Leonard Hayflick (1928-2024) – obituary
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The risk effects of corporate digitalization: exacerbate or mitigate?
This study elaborates on the risk effects of corporate digital transformation (CDT). Using the ratio of added value of digital assets to total intangible assets as a measure of CDT, this study overall reveals an inverse relationship between CDT and revenue volatility, even after employing a range of technical techniques to address potential endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis highlights that the firms with small size, high capital intensity, and high agency costs benefit more from CDT. It also reveals that advancing information infrastructure, intellectual property protection, and digital taxation enhances the effectiveness of CDT. Mechanism analysis uncovers that CDT not only enhances financial advantages such as bolstering core business and mitigating non-business risks but also fosters non-financial advantages like improving corporate governance and ESG performance. Further inquiries into the side effects of CDT and the dynamics of revenue volatility indicate that CDT might compromise cash flow availability. Excessive digital investments exacerbate operating risks. Importantly, the reduction in operating risk associated with CDT does not sacrifice the potential for enhanced company performance; rather, it appears to augment the value of real options.
Why do travelers discontinue using integrated ride-hailing platforms? The role of perceived value and perceived risk
Despite integrated ride-hailing platforms have provided many benefits to travelers, there are also various potential risks. This study aims to examine travelers’ discontinuance behavioral intention toward integrated ride-hailing platforms. The research framework was established by extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with perceived value and perceived risk. Perceived value was classified into utilitarian, hedonic, and social values, while perceived risk was classified into privacy, performance, security, and financial risks. Additionally, the factors of switch cost and personal innovativeness were included. An empirical analysis was carried out using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) based on a survey conducted in Nanjing, China. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis (MGA) was performed to examine behavioral differences across demographic variables. The findings suggest that discontinuous behavioral intention is influenced by subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitude. Among them, perceived behavioral control shows the strongest impact (−0.190). Perceived value, including utilitarian, hedonic, and social dimensions, negatively influences discontinuance intention, whereas the four variables of risk perception positively affect discontinuance intention. Notably, social value, performance risk, and privacy risk act higher total effects on discontinuance intention. Switch cost is negatively associated with attitude (−0.222), and positively affects discontinuance intention (0.189). Personal innovativeness has positive and stronger effects on perceived value (0.237), negative effects on perceived risk (−0.174), and negative effects on discontinuance intention. Regarding MGA results, older travelers demonstrate a stronger impact of social value on perceived value, higher-income groups exhibit greater sensitivity to security risks, and frequent travelers prioritize utilitarian value.
Establishment and characterization of the first immortalized vocal cord leukoplakia epithelial cell line
The importance of vocal cord leukoplakia (VCL) in the etiology and progression of laryngeal carcinoma has gained increasing recognition. However, research into the mechanisms of laryngeal precancerous lesions such as VCL, has been hampered by the small size of VCL epithelial cells and their limited culture lifespan. In this study, we enhanced the primary culture protocol for VCL epithelial cells and introduced simian virus 40 Large T to establish an immortalized cell line, designated hVCL-MSDEP01. We confirmed that hVCL-MSDEP01 expresses epithelial-specific genes and proteins; it also demonstrates distinct cell cycle dynamics and apoptosis rates compared with primary cells. In conclusion, hVCL-MSDEP01 serves as an ideal in vitro model for studying VCL. This cell line will substantially advance research into the etiology and progression of laryngeal carcinoma.
Leveraging large language models to assist philosophical counseling: prospective techniques, value, and challenges
Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as transformative tools with the potential to revolutionize philosophical counseling. By harnessing their advanced natural language processing and reasoning capabilities, LLMs offer innovative solutions to overcome limitations inherent in traditional counseling approaches—such as counselor scarcity, difficulties in identifying mental health issues, subjective outcome assessment, and cultural adaptation challenges. In this study, we explore cutting‐edge technical strategies—including prompt engineering, fine‐tuning, and retrieval‐augmented generation—to integrate LLMs into the counseling process. Our analysis demonstrates that LLM-assisted systems can provide counselor recommendations, streamline session evaluations, broaden service accessibility, and improve cultural adaptation. We also critically examine challenges related to user trust, data privacy, and the inherent inability of current AI systems to genuinely understand or empathize. Overall, this work presents both theoretical insights and practical guidelines for the responsible development and deployment of AI-assisted philosophical counseling practices.
Cross-talk of inflammation and cellular senescence: a new insight into the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant challenge in orthopedics. Inflammatory pathways are regarded as central mechanisms in the onset and progression of OA. Growing evidence suggests that senescence acts as a mediator in inflammation-induced OA. Given the lack of effective treatments for OA, there is an urgent need for a clearer understanding of its pathogenesis. In this review, we systematically summarize the cross-talk between cellular senescence and inflammation in OA. We begin by focusing on the mechanisms and hallmarks of cellular senescence, summarizing evidence that supports the relationship between cellular senescence and inflammation. We then discuss the mechanisms of interaction between cellular senescence and inflammation, including senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) and the effects of pro- and anti-inflammatory interventions on cellular senescence. Additionally, we focus on various types of cellular senescence in OA, including senescence in cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, infrapatellar fat pad, stem cells, and immune cells, elucidating their mechanisms and impacts on OA. Finally, we highlight the potential of therapies targeting senescent cells in OA as a strategy for promoting cartilage regeneration.
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