Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can healthy checkout counters in supermarkets promote healthier food choices? Two real-life experiments in supermarkets in a disadvantaged urban area in the Netherlands

Background Most foods displayed at supermarket checkouts are unhealthy and do not support healthy purchases. This study investigates the sales effects of introducing healthier alternatives at supermarket checkouts. Methods We performed two real-life quasi-experimental studies in supermarkets located in a disadvantaged urban area in the Netherlands. In Study 1, we examined the impact of substituting healthier options for all the unhealthy snacks at checkouts (n = 1 supermarket). In Study 2, we investigated the impact of placing healthier snacks at checkouts (placement intervention), as well as the impact of offering a discount on healthier checkout snacks (placement + price intervention), while continuing to display unhealthy snacks for sale (n = 2 supermarkets). Supermarket sales data were used to measure purchases. Results In Study 1, median weekly sales/1000 customers of checkout snacks were 2.3 times lower (SE: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.9–2.7) during the intervention period – when healthier options were substituted for the entire unhealthy snack assortment – (median: 10, IQR: 2.8), as compared to the control period (median: 24, IQR: 2.8). In Study 2, median daily sales/1000 customers of healthier snacks were 2.1 times higher (SE: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.3–3.3) during the placement-intervention period (median: 7.8, IQR: 4.6), as compared to the control period (median: 4.2, IQR: 4.6). Similarly, median daily sales/1000 customers of healthier snacks were 2.7 times higher (SE: 1.2, 95%CI: 2.0–3.6) during the placement + price-intervention period (median: 5.8, IQR: 2.2), as compared to the control period (median: 2.2, IQR: 4.7). There was no difference between the effect of the placement intervention and that of the placement + price intervention (ratio: 1.1, SE: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.7–1.9). Neither did we observe a decline in purchases of unhealthy snacks (ratio: 1.3, SE: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5). Conclusions This study showed that if we want to promote healthier food purchases at supermarket checkouts the substitution of the unhealthy snacks with healthier alternatives is an effective intervention, which is not the case if the unhealthy snacks remain in place at the checkouts, even with discounts on the healthier snacks. Future research should assess the feasibility and willingness of eliminating unhealthy checkout snacks in supermarkets.
Tourism Crime, Safety and Security Issues: The case of a Local South African Municipality

This paper focuses on the criminal activities which have been identified as hindering and crippling the tourism industry at uMhlathuze Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The main aim of the study was to establish if any mechanisms are in place to curb crime and enhance the safety of tourists within the study area. A structured questionnaire survey and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. The study used a convenience sampling method to select 124 participants, from different parts of the study area. The results indicate that even though there are some mechanisms in place criminal activities continue occurring in and around uMhlathuze Local Municipality. Some of these criminal activities are not reported to the local authorities and are not known by the community members and thus downplayed. This study recommends that organizations such as Tourism KwaZulu-Natal that are responsible for marketing and promoting tourism, together with uMhlathuze Local Municipality tourism support officers should bring some safety measures and crime tourism awareness by organizing workshops and seminars related to tourist’s safety and security at different towns and villages of the local municipality, targeting youths.
Fear of COVID-19 Scale for Hospital Staff in Regional Hospitals in Mexico: A Survey Study

The presence of COVID-19 has had psychological consequences among health personnel; these include fear, anxiety, and depression. In the current study, we used the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to assess the response to fear within health staff in Mexico. This was a cross-sectional survey study in which we administered the FCV-19S to hospital staff. A total of 2,860 participants—1,641 female and 1,218 male personnel from three hospitals—were included in the study. We found a global FCV-19S mean score of 19.3 ± 6.9, with a significant difference in scores for women and men. There was a high correlation between items 3, 5, 6, and 7, suggesting that these items could indicate the physiological responses to fear, and a high correlation between items 1, 2, and 4, suggesting these items could represent the emotional responses to fear. Our survey shows a significantly higher level of fear in nursing and administrative personnel, which may be explained by the nursing staff being in close contact with infected patients and the administrative staff lacking understanding of the possible implications of the infection, compared with non-clinical hospital personnel. The FCV-19S showed validity and reliability in our population to assess fear in response to COVID-19. Our results are consistent with those of other researchers.
Survival Analysis of COVID-19 on Democracy with Cox Proportional Hazards Model

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has struck us in many ways and we observed that China and South Korea found an effective measure to contain the virus. Conversely, the United States and the European countries are struggling to fight the virus. China is not considered a democracy and South Korea is less democratic than the United States. Therefore, we want to explore the association between the deaths of COVID-19 and democracy. Methods: We collected COVID-19 deaths data for each country from the Johns Hopkins University website and democracy indices of 2018 from the Economist Intelligence Unit website in May 2020. Then we conducted a survival analysis, regarding each country as a subject, with the Cox Proportional Hazards Model, adjusting for other selected variables. Result: The result showed that the association between democracy and deaths of COVID-19 was significant (P=0.04), adjusting for other covariates. Conclusion: In conclusion, less democratic governments performed better in containing the virus and controlling the number of deaths.
Hubungan Antara Modal Intelektual dengan Kualitas Laba dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Nilai Perusahaan pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk memperoleh bukti empiris terkait hubungan modal intelektual dengan kualitas laba, serta pengaruhnya terhadap nilai perusahaan, dengan menguji apakah kualitas laba dapat bertindak sebagai variabel mediator dalam hubungan pengaruh modal intelektual terhadap nilai perusahaan, pada perusahaan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan pengukuran discretionary accrual model Jones (Jones, 1991), modifikasi model Jones (Jones, 1991), dan kualitas akrual untuk mengukur kualitas laba. Data diolah menggunakan SEM dengan analisis AMOS 22. Hasil peneltian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan positif antara modal intelektual dengan kualitas laba dan terdapat pengaruh positif modal intelektual terhadap nilai perusahaan. Penelitian gagal mendukung adanya pengaruh kualitas laba terhadap nilai perusahaan. Oleh karena itu, kualitas laba tidak dapat memediasi pengaruh modal intelektual terhadap nilai perusahaan.
Numerical Simulation of River Inflows in Rijeka Bay Coastal Area

In this paper, a model of water flow in the Porto Baroš has been developed, which is the part of the Rijeka coastal area, for the purpose of its renovation and conversion. For numerical simulation purposes, the depth of the seabed of Port was previously performed, based on which the geometry and numerical domain of Port were made. By conducting the flow simulation, the analysis was carried out, after which the analyses of the conceptual solutions with the introduction of the pipe discharge were performed with the aim of reducing the water pollution of the Porto Baroš area. Port geometry will be made in commercial SMS software and numerical domains and simulations in OpenFOAM open-source software.
Local equilibrium and prediction of diffusional transformations

The theoretical treatment of diffusional phase transformations is discussed. Some examples of simulations, using a newly developed program package DICTRA, will be discussed in the light of recent experimental information. As shown by Hillert, the common assumption of local equilibrium at the interface between two phases may be modified to apply when there is a departure from local equilibrium. This will be the case when pressure, capillarity, coherency stresses and finite rate of interface reactions play an important role. These modifications will be discussed and it will be shown how they may be introduced into the calculation of diffusional transformations in quite a general way
EXPLORING THE INTENTION AND RESISTANCE OF THE CUSTOMER IN ADOPTING THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE NFC-BASED MOBILE PAYMENT

Manuscript type: Empirical Research Aims: To explore what do the potential customers of NFC-Based mobile payment perceive to be the key attributes of both the factors- intention and resistance- in determining the adoption of innovation? Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative Study using in-depth Interview Research Findings: Preliminary result suggests existence of three intention, which are: relative advantage, complexity and compatibility; as well as the six resistance factors: value barrier, usage barrier, tradition barrier, risk barrier, image barrier, resistance to change and satisfaction for status quo, - influencing the willingness to adopt the NFC Mobile payment. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: To enrich and confirm the adoption-innovation behavior, where the intention as well as retention on the adoption the new innovation is combined together in order to grab more comprehensive understanding on adoption new innovation. From the adoption resistance perspective, this research explores both active and passive innovation resistance to fully understand their influences on innovation resistance. Practitioner/Policy Implication: The findings in this research might be useful as a preliminary basis for confirming the factors that might boost or hinder the customers’ adoption innovation in the context of financial information technology product, especially the NFC-based mobile payment. Research limitation/Implications: As in any qualitative research, the generalization and applicability of this study is limited to the context of the NFC-based mobile payment. Further research might use the findings to test the intention and resistance factors of adoption innovation in the context of financial product. The framework can also be empirically tested with different consequence variables such as customer expectation to adopt new innovation (Venkatesh et al., 2008) using the descriptive research
A new water-soluble and colorimetric fluorescent probe for highly sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides

A new water-soluble fluorescent probe bearing 1,8-naphthalimide dye, a quaternary ammonium salt and a boronate group was developed for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides. The detection assay was composed of the probe, choline oxidase (ChOx) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which involved ChOx and AChE catalyze acetylcholine chloride (ACh) to produce H2O2 that increases the fluorescence of the probe. In the presence of pesticides, the activity of AChE was inhibited and the enzyme-generated H2O2 was decreased, which results in a decrease in the fluorescence of the probe. The probe displays sensitive and rapid colorimetric fluorescence towards pesticides. The fluorescence intensity was proportional to the logarithm concentration of acephate, parathion-methyl and trichlorfon over a range of 1.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−4 g L−1 (R2 = 0.9908), 1.0 × 10−9 to 1.0 × 10−5.5 g L−1 (R2 = 0.9938), 1.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−4.5 g L−1 (R2 = 0.9932), respectively. The detection limits for acephate, parathion-methyl and trichlorfon were 1.16 × 10−9, 3.36 × 10−10 and 4.72 × 10−9 g L−1 (S/N = 3), respectively. Moreover, this method has been used for the determination of practical samples with satisfactory results, which further demonstrates its value in practical applications.
Structural investigations of amines treated polyester thin films by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy

The poly(ethylene terephthalate) thin films were exposed to vapour of ethylenediamine for treatment times of 10, 15, 17, 20 and 30 min in order to modify the structure of their surface. The presence of amine and amide groups make possible the further derivatization of modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) films due to ability of these units to react with isocyanates, expoxides, esters, phosphorus trichloride. The experimental Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflexion (FTIR-ATR) spectra provided information related to the changes in the chemical structure of poly(ethylene terephthalate) after each step of treatment. The FTIR ATR analysis was performed in a wide range of wavenumber 400-3000 cm -1 paying particular attention to typical CH 2, C=O, amide I, amide II and ester vibrations.
An Alternative Open Architecture Controller Design for the Bioloid Humanoid Robot

1 Abstract—Robot-based assistive technologies have in recent times, become an important research topic. Most commercial robots come with control systems which may support several types of user inputs/outputs, but usually provide support for application-specific motion control. In developing high level robotbased assistive application, there is a need for more open scheme for controller design. In this paper, a Raspberry Pi-based controller intended to extend the features of the commercial Bioloid humanoid robot was designed to provide an openarchitecture alternative than its proprietary controller, the CM530. Given that the custom-designed controller is more open and provide greater flexibility to developers, a comparison is also made towards its ability to provide better support in terms of control perspectives. The custom-designed controller provides better capabilities regarding to its open-architecture which gives an opportunity for other developers to delve further into the structure knowledge that helps many aspects of application development. The open characteristics of proposed controller consequently will enhance the controller potential/capabilities and can be utilized by other robots in future. The outcome of the experiments revealed that the open control system provided by the Raspberry Pi platform has slightly higher average power consumption which is 2.04W difference from CM-530 controller during the idle mode of 18 servomotors, but is able to provides better capabilities. As for dynamic servomotors, the average power difference recorded for single servomotor motion is 3.08W and 9.3W for multiple servomotors. All results were calculated and graphed using MATLAB R2015a software.
Design And Evaluation Of Propranolol Hydrochloride Buccal Films

Propranolol hydrochloride buccal films were prepared using three different polymers in various proportions and combinations. The physicochemical parameters like weight variation, thickness, folding endurance, drug content, percentage moisture absorption and percentage moisture loss were evaluated. An in vitro study was designed and it was carried out using commercial semipermeable membrane. In vitro release profile for the formulation F6 (drug reservoir with 6% ethyl cellulose (EC)+ 0.5% polyvinyl pyrolidone (PVP) and 8% EC as rate controlling membrane) showed sustained release upto 24 h. It also obeyed first order kinetics. The studies conducted in rabbits confirmed the sustained release.
THE INTERACTION OF PROTONATED OCTOPAMINE AND NOREPINEPHRINE WITH Β1-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR: MOLECULAR DOCKING AND DYNAMICAL SIMULATION

In the current study, the interaction mechanisms between protonated neurotransmitters: octopamine (4-(2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)phenol) and norepinephrine (4-[(1R)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]benzene-1,2-diol) with the β-1 adrenergic receptor (β1AR) were examined by molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and MM/PBSA free energy calculations. The investigated receptor belongs to the G-protein coupled receptor group. The investigation was carried out at physiological pH=7.4. It was estimated that both compounds exist in the protonated form in the water at physiological pH. It was found that both protonated neurotransmitters established similar interactions with amino acid residues of the receptor, such as salt bridges, conventional hydrogen bonds, π-σ, and T-shaped π-π interactions, as shown by molecular docking simulations. As the initial structures for MD simulation with a total time of 10ns the most stable docking structures were used. The presented results are expected to provide some useful information for the design of specific β1AR agonists.
Plasma-treated water affects Listeria monocytogenes vitality and biofilm formation

Plasma-generated compounds (PGCs) such as plasma-processed air (PPA) or plasma-treated water (PTW) offer an increasingly important alternative for the treatment of microorganisms in hard-to-reach areas found in several industrial applications including the food industry. To this end, we studied the antimicrobial capacity of plasma-treated water on the vitality and biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes, a common food spoilage microorganism. Using a microwave plasma (MidiPLexc), 10 ml of deionized water was treated for 100 s, 300 s and 900 s (pretreatment time) and the bacterial biofilm was subsequently exposed to the PTW for 1 min, 3 min and 5 min (posttreatment time) for each pretreatment time separately. Colony-forming units (CFU), metabolic activity, and cell vitality were reduced for 4.7 log10, 47.9%, and 69.5%, respectively. Live/dead staining and fluorescence microscopy showed a positive correlation between treatment and incubation times and reduction in vitality. Atomic force microscopy indicated a change in the plasticity of the bacteria. These results suggest a promising antimicrobial impact of plasma-treated water on Listeria monocytogenes, which may lead to more targeted applications of plasma decontamination in the food industry in the future.
Evaluation of miR-146a Urinary Level as a Marker for Recurrence of Superficial Bladder Cancer after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TUR-BT)

Background: The most prevalent malignancy affect the urinary system is bladder cancer which exhibits a markedly high recurrence rate. The level of urinary microRNA-146a (miR-146a) was significantly higher in superficial bladder cancer patients, and were decreased to normal range after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-BT). Its level was increased again if there is recurrence of the superficial bladder tumor diagnosed by follow up cystoscopy. miR-146 may be a clinically important marker for diagnosis and recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and is used instead of follow up operations as follow up cystoscopy for follow up of recurrence . Objective: our work aims to detect a simple, reliable and noninvasive diagnostic and surveillance methods for follow up of superficial bladder cancer. Methodology: The level of miR-146a in urine of 30 superficial bladder cancer patients was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay using voided urine samples before, after TUR-BT and after 3, 6,9,12 months of resection and compared with the result of follow up cystoscopy. Results: miR-146a was significantly increased in urine samples from patients with superficial cancer bladder than in those from the normal individuals (P <.000). Elevated urinary miR-146a levels in patients with bladder cancer were lowered to the normal level after TUR-BT and increased again in those who have tumor recurrence and remain in a normal level in those who have no recurrence after follow up for 3 ,6, 9,12 months after surgery(P=. 007, P=.000 respectively). Conclusion: Our study concluded that urinary miR-146a may be useful as a novel noninvasive diagnostic and follow up marker, anticancer agent or therapeutic target for superficial cancer bladder, also for increasing our knowledge of cancer biology.
Fluid versus global model approach for the modeling of active species production by streamer discharge

In this paper, we seek to validate the zero-dimensional (global) model approach for the modeling of the plasma composition in high pressure reactive streamer discharges. We focus on streamers typical of dielectric barrier discharge that are widely used, for instance, for plasma-assisted reforming of greenhouse gases. However, our conclusions can be extended to the streamers used in plasma-assisted ignition/combustion and other related systems. First, we perform two-dimensional fluid simulations for streamers with positive and negative trigger voltages and analyze the difference between the breakdown mechanisms of these two modes. Second, we use the time evolution of the electron heating term obtained from the fluid simulations as the input parameter of the global model and compare the plasma component content predicted by this model with the results of the fluid model. We obtain a very good agreement between fluid and global models for all species generated in plasma. However, we conclude that streamers initiated by the positive and negative trigger voltage cannot be considered as symmetrical which is usually done in global models of barrier discharge reactors.
Mid-late pregnancy maternal glycolipids in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) fluctuated in glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 5.5%-6.4% associated with umbilical cord blood of amino acid and carnitine profiles: a nested case-cohort observational study

Background To explore the relationship between maternal-neonatal clinical data and the changes of cord blood amino acid and carnitine levels between pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) when glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 5.5%-6.4% excluded diabetic medicine as GDMa group and the control group. Methods In all, 312 qualified participants were recruited with permission from the ethical department of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University and divided into two groups (GDMa and non-GDM) after adjusting for maternal age and body mass index (BMI) between the 1 June 2017 and 30 April 2020. All maternal-neonatal data were collected and analysed at the centre. Results Interestingly, glycine in cord blood was not only significantly different between groups(594.19 vs 407.45, P < 0.001), but also associated among those pregnant women in GDM when glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 5.5%-6.4% through the standard of diet control and exercise (b = 0.449, P = 0.010). Meanwhile, neonatal hypoglycemia had the positive association with GDM monitoring glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 5.5%-6.4% (P = 0.031, OR 5.77 95%CI[1.18, 28.36]), but none of correlations with umbilical cord blood of amino acids and carnitines. Conclusions The study identifies some differences and relationships in maternal-neonatal data only when GDMa group, glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 5.5%-6.4% without diabetic medicine, compared with the control group which adjusted by age and BMI. Particularly, umbilical cord blood of glycine levels is related to the diabetic status of glycosylated hemoglobin 5.5%-6.4% in GDM during pregnancy and could be potential diabetic mechanism by maternal-fetal interface.