Participants (N = 89) rated preference, discomfort, and perceived complexity of grayscale, thresholded, edge and mountain profile images varying in spectral scaling properties. Participants also completed self-report questionnaires designed to measure neurodivergent (CATI, ASRS) or sensory processing sensitivity (CHYPS-V, SPQ-S). Across image types, perceived complexity and discomfort declined as the spectral slope parameter increased, whereas preference increased from the shallowest to the intermediate slopes and then plateaued. Self-reported autistic-like traits, ADHD-like traits, and sensory sensitivity were largely unrelated to overall rating levels but showed small associations with how ratings changed across spectral slope. These findings support treating complexity, discomfort, and preference as related but non-equivalent visual judgments, with trait-related influences expressed mainly as modest variation in sensitivity to spectral scaling.
This article studies the relationship between consumer flocking behaviour (CFB), product knowledge (PK), brand trust (BT), perceived risk (PR) and purchase intention (PI) in the technology sector to examine the dynamics of consumer behaviour. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data by a quantitative method and analysed through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. It has been found that there are strong positive correlations among the constructs, with PK and BT showing a positive correlation with CFB, which in turn positively correlates with PI. The study also reveals how increased BT reduces PR and encourages purchase decisions. The findings are in line with previous studies on the importance of trust in consumer behaviour. The study empirically confirms the relations between the constructs and adds to the theoretical perspective for future research on consumer behaviour. From a managerial perspective, the study indicates that marketers should develop PK and BT to facilitate consumer interaction and reduce PR. Within a competitive market, mechanisms to facilitate education and instil trust may result in significant increases in PI and the establishment of loyalty.
Although branding was associated with commercial products, it has now become a key strategy for managing professional identity in the contemporary labour market. Hence, the study seeks to explore the current state of personal branding research worldwide. The study aims to explore emerging patterns and significant gaps, and to develop a conceptual framework that clarifies the potential implications of personal branding among gig professionals. The study thoroughly examined 1,088 articles (2004–2024) from the Web of Science (WoS) database, following the bibliometric-systematic literature review (B-SLR) procedure using VOSviewer. Specific cluster analysis with thematic analysis was conducted to explore the knowledge within each cluster. Moreover, to provide a theoretical contribution within the field, a taxonomy or structured interpretative framework was used to synthesize the bibliometric and SLR findings. The study shows that personal branding has gained significant popularity since 2005, with increasing recognition in the business and management disciplines. It also highlights the global publication trend in its utilization by leading countries, the top five influential journals and prominent authors using co-citation analysis. Furthermore, the authors identified 6 unique themes, 14 widely used theories and an integrated conceptual model that provides a foundation for future research and for understanding the potential value of personal branding in the gig professional context.
Purpose: To evaluate long-term outcomes and safety of non-cyclodialytic, bleb-independent surgical enhancement of uveoscleral outflow for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in open-angle glaucoma (OAG), and to assess the role of conjunctival lymphatic vessels (CLVs) in suprachoroidal drainage. Methods: In this single-center consecutive case series, 70 eyes of 63 patients (mean age 75.0 years; 70% female) with moderate-to-severe OAG underwent uveoscleral outflow enhancement. Twenty-two eyes had standalone surgery; 48 eyes had combined phacoemulsification with glaucoma surgery. Mean follow-up was 24.1 months (range 5.3–60.4). Primary outcomes were IOP reduction and surgical success by Kaplan–Meier analysis (sustained failure: IOP > 18 mmHg or < 20% reduction from baseline at two consecutive available postoperative visits, excluding day 1). CLVs were assessed by slit-lamp and OCT at 11 time points over 36 months. Mixed-effects models with random intercept per eye were used for repeated measurements. Logistic regression with cluster-robust standard errors evaluated predictors of CLV visibility. Results: Baseline IOP of 28.8 ± 8.4 mmHg decreased to 12.3 ± 4.5 mmHg at 1 month (54.5% reduction) and 14.5 ± 2.5 mmHg at 36 months (46.2% reduction, n = 22). Medications decreased from 2.77 ± 0.94 to 1.36 ± 1.09 at 36 months. Overall surgical survival was 91.4% at 1 month, 82.0% at 12 months, and 74.1% at 36 months. Fifteen eyes (21.4%) met sustained failure criteria (standalone surgery group: eight, combined surgery group: seven; and log-rank p = 0.038). The combined surgery group showed higher survival at 36 months (82.6% vs. 58.5%), but the difference did not reach significance. CLVs were detected in 51.4% by slit-lamp and 96.4% by OCT, peaking at 1 month. Before surgery, CLVs were not detected on OCT in any eye. Time was a significant negative predictor of CLV visibility on both slit-lamp (OR 0.953/month, p = 0.046) and OCT (OR 0.935/month, p = 0.003), without independent association with IOP or medication burden, suggesting that CLVs facilitate suprachoroidal drainage as a structural mechanism rather than a reactive response to IOP changes. Conclusions: Non-cyclodialytic, bleb-independent uveoscleral outflow enhancement provides sustained IOP reduction with favorable safety. CLVs, nearly universally detected by OCT after surgery, appear to contribute to suprachoroidal drainage. Combined surgery showed a trend toward greater surgical success than standalone procedures.
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal dystrophy and remains largely untreatable. This review summarizes RP pathogenesis and critically appraises emerging therapeutic strategies, including gene augmentation, gene editing, RNA-based therapies, gene-agnostic and neuroprotective approaches, stem-cell therapy and their delivery platforms. We compare these strategies according to mutation mechanism, disease stage, durability, delivery route, and current level of clinical evidence. Although several approaches have shown improved structural and functional outcomes in preclinical and early-phase studies, RPE65-directed gene augmentation (voretigen neparvovec) remains the only approved therapy, and even it does not halt degeneration. For most modalities, long-term efficacy, safety, durability and clinical validation are not yet established, and translation is further constrained by delivery, immunogenicity, manufacturing, and cost. Rather than a realized paradigm shift, current evidence points to a rapidly advancing but still largely investigational field with successful clinical translation remaining elusive.
