Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining the Role of Trust in Regulators in Food Safety Risk Assessment: A Cross-regional Analysis of Three Chinese Societies Using an Integrative Framework

Considerable efforts have been made to depict the causal patterns of trust, risk perception, and risk acceptance. Yet, it remains far from clear whether the established models are over-simplistic and to what extent the observed associations are contingent upon risk contexts. Extending the theorizing based on the Causal Chain model, this study adopts a comparative approach to examining the role of trust in regulators in the case of post-Fukushima food imports in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan. Consistent with the proposed integrative framework, all three samples exhibited indirect relationships between trust in regulators and behavioral intentions through two types of risk perception (affective and cognitive risk perceptions) and risk acceptance. Findings showed that risk acceptance was the most prominent mediator in explaining the extended model and supported the necessity of distinguishing risk acceptance and behavioral intention as two self-contained constructs working in sequence. Moreover, trust in regulators showed the strongest predictivity in behavioral intentions in the Mainland China sample, while risk perception played a more important role in explaining outcome variables in the Hong Kong and Taiwan samples. In addition to contributing to theory building by presenting the external validity of the integrative framework across different political and food regulatory systems, the study demonstrates practical implications for regulatory authorities and risk communicators.
Circadian Rhythms and the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Circadian clocks are ubiquitous biological timing systems that drive roughly 24 rhythms of our behavior (e.g., sleep/wake, feeding/fasting cycles) and physiology (e.g., metabolism, hormonal system, immune functions) through daily adjustments to environmental day and night cycles. Besides the rhythmic regulation of physiological processes, the circadian clockwork has been increasingly recognized to determine the daily variation in pathological symptoms and severity, particularly in autoimmune diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues and joints, resulting in major symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness. In most RA patients, the autoimmune symptoms are pronounced in the morning and are mediated by circadian rhythms of leukocyte recruitment to inflamed tissues, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α), and immune-modulatory hormone levels (e.g., glucocorticoid, melatonin). With the growing knowledge of the circadian etiology of RA clinical symptoms, here, we will briefly discuss recently established chronotherapeutic concepts as well as approaches to improve outcomes of RA treatment.
Determination of the Best Indirect Selection Criteria for Genetic Improvement of Seed Yield in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Genotypes

Summary Correlation and path coeffi cient analyses were studied on three diverse genotypes of sunfl ower in order to understand the relationship and contribution on eight characters towards the seed yield. Th e seed yield exhibits highly signifi cant and positive correlation with plant height, oil yield and total number of seeds per head. Days to full fl owering and head diameter showed signifi cant and negative relation with seed yield. Path coeffi cient analysis revealed that total number of seeds per head had the highest and positive direct eff ect on seed yield. On the other hand, days to full fl owering and head diameter showed the highest and negative direct eff ect on seed yield. Hence, the study revealed the importance of total number of seeds per head, days to full fl owering and head diameter as indirect selection criteria for genetic improvement of seed yield in sunfl ower breeding programs especially in early generations.
Fungal Spoilage And Its Economic Impact On Maize (Zea Mays L.) And Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) In West Shoa, Ethiopia

Food grains may be attacked by fungi in the field which can then develop rapidly during storage when conditions are suitable which result in losses in both quantity and quality in addition to decreasing nutritional value and mycotoxin production. Of the world’s grain harvest, lost during storage by microorganisms including insects, mites, and rodents is higher especially in developing countries. A study to assess fungal spoilage and contamination of two stored food grains of maize and wheat and its economic impact on the livelihood community were carried out in six localities, vis. , Bako, Ejaji, Cheliya, Toke Kutaye, Ginde Beret and Holeta. A total of 120 samples (60maize and 60wheat) were collected using purposive and stratified random sampling. Isolation of fungi from collected food grains were done using dry inspection and incubation test (agar plate method) and identification was done based on cultural characteristics and microscopic features. Results of the current study indicated that the mean fungal contamination of the food grains had the highest levels of infection and contamination. Maize was infected by more than 11 different genera of 831 different fungi while the wheat seeds were also infected by 8 genera of 768 different molds. Across the study sites, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria were the most predominant fungal genera identified among the study sites. There was more mycotoxin producing fungal genera isolated from those samples of both maize and wheat with high level of contamination. Mycotoxin levels increased with storage time such that maize and wheat samples stored for more than six months may exceed the levels greater than the FDA/WHO regulatory limits. Hence, indicating that maize and wheat consumers in the study area are exposed to the danger of mycotoxin poisoning. Thus, there is the need for policy makers to establish and enforce food grain quality standards and regulations related to molds and mycotoxins across the country and specifically among study area to minimize health hazards related to consumption of contaminated foods.
Growth and persistence of perennial ryegrass lines with different tolerances to "pulling" during grazing

The effects of ryegrass genotype, nitrogen (N) fertiliser and soil type on the level of plant losses by “pulling” during grazings were studied over 2 years. Plots of high-endophyte pipeline perennial ryegrass lines, coded A1 and A3, were established on the Dairying Research Corporation No. 2 Dairy in May 1994. Three plots of each line were sown on a Te Kowhai silt loam and three on a Te Rapa peaty silt loam soil. Half the area of each plot received nitrogen fertiliser (30 kg N/ha) after grazings from September 1995 to February 1996. Line A1 pulled more than did A3. Pulling was worse on the peat than on the silt loam, and was highest during summer–autumn 1994–95, which included a prolonged dry spell. N fertiliser increased post-flowering tillering, especially for A1. A1 had a higher leaf shear strength (6.21 vs 5.91 kg, SED = 0.087) and a wider leaf (3.40 vs 3.22 mm, SED = 0.054) than A3. It is argued that these morphological differences were important contributors to the observed pulling differences. Since A1 outyielded A3, we consider that plant losses owing to pulling did not constitute a serious loss of herbage dry matter.
Modulation of interfacial magnetic relaxation timeframes by partially uncoupled exchange bias

A set of partially uncoupled NiFe/Cu/IrMn exchange biased thin films with variable thickness of non-magnetic Cu spacer is characterized by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and Brillouin light scattering (BLS) techniques applied complementary to reveal time-scale dependent effects of uncoupling between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers on high-frequency magnetization dynamics. The results correlate with interfacial grain texture variations and static magnetization behavior. Two types of crystalline phases with correlated microwave response are revealed at the ferro–antiferromagnet interface in NiFe/Cu/IrMn thin films. The 1st phase forms well-textured NiFe/IrMn grains with NiFe (111)/IrMn (111) interface. The 2nd phase consists of amorphous NiFe/IrMn grains. Intercalation of NiFe/IrMn by Cu clusters results in relaxation of tensile strains at the NiFe/IrMn interface leading to larger size of grains in both the NiFe and IrMn layers. The contributions of well-textured and amorphous grains to the high-frequency magnetization reversal behavior are distinguished by FMR and BLS techniques. Generation of a spin-wave mode is revealed in the well-textured phase, whereas microwave response of the amorphous phase is found to originate from magnetization rotation dominated by a rotatable magnetic anisotropy term. Under fixed FMR frequency, the increase of Cu thickness results in higher magnetization rotation frequencies in the amorphous grains.
AHP-Based Weighting of Factors Affecting Safety on Construction Sites with Tower Cranes

Aspiring to adopt a nonstatistical quantitative approach to safety assessment, this study implements a multiattribute decision-making tool to elicit knowledge from experts and formalize it into a set of weighted safety factors. The environment addressed is the construction site and the specific factors studied are those affecting safety due to the operation of tower cranes. Nineteen senior construction equipment and safety experts were interviewed and led through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to provide their assessments on the relative importance of safety factors obtained in an earlier study. The results accentuate the dominance of the crane operator and general superintendent on the site safety scene and play down the contribution of “classic” site hazards such as power lines. Quantitative measuring of safety, such as reflected in the weights obtained in this study, is important in communicating safety requirements and focusing the limited resources available for safety improvements. These facto.
Never mind the Data - Feel the Model* A Keynote Paper for an International Conference on Transport Survey Quality

The rapid development of choice modelling procedures, especially using Stated Preference data, over the past twenty years, has created an opportunity for an imbalance between the models and the data used for construction of the models. This paper examines this imbalance and stresses the need for more attention to be paid to the needs of the respondent when collecting data for choice modelling. Drawing on the classic ideas of Alonso on the sources of error in modelling studies, the paper highlights the fact that the sophistication of the models and the data need to be commensurate. The paper gives some contrasting examples of studies in which sophisticated analysis has not been supported by equally sophisticated data collection, compared to studies where the emphasis has been placed on respondent-fr iendly designs without compromising the analytical outputs of the study. A major conclusion to be drawn from this paper is the absolute need to pilot test SP questions that could possibly be seen as being difficult for respondents to comprehend and answer.
Service quality modelling for life insurance business using neural networks

Running a successful life insurance company is about right structuring the life insurance products, which calls for minimising the performance-expectation gap. The life insurance business is not just about paying claims, but involves multiple expectations from various stakeholders. A lot of research has been carried out in the area of service quality; however, there is a paucity of critical examination of service quality neural networks applicable to life insurance business. The study attempts to critically examine five possible combinations of neural networks as applicable to measure service quality. A survey instrument has been designed to collect data from various stakeholders in Indian life insurance business, and have been analysed by using neural networks. A comparative analysis of all neural networks for key stakeholders is presented.
Large Device-Related Thrombus Detected following Symptoms of Transient Ischemic Attack

As an independent risk factor for stroke, atrial fibrillation has been shown to be associated with a fivefold increase in the cause of embolic stroke in comparison to healthy individuals without atrial fibrillation. This risk may be compounded by other factors; however, the main probable cause of stroke leading from atrial fibrillation is thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage. In patients for whom anticoagulation is contraindicated, left atrial appendage occlusion has become a leading alternative option for therapeutic prevention of thromboembolism and stroke in patients with this condition. Unfortunately, these devices (particularly the WATCHMAN) have been associated with a 3-6% incidence of intracardiac thrombus development postimplantation. Some risk factors for the development of device-related thrombus are high platelet count, permanent atrial fibrillation, resistance to clopidogrel, and prior transient ischemic attack or stroke. Despite following an anticoagulant regimen, thrombus formation was reported in 5.6% of participants of a randomized clinical trial, and further analysis showed that some of these patients continued to develop either ischemic stroke or thromboembolism five years later as compared to patients without initial thrombus development. We present a case of an elderly male with prior history of stroke and transient ischemic attack who developed a large device-related thrombus five months following WATCHMAN FLX™ implantation. Currently, there are no specific recommendations on the management of this rare complication; however, we discuss possible consideration of initially prolonging anticoagulation therapy following implantation for high-risk individuals, as there is an increased possibility for thrombus formation in this population. Management options should continue to be studied for therapeutic benefit in streamlining postprocedural therapy and improve future outcomes in the use of left atrial appendage occlusion devices, as well as continual thrombus prevention.
The tilted electric field soft-landing collector and its application to a traveling-wave tube

If a collector in a beam-type tube captures all the electrons at almost zero velocity, the tube efficiency will approach unity. Such a collector might be called a soft-landing collector. This paper describes the principle, design theory, preliminary experimentation, and application of a new type collector in which an almost complete soft landing can be realized. The experimental TWT equipped with this collector achieved an efficiency improvement from 19 to 46 percent.
Pricing-based Deep Reinforcement Learning for Live Video Streaming with Joint User Association and Resource Management in Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a promising technique in the 5G Era to improve the Quality of Experience (QoE) for online video streaming due to its ability to reduce the backhaul transmission by caching certain content. However, it still takes effort to address the user association and video quality selection problem under the limited resource of MEC to fully support the low-latency demand for live video streaming. We found the optimization problem to be a non-linear integer programming, which is impossible to obtain a globally optimal solution under polynomial time. In this paper, we formulate the problem and derive the closed-form solution in the form of Lagrangian multipliers; the searching of the optimal variables is formulated as a Multi-Arm Bandit (MAB) and we propose a Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) based algorithm exploiting the supply-demand interpretation of the Lagrange dual problem. Simulation results show that our proposed approach achieves significant QoE improvement, especially in the low wireless resource and high user number scenario compared to other baselines.
Classical and non‐classical phenotypes of Erdheim–Chester disease: Correlating clinical, radiographic and genotypic findings

Erdheim– Chester disease (ECD) is a rare neoplasm characterised by multiorgan infiltration of clonal histiocytes bearing activating mutations, predominantly in the MAPK– ERK pathway. BRAFV600E is the most common somatic mutation, reported in 50%– 60% of patients.1 The diagnosis of ECD is based on a combination of radiographic and pathological findings, as microscopic features alone are often nonspecific. Common organs of involvement (characteristic findings) include cardiovascular (right atrial pseudotumour), cutaneous (xanthelasma), endocrine (diabetes insipidus [DI]), neurological (brainstem and cerebellar tumour), orbital (exophthalmos), osseous (leg osteosclerosis) and retroperitoneal (‘hairy kidneys’). 1– 3
Influence of Motivational Design Techniques on Use and Acceptance of Self-Management Health Systems in Older Adults

INTRODUCTION: Self-Management Health Systems (SMHS) are envisioned to support older adults and contribute to ageing in place. To promote the use and acceptance of SMHS, designers may resort to using motivational design techniques (MDT). OBJECTIVES: This paper investigates how and which older adults prefer MDT in SMHS and whether these preferences are mediated by either motivation for health management (MHM) or mobile device proficiency (MDP). METHODS: Based on a user evaluation with 45 older adults (mean age=84, SD=6.75), 32 MDT, MHM, and MDP were polled through questionnaires and informal interviews. RESULTS: Findings showed that most techniques were welcomed, but also that scores vary widely, reflecting heterogeneity in the population and calling for caution in its implementation. These findings are then translated into implications for design. CONCLUSION: Overall, older adults welcome MDT in SMHS. However, MDT are no panacea; tailoring MDT to users’ needs is therefore crucial. Received on 31 August 2021; accepted on 16 October 2021; published on 24 November 2021
Tell me your story: Branding destinations through residents’ (place) stories

Concerns have been raised that destination branding often overlooks the destination's internal stakeholders, and in some cases, has resulted in a brand identity that does not reflect the meanings and emotions that residents attach to places. Consequently, scholars have advocated for a more participatory approach to destination branding in which residents’ sense of place can be acknowledged, represented, and operationalized. This paper synthesizes these arguments and demonstrates that such an approach can be achieved by embracing residents’ place stories. Through storytelling, residents construe different facets of the place identity that is the foundation of destination brand identity. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the role, constituents, and effects of storytelling in destination branding, particularly exploring whose stories should be told and how these stories should be conveyed. In doing so, a participatory approach to destination branding is presented that employs residents’ place stories as a genuine form of participation in the destination branding process. Lastly, an agenda for future research is proposed, and practical implications for destination marketing practice are discussed.
Consonantal Landmarks as Predictors of Dysarthria among English-Speaking Adults with Cerebral Palsy

The current study explored the possibility that the consonantal landmarks served as predictors of dysarthric speech produced by English-speaking adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Additionally, the relationship between the perceptual severity of dysarthric speech and the consonantal landmarks was explored. The analyses included 210 sentences from the TORGO database produced by seven English-speaking CP speakers with dysarthria and seven typically developing controls matched in age and gender. The results indicated that the clinical group produced more total landmark features than did the control group. A binominal regression analysis revealed that the improper control of laryngeal vibration and the inability to tactically control the energy in a voiced segment would lead to the higher likelihood of dysarthric speech. A multinominal regression analysis revealed that producing too many +v and −v landmark features would lead to higher perceptual severity levels among the CP speakers. Together with literature, the current study proposed that the landmark-based acoustic analysis could quantify the differences in consonantal productions between dysarthric and non-dysarthric speech and reflect the underlying speech motor deficits of the population in concern.
Agglomeration economies and vertical alliances: the route to product innovation in biotechnology firms

This paper develops and tests hypotheses related to the aggregated effect of geographic clustering and cooperation networks positively affects the innovation performance. It is argued that clusters and alliances may represent micromechanisms that improve access to critical resources and competences on which innovation capability is based (such as spillovers, downstream competences and finance). By analysing survey data from a sample of biofirms, important insights are found into the benefits of being located within a cluster and collaborating with specific types of partners.
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation of adenomyosis: a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present review is to analyze and summarize the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for adenomyosis according to largest studies available in current literature, so as to provide a more robust foundation for its use in the treatment of patients with this condition. BACKGROUND Adenomyosis is a common and frequently occurring gynecological disease. It can lead to clinical symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, menostaxis, menorrhagia, and anemia, and can seriously affect patients' quality of life. Treatments for adenomyosis include drug, minimally invasive, and surgical therapies. Among them, ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation has become a new hotspot in the minimally invasive treatment of adenomyosis in recent years, with its advantages of small trauma and a good therapeutic effect. METHODS Relevant studies were retrieved from the CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), CQVIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases. The retrieval time range was from January 2000 to June 2021. Chinese search terms included "adenomyosis", "microwave ablation", and "ultrasound". English search terms included "microwave ablation", "ultrasound", "(adenomyosis) OR (endometrioma) OR (adenomyoma)". CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation therapy is a feasible, safe, and effective technique for the treatment of adenomyosis, and is worthy of clinical application and promotion.