Voice assistants in private households: a conceptual framework for future research in an interdisciplinary field.

The present study identifies, organizes, and structures the available scientific knowledge on the recent use and the prospects of Voice Assistants (VA) in private households. The systematic review of the 207 articles from the Computer, Social, and Business and Management research domains combines bibliometric with qualitative content analysis. The study contributes to earlier research by consolidating the as yet dispersed insights from scholarly research, and by conceptualizing linkages between research domains around common themes. We find that, despite advances in the technological development of VA, research largely lacks cross-fertilization between findings from the Social and Business and Management Sciences. This is needed for developing and monetizing meaningful VA use cases and solutions that match the needs of private households. Few articles show that future research is well-advised to make interdisciplinary efforts to create a common understanding from complementary findings-e.g., what necessary social, legal, functional, and technological extensions could integrate social, behavioral, and business aspects with technological development. We identify future VA-based business opportunities and propose integrated future research avenues for aligning the different disciplines' scholarly efforts.

Expert opinion on diagnosing, treating and managing patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX): a modified Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare, chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder requiring life-long care. Patients with CTX often experience a diagnostic delay. Although early diagnosis and treatment initiation can improve symptoms and prognosis, a standardised approach to diagnosis, treatment and management of patients is not yet established. AIM: To assess expert opinion on best care practices for patients with CTX using a modified Delphi method. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals with expertise in CTX responded to a 3-round online questionnaire (n = 10 in Rounds 1 and 2; n = 9 in Round 3), containing questions relating to the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, multidisciplinary care and prognosis of patients with CTX. Determination of consensus achievement was based on a pre-defined statistical threshold of ≥ 70% Delphi panellists selecting 1-2 (disagreement) or 5-6 (agreement) for 6-point Likert scale questions, or ≥ 70% Delphi panellists choosing the same option for ranking and proportion questions. RESULTS: Of the Round 1 (n = 22), Round 2 (n = 32) and Round 3 (n = 26) questions for which consensus was assessed, 59.1%, 21.9% and 3.8% reached consensus, respectively. Consensus agreement that genetic analyses and/or determination of serum cholestanol levels should be used to diagnose CTX, and dried bloodspot testing should facilitate detection in newborns, was reached. Age at diagnosis and early treatment initiation (at birth, where possible) were considered to have the biggest impact on treatment outcomes. All panellists agreed that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) is a lifetime replacement therapy which, if initiated early, can considerably improve prognosis as it may be capable of reversing the pathophysiological process in CTX. No consensus was reached on the value of cholic acid therapy alone. Monitoring patients through testing plasma cholestanol levels and neurologic examination was recommended, although further research regarding monitoring treatment and progression of the disease is required. Neurologists and paediatricians/metabolic specialists were highlighted as key clinicians that should be included in the multidisciplinary team involved in patients' care. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide a basis for standardisation of care and highlight key areas where further research is needed to inform best practices for the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with CTX.

Artificial intelligence-driven innovation for enhancing supply chain resilience and performance under the effect of supply chain dynamism: an empirical investigation.

Supply chain resilience (SCRes) and performance have become increasingly important in the wake of the recent supply chain disruptions caused by subsequent pandemics and crisis. Besides, the context of digitalization, integration, and globalization of the supply chain has raised an increasing awareness of advanced information processing techniques such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in building SCRes and improving supply chain performance (SCP). The present study investigates the direct and indirect effects of AI, SCRes, and SCP under a context of dynamism and uncertainty of the supply chain. In doing so, we have conceptualized the use of AI in the supply chain on the organizational information processing theory (OIPT). The developed framework was evaluated using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Survey data was collected from 279 firms representing different sizes, operating in various sectors, and countries. Our findings suggest that while AI has a direct impact on SCP in the short-term, it is recommended to exploit its information processing capabilities to build SCRes for long-lasting SCP. This study is among the first to provide empirical evidence on maximizing the benefits of AI capabilities to generate sustained SCP. The study could be further extended using a longitudinal investigation to explore more facets of the phenomenon.

Differential effects of bile acids on the postprandial secretion of gut hormones: a randomized crossover study.

Bile acids (BA) regulate postprandial metabolism directly and indirectly by affecting the secretion of gut hormones like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The postprandial effects of BA on the secretion of other metabolically active hormones are not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on postprandial secretion of GLP-1, oxyntomodulin (OXM), peptide YY (PYY), glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), glucagon, and ghrelin. Twelve healthy volunteers underwent a mixed meal test 60 min after ingestion of UDCA (12-16 mg/kg), CDCA (13-16 mg/kg), or no BA in a randomized crossover study. Glucose, insulin, GLP-1, OXM, PYY, GIP, glucagon, ghrelin, and fibroblast growth factor 19 were measured prior to BA administration at -60 and 0 min (just prior to mixed meal) and 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min after the meal. UDCA and CDCA provoked differential gut hormone responses; UDCA did not have any significant effects, but CDCA provoked significant increases in GLP-1 and OXM and a profound reduction in GIP. CDCA increased fasting GLP-1 and OXM secretion in parallel with an increase in insulin. On the other hand, CDCA reduced postprandial secretion of GIP, with an associated reduction in postprandial insulin secretion. Exogenous CDCA can exert multiple salutary effects on the secretion of gut hormones; if these effects are confirmed in obesity and type 2 diabetes, CDCA may be a potential therapy for these conditions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Oral CDCA and UDCA have different effects on gut and pancreatic hormone secretion. A single dose of CDCA increased fasting secretion of the hormones GLP-1 and OXM with an accompanying increase in insulin secretion. CDCA also reduced postprandial GIP secretion, which was associated with reduced insulin. In contrast, UDCA did not change gut hormone secretion fasting or postprandially. Oral CDCA could be beneficial to patients with obesity and diabetes.

Investigating the emerging COVID-19 research trends in the field of business and management: A bibliometric analysis approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been labeled as a black swan event that caused a ripple effect on every aspect of human life. Despite the short time span of the pandemic-only four and half months so far-a rather large volume of research pertaining to COVID-19 has been published (107 articles indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science). This article presents the findings of a bibliometric study of COVID-19 literature in the business and management domain to identify current areas of research and propose a way forward. The analysis of the published literature identified four main research themes and 18 sub-themes. The findings and propositions of this study suggest that COVID-19 will be the catalyst of several long- and short-term policy changes and requires the theoretical and empirical attention of researchers. The offered propositions will act as a roadmap to potential research opportunities.

Effects of CdO nanoparticles on the development and hatching of a freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea luteola L.

The existing information and data on ecotoxicological impact of nanomaterials is limited. Therefore the present study was undertaken to study the effects of CdO nanoparticles on an Indian freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea luteola L. The present study demonstrated that even at 1.0 ppm CdO nanoparticles blocked the development of pond snail.

Toxicity of metallic oxides nanoparticle suspensions to a freshwater sludge worm Tubifex tubifex Müller.

Toxic effects of selected metallic oxides nanoparticles were studied using the short-term static bioassays. Nanoparticles were more toxic than comparable bulk metallic oxides. Freshwater sludge worm Tubifex tubifex can be used as suitable test model for nanoecotoxicological studies in future studies.