Classifying residential real estate based on their exposure to crime: a research agenda

Criminality and sense of security in residential areas are always present in the mind of citizens, and directly affect the work of police authorities, real estate agents and society at large. This study proposes the development of a multiple criteria model for the classification of residential areas based on their exposure to crime. By combining cognitive mapping with the Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH), we also aim to increase transparency in the classification process of residential real estate, allowing improvement initiatives to be applied and crime rates to be reduced. The major difference between our proposal and the extant literature is the fact that the information collected from criminal, urbanism and real estate experts, who deal with crime adversities on a daily basis, will be analyzed and discussed during presential group meetings, allowing realism to be incorporated into the evaluation mechanism. The current proposal is a research agenda, and results will not yet be presented

Assessing payment instrument alternatives using cognitive mapping and the choquet integral

Technological advances have increased the diversity of payment instruments and transaction channels, heightening consumers' expectations for services in this regard. Coupled with an increasing competitiveness of the banking industry, this has emphasized the great importance of understanding consumers' choices of payment instruments. In order to meet their customers' expectations, banks have to understand what determines their choices of payment instruments. This study aims to uncover these determinants of payment instrument choice, through the use of cognitive mapping to structure the decision problem, and its combination with the Choquet integral to identify the overall preferred payment instrument from the user perspective. The results show that direct debits and electronic cards constitute the preferred payment instruments, and automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) the overall preferred transaction channels. Understanding consumers' choices of payment instrument, the factors underlying them and their interactions can contribute to better planning by banks at the distribution channel level. Strengths, limitations and managerial implications of our proposal are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A cognition-driven risk evaluation framework for consumer loans

Credit to personal consumption is an important activity of the financial system and crucial to the socio-economic development of a country. It is important, therefore, that the methods and techniques used to evaluate consumer credit risk be as efficient and informative as possible, in order to strengthen decisions to approve or reject credit and promote sustainable economic growth. This study aims to create a multiple criteria expert system which integrates cognitive maps and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH) to create a complementary framework for consumer credit risk assessment. The results show that this integrated approach allows the evaluation process of consumer credit risk to be more informed and transparent, providing value for the evaluation processes of this type of credit application as a result of the privileged contact established with a panel of credit analysts. Limitations and managerial implications are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

Cause of Death and Predictors of All-Cause Mortality in Anticoagulated Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation : Data From ROCKET AF

M. Kaste on työryhmän ROCKET AF Steering Comm jäsen.Background-Atrial fibrillation is associated with higher mortality. Identification of causes of death and contemporary risk factors for all-cause mortality may guide interventions. Methods and Results-In the Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF) study, patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were randomized to rivaroxaban or dose-adjusted warfarin. Cox proportional hazards regression with backward elimination identified factors at randomization that were independently associated with all-cause mortality in the 14 171 participants in the intention-to-treat population. The median age was 73 years, and the mean CHADS(2) score was 3.5. Over 1.9 years of median follow-up, 1214 (8.6%) patients died. Kaplan-Meier mortality rates were 4.2% at 1 year and 8.9% at 2 years. The majority of classified deaths (1081) were cardiovascular (72%), whereas only 6% were nonhemorrhagic stroke or systemic embolism. No significant difference in all-cause mortality was observed between the rivaroxaban and warfarin arms (P=0.15). Heart failure (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.33-1.70, P= 75 years (hazard ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51-1.90, P Conclusions-In a large population of patients anticoagulated for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, approximate to 7 in 10 deaths were cardiovascular, whereasPeer reviewe

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Evacetrapib and Cardiovascular Outcomes in High-Risk Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: The cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor evacetrapib substantially raises the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, reduces the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level, and enhances cellular cholesterol efflux capacity. We sought to determine the effect of evacetrapib on major adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with high-risk vascular disease. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, we enrolled 12,092 patients who had at least one of the following conditions: an acute coronary syndrome within the previous 30 to 365 days, cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease, peripheral vascular arterial disease, or diabetes mellitus with coronary artery disease. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either evacetrapib at a dose of 130 mg or matching placebo, administered daily, in addition to standard medical therapy. The primary efficacy end point was the first occurrence of any component of the composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: At 3 months, a 31.1% decrease in the mean LDL cholesterol level was observed with evacetrapib versus a 6.0% increase with placebo, and a 133.2% increase in the mean HDL cholesterol level was seen with evacetrapib versus a 1.6% increase with placebo. After 1363 of the planned 1670 primary end-point events had occurred, the data and safety monitoring board recommended that the trial be terminated early because of a lack of efficacy. After a median of 26 months of evacetrapib or placebo, a primary end-point event occurred in 12.9% of the patients in the evacetrapib group and in 12.8% of those in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.91 to 1.11; P=0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Although the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor evacetrapib had favorable effects on established lipid biomarkers, treatment with evacetrapib did not result in a lower rate of cardiovascular events than placebo among patients with high-risk vascular disease. (Funded by Eli Lilly; ACCELERATE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01687998 .)

Effect of alirocumab on mortality after acute coronary syndromes. An analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES randomized clinical trial

Background: Previous trials of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitors demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, but not death. We assessed the effects of alirocumab on death after index acute coronary syndrome. Methods: ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) was a double-blind, randomized comparison of alirocumab or placebo in 18 924 patients who had an ACS 1 to 12 months previously and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy. Alirocumab dose was blindly titrated to target achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 25 and 50 mg/dL. We examined the effects of treatment on all-cause death and its components, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death, with log-rank testing. Joint semiparametric models tested associations between nonfatal cardiovascular events and cardiovascular or noncardiovascular death. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Death occurred in 334 (3.5%) and 392 (4.1%) patients, respectively, in the alirocumab and placebo groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P=0.03, nominal P value). This resulted from nonsignificantly fewer cardiovascular (240 [2.5%] vs 271 [2.9%]; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.05; P=0.15) and noncardiovascular (94 [1.0%] vs 121 [1.3%]; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P=0.06) deaths with alirocumab. In a prespecified analysis of 8242 patients eligible for ≥3 years follow-up, alirocumab reduced death (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; P=0.01). Patients with nonfatal cardiovascular events were at increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths (P<0.0001 for the associations). Alirocumab reduced total nonfatal cardiovascular events (P<0.001) and thereby may have attenuated the number of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths. A post hoc analysis found that, compared to patients with lower LDL-C, patients with baseline LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) had a greater absolute risk of death and a larger mortality benefit from alirocumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90; Pinteraction=0.007). In the alirocumab group, all-cause death declined wit h achieved LDL-C at 4 months of treatment, to a level of approximately 30 mg/dL (adjusted P=0.017 for linear trend). Conclusions: Alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy has the potential to reduce death after acute coronary syndrome, particularly if treatment is maintained for ≥3 years, if baseline LDL-C is ≥100 mg/dL, or if achieved LDL-C is low. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01663402

Tworzenie warstwowej mikrostruktury techniką napawania w łuku elektrycznym

Microstructure and properties of structural steel subjected to overlay welding with secondary materials powder is investigated. Crushed glass, grinding wheels (SiC), hard metals plates, high speed steel and cast iron chips as well as marble powders were used in automatic overlay welding of steel by low carbon wire. Powder spread over the steel surface and melted by continuously supplied wire arc enabled to obtain layers with graphite and carbides inclusions in the matrix; hardness of the matrix depends on the phases contained in it: martensite, troostite and residual austenite as well as secondary carbides. Depending on materials used for overlay welding the layers were obtained which abrasive wear resistance became equal to that of high alloyed hardened tool steel. Wear of these layers is much more less in comparison with low alloyed hardened tool steel.Struktura i własności stali konstrukcyjnej poddanej napawaniu proszkiem surowców wtórnych została zbadana. Kruszywo szkła, tarcze szlifierskie (SiC), węgliki spiekane, złom stali szybkotnącej i wióry żeliwne, a także proszki marmurowe zostały wykorzystane do automatycznego napawania stali drutem niskowęglowym. Proszki rozłożone na powierzchni stali nierdzewnej i stopione w sposób ciągły z drutem dostarczanym w łuku umożliwiły uzyskanie warstw z wtrąceniami grafitu i węglików w matrycy; twardość matrycy zależy od faz w niej zawartych: martenzytu, troostytu i austenitu szczatkowego, jak równiez wtórnych weglików. W zaleznosci od materiałów stosowanych do napawania warstw uzyskano odporność na ścieranie porównywalna do wysokostopowej hartowanej stali narzędziowej. Zużycie tych warstw jest znacznie mniejsze w porównaniu do niskostopowej hartowanej stali narzędziowej

Дослідження впливу соціальних медіа на поведінку споживачів покоління Y

Members from different generations create challenges for marketing specialists due to their unique behaviour specifics and in the context of constant technology development, these challenges become only harder. In the current marketing situation, there is a new challenge – outreach and interest for generation Y consumers. A question arises – which means to apply and which of them would be effective. It is a new field of research both for scientists and marketing practitioners. The article analyses the members of generation Y because in their case there are most prominent scientific discovery inquiries on their behaviour and marketing management decisions. By evaluating that, the aim of the article is to create a model of the influence of social media for generation Y consumer purchase decisions. The need to offer a new model has appeared due to the changes in the current world that are changing the habits and features of the society, constantly improving technologies are changing the lifestyle, values and needs of people. The marketing decisions that were applied before are not presenting the desired results in the current market. Previous research allows identifying the specifics of generation Y, however, due to constantly changing technology environment it is not clearly known how this generation makes the decisions to purchase something. When wishing to find the right way to sell products and services to this generation, it is necessary to understand it and to find ways to communicate with it. When creating social media content and creating added value to the customers, it is vital to understand the complexity of the external and internal factors that determine their choice to buy. To achieve the goal of this article, the theoretical part presents a complex analysis of factors that determine consumer behaviour in social media, applications of generation theory for making marketing decisions; characteristics of generation Y were identified. In this research, marketing factors that influence the consumer’s decision to buy were analysed, their effects and application in the purchase process of generation Y consumers were evaluated.Ця стаття узагальнює аргументи та контраргументи в межах наукової дискусії з питання впливу соціальних медіа на поведінку споживачів покоління Y. Систематизація літературних джерел та підходів до вивчення поведінки споживачів засвідчила, що в умовах розвитку інформаційних технологій та соціальних мереж суттєвих змін зазнають соціальні процеси у споживчій поведінці людей, особливо це стосується покоління Y. Актуальність вирішення даної наукової проблеми полягає в тому, що купівельний процес та споживча поведінка покоління Y залежить від зміни у сучасному світі, які впливають на звички та особливості суспільства, цінності та потреби людей. Авторами наголошено, що одним із основних каналів спілкування покоління Y є соціальні мережі. Основною метою проведеного дослідження є вивчення особливостей поведінки споживачів покоління Y та впливу соціальних медіа на їх рішення щодо придбання товарів або послуг. Дослідження питання впливу соціальних медіа на поведінку споживачів покоління Y в статті здійснено в наступній логічній послідовності: створення контенту на Youtube каналі для оцінки ефективності інструментів соціальних медіа; встановлення факторів, які визначають залучення покоління Y до соціальних медіа; проведення онлайн-опитування споживачів покоління Y для оцінки відповідності виявлених факторів. Контент Youtube каналу складається з інформації про транспортні засоби, їх обслуговування, ремонт та інші пов'язані теми. Методичним інструментарієм встановлення факторів, які визначають причини залучення покоління Y до соціальних медіа стали метод кейсів та опитування. До процесу опитування було залучено 359 осіб, 271 з яких були предсавниками покоління Y, народжених у період 1981-2000 роки, періодом дослідження обрано термін з 12 червня по 17 грудня 2018 року. Результати проведеного дослідження дозволили авторам виділити основні маркетингові фактори, що впливають на рішення споживача, оцінено їх вплив на купівельний процес споживачів покоління Y