Research works

Pharmacokinetics and immunomodulatory effects of selective orexin 1 receptor agonist OXA 17–33: PBMC responses, HPA axis activation, and outcomes in the collagen-induced arthritis model

Given the expanding clinical use of orexin-modulating drugs, this study investigated whether orexin agonism or antagonism influences inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. PBMCs stimulated with LPS or TNF were treated with orexin agonists or antagonists. In rats, pharmacoki...

Starbucks: Can digital convenience preserve the coffeehouse experience?

This teaching case examines how Starbucks sought to redesign its store operations as digital ordering, artificial intelligence (AI), and algorithmic technologies became increasingly embedded in its business. Mobile ordering enhanced customer convenience but also intensified opera...

‘Like a nest of homosexuals:’ tracing homophobia in post-socialist Lithuanian print media (1994–2004)

This article examines the historical roots and discursive developments of homophobia in Lithuanian print media from 1994 to 2004, a decade following the decriminalization of homosexuality, and leading up to Lithuania’s accession to the European Union. The article demonstrates how...

Exactly one unstable mode: a computer-assisted spectral count for Choptuik's critical spacetime under spherically symmetric perturbations

Choptuik's spacetime, the discretely self-similar solution at the threshold of black hole formation in the collapse of a massless scalar field, is expected to have exactly one unstable mode, whose growth rate λ determines the critical exponent γ = 1/λ ≈ 0.374. The existence of th...

Relational Thresholds in Nomadic Dwelling Interiors

This study examines how spatial thresholds are produced in nomadic dwelling interiors where permanent partitions are limited. It focuses on the role of material arrangements and portable objects in mediating spatial, functional, social, and ritual conditions, while considering ho...

Social presence matters: unveiling the impact on knowledge hiding in enterprise social media collaboration

Purpose This study investigates how enterprise social media (ESM) design can mitigate knowledge hiding by enhancing social presence, particularly through cognitive and affective dimensions, and explores the mediating role of emotional empathy in this process. Design/methodology/a...

Regulating the Non‐Noble Metal Catalyst Cu@UiO‐67‐bpy Facilitates the Visible Light‐Induced Regioselective Acetylation of Terminal Alkynes With Arylamines

ABSTRACT The development of heterogeneous catalysts for the efficient construction of acetamide frameworks under mild conditions is of great significance for green pharmaceutical synthesis. An efficient and reusable heterogeneous Cu@UiO‐67‐bpy catalyst is synthesized by a standar...

Surgical Management Patterns and Outcomes in Recurrent Corneal Erosion: An IRIS Registry Study

PURPOSE: Surgical management of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) lacks large-scale evidence, and national patterns of care and procedural outcomes remain incompletely defined. We characterized national practice patterns, repeat surgery rates, and risk factors for surgical failure...

When Feedback Matters: An Active-Inference Model of the Speaking-over-Writing Advantage in Production-Modality Retrieval

People often recognize spoken words more accurately and more quickly than written words. From the perspective of active inference under the free-energy principle, the present study develops a formal account of this speaking-over-writing advantage in production-modality retrieval....

Optimization model of agricultural economic structure based on LSTM

With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and agricultural big data, the adjustment of agricultural economic structure has shifted from empirical judgment to data-driven decision-making. This study uses the provincial panel data of agricultural economy in Hubei Provinc...

Economic Value of Apple Pollination in the European Union, 2000 to 2024

Insect pollination of crops is an important ecosystem service. Estimating the economic value of this service is a significant challenge. Apple orchards were selected for this study because apple trees are the main crop in the European Union that requires insect pollination to pro...

A Video Downlink from Proxima Centauri b

This note examines the data rates that could be achieved between Earth and a technological civilization on the planet Proxima Centauri b if both civilizations constructed dedicated radio terminals using technologies available today. A reference X-band system using approximately 3...

Lymph node contraction links sex-biased naive CD8+ T cell decline to compromised antigen recognition during middle age

Abstract The abundance of diverse naive CD8 + T cell clones is essential for broad protection against infection and cancer, but how sex and aging jointly shape this compartment remains poorly understood. Here, using mouse models with supporting human data, we uncover a sex-biased...

Calcium Peroxide Addition Suppresses ARG Dissemination by Modulating Host Succession and MGE-Mediated Horizontal Transfer During Swine Manure Composting

Applying exogenous additives during composting can help to effectively mitigate the environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Calcium peroxide (CaO2)—a strong oxidizing agent—has achieved significant efficacy in degrading various pollutants. This study ai...

Effect of Heat treatment parameters on the tribological performance of LM26/graphite/fly ash hybrid aluminium matrix composites using Taguchi-TOPSIS optimization

Hybrid aluminium matrix composites (HAMMCs) are of interest for lightweight components requiring improved resistance to wear and friction. The present study investigates the effects of solution treatment temperature, holding time and cooling method on the tribological behaviour o...

Structure-activity relationship and membrane-targeting mechanisms of shikimate-related metabolites against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

AIMS: The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has intensified the search for novel antimicrobials. In this context, shikimic acid is a versatile scaffold widely used as a precursor to bioactive compounds and drugs. This study screened the antimicrobial activity and underlying m...

From Persistency Curves to a Retention Budget: Voluntary Policy Discontinuation in a Synthetic Indonesian Life Insurance Portfolio

Voluntary discontinuation of life insurance policies (lapse, surrender, non-renewal) erodes the value of an in-force book. This preprint studies it end to end on a fully synthetic portfolio of 40,920 policies issued between 2022 and 2025, built from seven linked tables with known...

Designing for Change

The present article proposes a framework for higher education that is both transformative and integrative in nature, insofar as it incorporates andragogical principles and Design Thinking (DT) methodologies. The theoretical underpinnings of this approach are rooted in the princip...

Institutionalized Patriarchy Beyond Representation: Rurality, Gender, and Political Participation Among Amazigh Women in Morocco

The objective of this article is to examine how gendered institutional practices constrain the substantive political participation of Amazigh-speaking women elected to local councils in Morocco. Although constitutional reforms, gender quotas, and the official recognition of Amazi...

Integration of Polymer Optical Fibers in Nonwoven Geotextiles for Continuous Strain Monitoring

Geotextiles are often used in large scale civil engineering projects, such as dams and embankments. Failure of these structures can lead to significant economic losses as well as mortal danger. Still, current monitoring solutions of such structures often rely on discontinuous, ex...