Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does intention lead to behaviour? A case study of the Czech Republic farmers

Agricultural development in both developed and developing countries is mainly dependent on the technology adoption by the farmers. Technology adoption depends on the farmers' beliefs and motives. Many researchers have found that there is a signifi cant diff erence between intention and the actual behaviour. What an individual intends to do may not be what an individual actually does. Th erefore, this paper tries to address the above issue with the farmers of the Southern Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Further, the study tries to identify other possible variables that explain behaviour in the agricultural technology adoption decisions. Th e theory of planned behaviour has provided a useful framework for explaining the farmers' behaviour. Th e results showed that intention has explained the behaviour. However, the attitude, the perceived behavioural control, the farmers' age and the farmers' education also show a signifi cant relationship with behaviour. In order to increase the adoptability of new technologies, all these variables have to be taken into consideration by the policy makers and agricultural professionals when designing the agricultural development programmes as well as the technology dissemination programmes.
Karar Vermede Etkinliği Artıran Bir Yöntem: Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci Ve Mağaza Seçimine Uygulanması

Gunumuzde artan rekabet kosullari, cesitli ve celisebilen amaclar ve gittikce cogalan alternatifler, karar verme surecini karmasik hale getirmektedir. Salt sezgisel yaklasimlarin yeterli olamayabilecegi bu durumlarda bir karar destek araci olan Analitik Hiyerarsi Sureci (AHS)’nden yararlanilabilir. AHS sayisal ve niteliksel kriterleri bir hiyerarsi halinde tanimlayarak kriterlerin son karardaki goreceli agirliklarini hesaplar. Bu agirliklari kullanarak, sistematik bir yaklasimla en dogru alternatif secilebilir. AHS, basta ekonomi, finans, pazarlama ve politika alanlarinda olmak uzere cok cesitli problemlere mikro ve makro duzeyde uygulanmistir. Bu calismada AHS gercek bir karar problemine, perakendecilik sektorunde bir sirketin magaza yeri secimi kararina uygulanmistir. Alternatifler arasindan perakendecinin amac ve onceliklerine en uygun magazayi secmek icin secim kriterleri belirlenmis, hiyerarsi gelistirilmis ve kriterler hesaplanan agirliklara gore onceliklendirilmistir. Secilen kriterler ve gelistirilen hiyerarsi, amaclarina en uygun magazayi secmek isteyen karar vericilere destek olabilir.
Development of a Two-Step Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis Gene Clusters of Streptococcus suis

ABSTRACT We developed a practical and easy two-step multiplex PCR assay to aid in serotyping of Streptococcus suis. The assay accurately typed almost all of the serotype reference strains and field isolates of various serotypes and also identified the genotypes of capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene clusters of some serologically nontypeable strains.
Validation in Volunteers of a Near-Infrared Spectroscope for Monitoring Brain Oxygenation In Vivo

Cerebral oximeters based on near-infrared spectroscopy may provide a continuous, noninvasive assessment of cerebral oxygenation. We evaluated a prototype cerebral oximeter (Invos 3100; Somanetics, Troy, MI) in 22 conscious, healthy volunteers breathing hypoxic gas mixtures. Using the first 12 subjects (training group), we developed an algorithm based on the mathematic relationship that converts detected light from the field surveyed by the probe to cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (CSf O2). To develop the algorithm, we correlated the oximeter result with the estimated combined brain hemoglobin oxygen saturation (CScomb O2, where CScomb O2 = Sa O2 times 0.25 + Cj O2 times 0.75 and Sj O2 = jugular venous saturation). We then validated the algorithm in the remaining 10 volunteers (validation group). A close association (r2 = 0.798-0.987 for individuals in the training group and r2 = 0.794-0.992 for individuals in the validation group) existed between CSf O2 and CScomb O2. We conclude that continuous monitoring with cerebral oximetry may accurately recognize decreasing cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation produced by systemic hypoxemia. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:269-77)
Bariatric surgery in adolescents: What's the rationale? What's rational?

Abstract Rates of obesity in adolescents continue to rise, and available lifestyle and pharmacological interventions have had limited success in reducing excess weight and risk for comorbid health issues. However, ongoing health risks, psychosocial issues, and increased risk of mortality place these adolescents in jeopardy and warrant ongoing investigation for available treatments. Bariatric surgery for adults has had positive medical and psychological outcomes. However, bariatric surgery is a relatively new option for adolescents. Initial findings suggest positive results for excess weight loss and psychosocial improvements, but not without possible risks. Selection of appropriate candidates is essential in the process, specifically considering developmental maturity, family support, and resultant disease burden without surgery. Surgery is not a panacea for the obesity epidemic. Outcome studies are limited and long-term results are unknown, but for extremely obese adolescents, bariatric surgery is promising and should be considered a viable option for appropriate adolescent candidates.
ACHIEVING ‘BREAK‐OUT’: DEVELOPING MAINSTREAM ETHNIC MINORITY BUSINESSES

It is widely accepted that many ethnic minority firms continue to rely on their own community for their survival, and that growth is only likely to be achieved by tapping into wider markets. In short, ‘break‐out’, which is the focus of this paper, is critical to ethnic minority firms' survival and development. Using a combination of consultancy and qualitative approaches, the progress of three ethnic minority businesses over a twelve month period in pursuing such a development strategy is reported on. The findings shed light on the marketing approaches of such firms; the feasibility of break‐out; the management implications of such a process; and the lessons for business support agencies.
Corruption by Example: Legalizing the Illegal as a Means of Survival in Modern Nigeria

This study examines the behavioural consequences of the public outcry on corruption by the Nigerian citizens especially the top ranking officers and leaders of government. A sample of 873 respondents cutting across twelve professions was interviewed through a carefully designed questionnaire. The research was complimented with secondary data sourced from other anti-corruption agencies. Findings reveal a total disgust for corruption for its apparent smearing of the country’s image in the international community, but that the war against it would be hard to win since the acts are perpetrated by policy makers themselves. It, however, suggested a number of factors which if religiously executed could reduce the cases of corruption to the barest minimum.
The Challenge of Regional Tourism Demand Forecasting

This study forecasts international arrivals to regional China, using international guest arrival data at accommodation establishments in 31 regional provinces. The research takes tourism forecasting into a new and significant area of study by examining intra country regional forecasting. The objective is to determine whether regional forecasting models can be used, in responding to demand from regional governments and industry in China to accurately forecast international regional tourist arrivals that increasingly underpin the success of tourism development. The study examines whether modern techniques (Basic Structural and Time Varying Parameter Models) can accurately forecast international regional arrivals with regional data. A significant contribution is testing theory for selecting new explanatory variables specific to regional tourism, which are different from those used in national forecasting. The conclusions are that regional forecasting can be accurate though not always using an econometric method, and regional forecasts are a practical management tool.
Purification and identification of a tributyltin‐binding protein from serum of Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Tributyltin (TBT) is an industrial chemical used as an antifoulant in marine environments. Previously, we reported that TBT accumulates in the serum or plasma of some fishes and is bound to a high molecular weight compound in the serum of the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. In this study, we succeeded in purifying the TBT‐binding protein (TBT‐bp) from the serum of Japanese flounder by using gel filtration chromatography, anion exchange chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with a 2.6% yield and a 77‐fold purification. The molecular mass of TBT‐bp was approximately 46.5 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and its isoelectric point was approximately 3.0 on isoelectric focusing‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The TBT‐bp contained 42% N‐glycan. The cDNA nucleotide sequence of TBT‐bp was determined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction of Japanese flounder liver, and we deduced a sequence of 191 amino acids of mature TBT‐bp. No sequence identical to the TBT‐bp amino acid sequence was found within the SWISS‐PROT (http://www.nig.ac.jp/) protein database; however, a lipocalin‐like sequence pattern was observed. We concluded that the TBT‐bp was a novel protein that has not yet been reported, although some DNA sequences from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of Japanese flounder liver had a high identity. A high expression level of TBT‐bp gene was found in the liver, but the gene was slightly detectable in the kidney and brain.
Employee resilience: an emerging challenge for HRM

Given turbulent economic times, the concept of employee resilience is receiving increasing attention in many organisations. This paper brings the discussion of employee resilience into the field of human resource management (HRM). We explore the foundations of resilience in theories of positive psychology and the conservation of resources (COR); we discuss its relevance for HRM and develop a set of testable hypotheses to guide future research. The first key finding of this paper is that the concept of resilience can be developed from strong theoretical foundations. Second, a coherent set of resilience-enhancing HR practices have the potential to contribute to employees’ psychological capital, attitudes and behaviour, and to organisational performance not only in turbulent circumstances but also during periods of relative calm. Given the theoretical framing, formal resilience training should be viewed as a single component of a broader, coherent set of resilience-enhancing HR practices.
Incidence of cancer after prophylaxis with warfarin against recurrent venous thromboembolism. Duration of Anticoagulation Trial.

BACKGROUND The length of time after an episode of venous thromboembolism during which the risk of newly diagnosed cancer is increased is not known, and whether vitamin K antagonists have an antineoplastic effect is controversial. METHODS In a prospective, randomized study of the duration of oral anticoagulation (six weeks or six months) after a first episode of venous thromboembolism, patients were questioned annually about any newly diagnosed cancer. After a mean follow-up of 8.1 years, we used the Swedish Cancer Registry to identify all diagnoses of cancer and causes of death in the study population. The observed numbers of cases of cancer were compared with expected numbers based on national incidence rates, and the standardized incidence ratios were calculated. RESULTS A first cancer was diagnosed in 111 of 854 patients (13.0 percent) during follow-up. The standardized incidence ratio for newly diagnosed cancer was 3.4 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.2 to 4.6) during the first year after the thromboembolic event and remained between 1.3 and 2.2 for the following five years. Cancer was diagnosed in 66 of 419 patients (15.8 percent) who were treated for six weeks with oral anticoagulants, as compared with 45 of 435 patients (10.3 percent) who were treated for six months (odds ratio, 1.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.4). The difference was mainly due to the occurrence of new urogenital cancers, of which there were 28 cases in the six-week group (6.7 percent) and 12 cases in the six-month group (2.8 percent) (odds ratio, 2.5; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 5.0). The difference in the incidence of cancer between the treatment groups became evident only after two years of follow-up, and it remained significant after adjustment for sex, age, and whether the thromboembolism was idiopathic or nonidiopathic. Older age at the time of the venous thrombosis and an idiopathic thromboembolism were also independent risk factors for a diagnosis of cancer. No difference in the incidence of cancer-related deaths was detected. CONCLUSIONS The risk of newly diagnosed cancer after a first episode of venous thromboembolism is elevated during at least the following two years. Subsequently, the risk seems to be lower among patients treated with oral anticoagulants for six months than among those treated for six weeks.
Mastering the art of corroboration: A conceptual analysis of information assurance and corporate strategy alignment

Purpose – The paper seeks to investigate how the information assurance (IA) efforts of organisations should be aligned with their business strategy. From this analysis, a conceptual model of alignment is presented. This framework shows several organisational factors that can influence alignment.Design/methodology/approach – A number of published works on alignment are discussed in order to develop a conceptual model of IA fit. In addition, Venkatraman's six perspectives of alignment are used as a framework to suggest future research in this area.Findings – The paper presents a definition of information assurance and proposes various reasons why IA is a strategic issue and should be aligned with both IT and corporate strategy. From the literature, a conceptual model illustrating the variables that can influence alignment is presented.Research limitations/implications – A clear conceptualisation of alignment is needed. Six potential research models and associated research questions are proposed.Practical im.
The Source of Turnout Decline

Voter turnout has consistently declined since the 1980s across a wide range of advanced democracies. Much of this decline appears to be the result of young people abstaining. In this article the authors test two arguments for this trend. The first rests on the claim that the character of elections has changed, specifically that elections have become less competitive and that young people’s propensities for voting are particularly negatively affected by this. The second maintains that recent generations have different values and that these value differences explain turnout declines. The authors test these two explanations using three different data sets: (a) individual-level and election-specific data from 83 elections in eight countries since the 1950s, (b) longitudinal individual-level and district-level data from British elections for the period 1974–2005, and (c) panel data from American presidential elections. The findings provide strong evidence for the generational value change argument, whereas the authors find scant support for the competition argument.
IPRES: in-device proxy re-encryption service for secure ICN

A key paradigm of Information Centric Networking (ICN) is that the content-based security, privacy and access control are deployed directly in the network layer. However, there is a gap between security in the network and application layers. This creates a vulnerable space for cyber attacks from inside a device. To address this problem, we discuss and present a guideline on ICN access control. Since a semi-trusted proxy has been seen as an advantageous solution for access control and efficiency in content sharing services, we introduce the proxy in a consumer's device and propose an in-device proxy re-encryption service (IPRES) architecture for efficiency in both access control management and resource usage.
Electricity Consumption, Labor Force and GDP in Turkey: Evidence From Multivariate Granger Causality

This article attempts to examine the dynamic relationship between gross domestic product (GDP), electricity consumption, and labor force in Turkey over the period 1980–2008. Applying the bounds test approach to cointegration developed by Pesaran et al. (2001), we found that there was a long-run relationship between electricity consumption, GDP, and labor force when electricity consumption and labor force are the dependent variable. Using four long-run estimators, we also concluded that electricity consumption has a positive and a statistically significant impact on Turkey's economic growth. The coefficient on labor force is positive and statistically significant at the 1% level where a 1% increase in labor force generates a 1.22% and 2.52% increase in electricity consumption, respectively. Turning to the model where labor force is taken as a dependent variable, the coefficient on income is positive and statistically significant for all estimators with a 1% increase in real income generating between 0.23 and 2.77% increase in employment. We concluded that there exists bidirectional Granger causality between electricity consumption and GDP which confirms the feedback hypothesis. On the other hand, there is neutrality between labor force and electricity consumption. When we examine the long-run results, the coefficient on the lagged error correction term which indicates the speed of the adjustment process to restore equilibrium following a disturbance in the long-run equilibrium relationship is significant in the electricity consumption equation at the 5% level. We concluded that almost 5% of the disequilibrium of the previous year's shocks adjusts back to the long run equilibrium—an indication that once shocked convergence to equilibrium is slow.
Hypercomplex Quality Assessment of Multi/Hyperspectral Images

This letter presents a novel image quality index which extends the Universal Image Quality Index for monochrome images to multispectral and hyperspectral images through hypercomplex numbers. The proposed index is based on the computation of the hypercomplex correlation coefficient between the reference and tested images, which jointly measures spectral and spatial distortions. Experimental results, both from true and simulated images, are presented on spaceborne and airborne visible/infrared images. The results prove accurate measurements of inter- and intraband distortions even when anomalous pixel values are concentrated on few bands.
Audit independence in the UK – the state of the art

Practising internal and external auditors regularly find that crucial concepts governing how they operate are the twin terms of independence and objectivity. Part of the problem is that the two terms are often equated. The impact can be conflict with the auditee, misunderstanding with other stakeholders, impairment of efficiency and effectiveness, and role conflict within the internal audit department. The Institute of Internal Auditors is reviewing some of the cherished notions of internal audit in the light of pressures and developments in the business environment. It has already produced a new definition of internal auditing, which, as before, includes the terms independence and objectivity. Consistently, it decided to re‐evaluate these two terms, and established an international research team. This was the briefing submission from the UK, which was highly influential in determining the final product, not yet in the public domain. It considers professional statements and standards, research and develop.
Reliability Study of Measurements for Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients

Chen Y-W, Tsai H-J, Hung H-C, Tsauo J-Y: Reliability study of measurements for lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2008;87:33–38. Objective:Water displacement, circumference measurement, and tissue tonometry are important methods to evaluate the status of lymphedemous limbs in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliabilities, and define the limits for clinical change indicative of clinical improvement with respect to these three measures. Design:Fourteen patients were recruited for water displacement and circumference measurement, and 17 for tissue resistance by tonometry. All had been treated for breast cancer and subsequently developed lymphedema. Two physical therapists conducted the measurements to determine intra- and interrater reliability. Results:All measures had fair to excellent reliability (water displacement and circumference measurement, intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] >0.99, P < 0.05; tissue tonometry, 0.66 < ICC < 0.88, P < 0.05). There was no systematic change in the mean for any of the measures. The variation, as determined by standard error of measurement (SEM), SEM%, smallest real difference (SRD), and SRD% was greatest for tissue tonometry. Conclusions:Water displacement and circumference measurement (but not tonometry) are reliable techniques for assessing lymphedema in clinical practice. The effect of modifying the tonometry protocol and increasing the amount of rater training should be studied to determine whether the reliability of this method can be improved.
A pharmacogenetic study of escitalopram in autism spectrum disorders

Objective: To determine the effect of serotonin transporter polymorphism promoter region (5‐HTTPLR) genotypic variation (low, intermediate, and high expression groups) on response to escitalopram treatment of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Method: The study used a forced titration, open label design, with genotype blind until study completion. Participants were children and adolescents aged 4–17 years of age with a confirmed ASD (autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified). Results: There was an interaction between genotype group and time on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) Irritability Subscale (primary outcome variable) (linear maximum marginal likelihood estimation=−4.84, Z=−2.89, SE=1.67, P=0.004). Examination of baseline to last visit revealed that a genotype grouping based on a previous study of platelet 5‐HT uptake revealed less response in the genotype group that had S/S genotype for 5‐HTTLPR and did not have a diplotype in intron 1 previously shown to be associated with increased platelet 5‐HT uptake. Conclusion: This genotype‐blind, prospective pharmacogenetic study found the group of subjects with associated with the lowest platelet 5‐HT uptake from previous study had the smallest reduction in ABC‐Irritability scores after open label treatment with escitalopram. Replication is necessary to confirm these findings.
Miniaturization of Microstrip Branch-Line Coupler With Dual Transmission Lines

The dual transmission lines are proposed to replace conventional quarter-wavelength transmission lines for a compact microstrip branch-line coupler in this study. The developed coupler can be easily fabricated on the printed circuit board without lumped element; moreover, its size is greatly reduced compared to the conventional branch-line coupler. Furthermore, simulated and measured frequency responses match well to validate the proposed coupler with dual transmission lines.