methods: The study design included 4 groups of rats: group 1 was the control group, groups 2, 3, and 4 receieved antifibrotic agents, mitomycin-C (group 2), sodium hyaluronate (group 3), and human amniotic fluid (group 4). Midline incision for all animals were done on L5 for total laminectomy. Four weeks after the surgery, the rats were sacrificed and specimens were stained with hematoxylineosin and photos of the slides were taken for quantitive assesment of the scar tissue. Results: There was no significant scar tissue in the experimental animals of groups 2, 3, and 4. It was found that there was no significant difference between drug groups, but there was a statistically significant difference between the drug groups and the control group. Conclusions: This experimental study shows that implantation of mitomycin-C, sodium hyaluronate and human amniotic fluid reduces epidural fibrosis and adhesions after spinal laminectomy in rat models. Further studies in humans are needed to determine the complications of the agents researched. © 2013 by Korean Society of Spine Surgery

Identification of multiple root disease resistant wheat germplasm against cereal nematodes and dryland root rot and their validation in regions of economic importance

História da literatura portuguesa coordenada por Giulia Lanciani - primeiras páginas de um total pp. 7-108)História literária do século XVIII portuguêsGoverno de Portuga