Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of consumer trust in the label on choice: an empirical study of organic logos in Italy

foy 0 0 2004-11-16T14:49:00Z 2012-12-10T21:39:00Z 1 23 136 D3A-UNIVPM 1 1 158 14.0 96 Print 0 14 false false false IT JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabella normale"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} 0 0 1 106 559 D3A-UNIVPM 19 12 653 14.0 Normal 0 14 false false false IT JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabella normale"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} Using data on 427 Italian consumers regarding different organic logos, mediation analysis is applied for the first time in a discrete choice setting. We tested the hypothesis that trust in the label mediates the relationship between the logo and consumer choice for organic labelled food products. Our findings confirm the fact that trust in the label containing an organic logo plays a major role in consumers' choice of organic products, and that the reason lays in that the logos are perceived as cues to trustworthy organic quality. Therefore we conclude that trust in the logos fully mediates consumers' choice, while allowing for heterogeneous preferences.
Black carbon surface oxidation and organic composition of beech-wood soot aerosols

Abstract. Soot particles are the most strongly light-absorbing particles commonly found in the atmosphere. They are major contributors to the radiative budget of the Earth and to the toxicity of atmospheric pollution. Atmospheric aging of soot may change its health- and climate-relevant properties by oxidizing the primary black carbon (BC) or organic particulate matter (OM) which, together with ash, comprise soot. This atmospheric aging, which entails the condensation of secondary particulate matter as well as the oxidation of the primary OM and BC emissions, is currently poorly understood. In this study, atmospheric aging of wood-stove soot aerosols was simulated in a continuous-flow reactor. The composition of fresh and aged soot particles was measured in real time by a dual-vaporizer aerosol-particle mass spectrometer (SP-AMS). The dual-vaporizer SP-AMS provided information on the OM and BC components of the soot as well as on refractory components internally mixed with BC. By switching the SP-AMS laser vaporizer off and using only the AMS thermal vaporizer (at 600 °C), information on the OM component only was obtained. In both modes, OM appeared to be generated largely by cellulose and/or hemicellulose pyrolysis and was only present in large amounts when new wood was added to the stove. In SP-AMS mode, BC signals otherwise dominated the mass spectrum. These signals consisted of ions related to refractory BC (rBC, C1-5+), oxygenated carbonaceous ions (CO1-2+), potassium (K+), and water (H2O+ and related fragments). The C4+ : C3+ ratio, but not the C1+ : C3+ ratio, was consistent with the BC-structure trends of Corbin et al. (2015c). The CO1-2+ signals likely originated from BC surface groups: upon aging, both CO+ and CO2+ increased relative to C1-3+ while CO2+ simultaneously increased relative to CO+. Factor analysis (positive matrix factorization) of SP-AMS and AMS data, using a modified error model to address peak-integration uncertainties, indicated that the surface composition of the BC was approximately constant across all stages of combustion for both fresh and aged samples. These results represent the first time-resolved measurements of in situ BC surface aging and suggest that the surface of beech-wood BC may be modelled as a single chemical species.
Novel Compact MultibandMIMOAntenna for Mobile Terminal

A novel compact MIMO antenna for personal digital assistant (PDA) and pad computer is proposed. The proposed antenna is composed by two multipatch monopole antennas which are placed 90◦ apart for orthogonal radiation. To strengthen the isolation, a T-shaped ground branch with proper dimension is used to generate an additional coupling path to lower the mutual coupling (below −15 dB), especially at GSM850/900 band. The proposed MIMO antenna is fabricated and tested, both the simulated and the measured results are presented, and some parametric studies are also demonstrated. In addition, there are some advantages about the proposed antenna such as simple structure, easy fabrication, and low cost.
Staphylococcal phenomics: metabolomic and proteomic responses to environmental stressors

Staphylococcal species are opportunistic pathogens known to cause an array of acute and chronic infections. The high pathogenicity of these species is thought to be due to their remarkable capacity to rapidly adapt to changes in environmental conditions. Bacterial response mechanisms for survival in changing environments involve metabolomic, genomic, proteomic and structural adjustments within the cell. It has recently become apparent that substantial heterogeneity exists within the bacterial population to maximise chances of survival of the species. This chapter will highlight the role of rapidly changing compositions of metabolites and proteins as potential response mechanisms to facilitate the survival of staphylococcal species following exposures to various environmental stressors. Such advanced understanding of “phenomics” may help in the development of new strategies for antimicrobial chemotherapy.
Structure and dynamics of complex hydrogen-bonded systems

Waterstofbruggen zorgen ervoor dat water een vloeistof is en bepalen de structuur van DNA. Pavol Bodis beschrijft de structurele dynamica van twee soorten waterstofgebrugde systemen: rotaxanen en vloeibaar water. Zijn resultaten impliceren onder meer dat moleculaire machines gebaseerd op rotaxanen beter beschouwd kunnen worden als opgebouwd uit elastiekjes dan als ‘moleculaire meccano'. Daarnaast keek Bodi naar het vibrationele relaxatiemechanisme van de buigvibratie van water die ondanks veel onderzoek tot op heden nog niet goed bekend was. Hij onderzocht de concentratie- en de temperatuurafhankelijkheid van de water buig relaxatiesnelheid. Deze snelheid blijkt te verhogen bij hogere concentraties en neemt af bij hogere temperaturen.
Investigation on the Effectiveness of Holistic Multi-dimensional Treatment Model (HMTM) in Improvement of CARS Test Indicators in Children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction The goal of research is investigation on the effectiveness of Holistic Multi-dimensional Treatment Model (HMTM) in improvement of CARS test indicators in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and it is done without pharmaceutical interventions, without names and accompanied by parental satisfaction questionnaire. Materials and Methods In this study with purposeful sampling method, 60 autistic children chosen randomly among 6-10 year-old patients were taken under a 12-month observation. At the beginning of this research they were taken the CARS pre-test and then in each month a complete behavioral HMTM checklist and a CARS test was taken. Observing HMTM treatment model, includes intuitive checklist with the aim of intuitive adjustment, abnormal behaviors’ checklist with the aim of decreasing them, individual behaviors’ checklist with the aim of increasing them and emotional interactive behaviors checklist with the aim of improvement that are conducted in statistical tables. Results Results shown a positive impact of HMTM in treatment trend of autism spectrum disorder considering sum of CARS points, also the effect on each CARS test parameters and CARS parameters improvements are meaningful holistic approach in HMTM method has interpreted some vague CARS parameters furthermore (P<0.05). The statistical properties of CARS test with HMTM treatment model, indicates a high correlation coefficient and a significant relationship there was in behavior tables of HMTM and CARS test. Conclusion Holistic multi-dimensional treatment modelhas caused considerable and improvement children’s individual interactions and intuitive balance.
Challenges to Plastic Up-Cycling in Small Island Communities: A Palauan Tale

Author(s): Starkey, Lark | Abstract: Plastics in the marine environment are a growing environmental threat with mounting research on impacts, sources and management strategies. Small island communities are subject to greater threats because of dual inputs of marine plastics via ocean currents and locally used plastics, with a heavy reliance on imported packaged goods. The resulting plastic buildup on islands is often combined with a lack of infrastructure and remoteness, leaving few options for management. However, a number of existing technologies and companies are built upon reusing plastic waste as a resource to create a product of greater value, a concept commonly known as “up-cycling. ” Utilizing technologies on islands for plastic up-cycling or creating incentives to send them off to other nations for reuse is a theoretically beneficial method to both manage and economically incentivize unwanted marine and local plastics. Yet, up-cycling is often underutilized. By examining Palau as a case study, a nation that experiences the common impacts of plastic but successfully recycles 50 percent of the on-island waste, this report uncovers the primary challenges to up-cycling and plastic management to Palau and similarly structured island nations. Challenges can be broken down into the 5 broad categories of geography, society, government, economy, and technology. Through uncovering primary challenges in a nation that is already taking positive action, recommendations can be made to creatively overcome them.
The new dimensions of learning motivation

Rezumat: Problema motivației este una dintre cele mai actuale în domeniul psihopedagogiei. Pe parcursul anilor au fost elaborate multiple teorii privind particularitățile sale, dar, în prezent, acestea par a fi irelevante în raport cu noile teorii care abordează motivația din perspectiva autorealizării. Cercetarea de față reflectă unele aspecte ale motivației pentru învățare , pornind de la orientările autorealizării. Cuvinte-cheie: psihopedagogie, motivație, reglare externă și internă, autoeficacitate, teoria autodeterminării.
Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of personal construct theory’s contribution to our understanding of individual differences in personality

The topic of ‘individual differences’ in personality has fascinated psychologists since the inception of the subject and indeed within philosophy for thousands of years. Throughout history, personality was conceived of in terms of ‘types’, perhaps the earliest being those of Hippocrates in Ancient Greece, who divided people into categories: choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic and sanguine; based upon a scientifically naive notion of an excess or lack of ‘bodily humours’. Butt (2007) explains how contemporary theories regarding individual differences in personality grew from three dominant psychological traditions: Experimental, Psychometric and Clinical. All of these strands of thought are interested in the individual differences that people express, in terms of behaviour and what is commonly perceived as ‘personality’. The experimental tradition, often argued to be the dominant one within 20th century psychology began with behaviourist theories, before being surpassed by cognitive theories in the latter half of the century. The psychometric tradition originated in attempts to measure cognitive abilities such as intelligence, establishing ‘traits’, ways in which individuals could be said to differ from one another. This essay however, concentrates on the challenge to these theories made by Personal Construct Theory (PCT), which developed from within the clinical tradition and the work of George Kelly (1955, cited in Salmon, 2003). PCT will be contrasted with the work of Eysenck and Rachman (1965) who exemplify the psychometric tradition of ‘trait theories’, in order to tease out the strengths and weaknesses of adopting a PCT position, in terms of both its underlying theory and methodological applications.
Acute Aortic Thrombosis Following Capecitabine Chemotherapy in a Patient with Colon Cancer

Patients with malignancy are at increased risk for vascular thromboembolism; thromboembolic events are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality (1). In patients undergoing chemotherapy, the risk for thromboembolism is approximately six times higher than that in the non-cancer population (1), and most of these thrombotic events occur in the venous system. Although the incidence of arterial thromboembolism is lower, it has, nevertheless, been reported to be 3.8% among cancer patients (2). Capecitabine is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is commonly used to treat gastric, colon, and breast cancers. The most common complications associated with capecitabine administration are hand-foot syndrome, neutropenia, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain (3). Cardiovascular complications are uncommon; however, cardiac toxicities, such as arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, angina, and myocardial infarction, have been reported (4). However, acute aortic thrombus is an extremely rare toxicity that requires early diagnosis and prompt treatment because it can be a potential source of cerebral, visceral, or lower extremity emboli. We report a case of acute aortic thrombosis in a patient who underwent capecitabine treatment for colon cancer.
A Review of Literature on the Gaps Model on Service Quality: A 3-Decades Period: 1985-2013

The study aims to contribute to the research on service quality, analyzing almost 30 years of research on the Gaps Model proposed by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry in the 1980s. A literature review has been conducted from 1985 to 2013 with the purpose of underlining the model evolution and its criticisms. Major international academic databases have been consulted. On this basis the paper summarizes some theoretical-conceptual and methodological-operational critical aspects identified by scholars who analyzed and applied the model and the scale. Despite that, the Gaps Model and the SERVQUAL scale are still the most used instruments to study service quality in marketing literature. The analysis allows to identify interesting points for future research on the topic of service quality. The conceptual framework presented in the paper does not include any empirical research that could be eventually implemented to validate the findings.
Stable carbon isotope ratios of toluene in the boundary layer and the lower free troposphere

Abstract. During the field campaign ZEPTER-2 in autumn 2008 whole air samples were collected on board a Zeppelin NT airship in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the lower free troposphere (LFT) over south-west Germany using the ZEppelin Based Isotope Sampler (ZEBIS). These samples were analysed with respect to volatile organic compound (VOC) mixing ratios and stable carbon isotope ratios using a gas chromatograph combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-C-IRMS). In this study we present results for toluene, one of the major anthropogenic pollutants, which emphasise the viability of isotope ratio measurements in VOC for atmospheric research, especially to study VOC sources or to track both dynamical and chemical processes. In situ measurements of CO mixing ratios on board the Zeppelin NT were used to allocate the air samples either to the PBL or the LFT. In the PBL we observed rather fresh emissions mixing into the background air. We estimated a toluene source isotope ratio of δ 13 C = −28.2 ± 0.5‰. Samples from the PBL and the LFT were clearly distinguishable by means of their mixing ratio and isotope ratio signatures. Using the concept of the effective kinetic isotope effect, we were able to separate the effects of dilution processes and photochemical degradation in the free troposphere. We calculated the photochemical age of toluene in the atmosphere in two different ways using isotope ratios and mixing ratios. The results differ strongly in the PBL, probably due to mixing processes, but are compatible with each other in the LFT. Here, they correlate with a slope of 0.90±0.31.
Comparative Metal Ion Binding to Native and Chemically Modified Datura innoxia Immobilized Biomaterials

Removal of toxic heavy metal ions from contaminated water is required to provide safe drinking water. This can be effected either within the waste stream at contaminate source or at point of use. Incorporation of remediation technologies at either location requires the removal of pollutants at parts per million and parts per billion concentrations from water containing more benign metal ions (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) at concentrations three to six orders of magnitude higher. Materials derived from plants or microorganisms (e.g., algae and fungi) have been shown to enable the reduction of trace concentrations of heavy metal ions to below regulatory limits (Davis, et al., 2003). Such nonliving biomaterials have been reported to have exhibit high capacity, rapid binding, and selectivity towards heavy metals (Drake and Rayson, 1996). It is postulated that functional groups native to the lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins found in the cell walls of the biomaterial are responsible for uptake (biosorption) of metal ions (GardeaTorresdey, et al., 1999; 2001; Drake and Rayson, 1996; Drake, et al., 1997; Kelley, et al., 1999). For biomaterials to become a commercially viable method of metal remediation and recovery these functional groups must be identified and their contribution to overall metal binding capacity quantified. Knowledge of such informaiton would allow either simple chemical alteration to the biomaterial, allowing for targeting of specific metals, or an enhancement of biomaterial metal binding. Significant progress has been made to identify the chemical functionalities involved in the biosorption of numerous metal ions by a variety of plant and algal tissues (GardeaTorresdey, et al., 1999; 2001; Riddle, et al., 2002; Fourest and Volesky, 1996; Drake, et al., 1997;Jackson, et al., 1993). Several techniques have been reported to probe local chemical environments of biosorbed metal ions. These have included X-ray absorption (GardeaTorresdey, et al., 1999; Riddle, et al., 2002), lanthanide luminescence (Drake, et al., 1997; Serna, et al., 2010), and metal NMR (Xia and Rayson, 1996; 2002; Kelley, et al., 1999; Majidi, et al., 1990) spectroscopy. Analysis of total metal ion binding isotherm data modeling (Volesky, 2000) has also been described. Efforts to address the chemical heterogeneity of those biosorbed materials have also employed regularized regression analysis of isotherm data (Lin, et al., 1996). Additionally, these chemical intensities have been studied through selective removal of binding moieties by their reactive modification (Drake, et al., 1996).
Introducing the Cultivation of Medicinal Plants and Wild Fruits in Forest Rehabilitation Operations on Former Shifting Cultivation Sites in Sarawak Malaysia: Issues and Challenges

One of the threats to the practice of sustainable forest management in Sarawak is shifting cultivation. Ongoing rehabilitation measures taken by the State Forest Department in former shifting cultivation areas include natural regeneration, reforestation and agroforestry programs. Reforestation is making slow progress while agroforestry programs suffer from a lack of interest in tree planting by participants. The introduction of the cultivation of medicinal plants and wild fruits, which also addresses concerns about the depletion of the wild stock, may revitalize these programs. However, the venture faces many issues and challenges. In the light of these, a strategy for such an introduction is proposed.
Tunable entanglement, antibunching and saturation effects in dipole blockade

We report a model that makes it possible to analyze quantitatively the dipole blockade effect on the dynamical evolution of a two two-level atom system driven by an external laser field. The multiple excitations of the atomic sample are taken into account. We find very large concurrence in the dipole blockade regime. We further find that entanglement can be tuned by changing the intensity of the exciting laser. We also report a way to lift the dipole blockade paving the way to manipulate, in a controllable way, the blockade effects. We finally report how a continuous monitoring of the dipole blockade will be possible using photon-photon correlations of the scattered light in a regime where the spontaneous emission will dominate dissipation in the sample.
Blended Learning in Higher Education: Three Different Design Approaches.

Blended learning has been growing in popularity as it has proved to be an effective approach for accommodating an increasingly diverse student population whilst adding value to the learning environment through incorporation of online teaching resources. Despite this growing interest, there is ongoing debate about the definition of the concept of blended learning. As a result, teachers in higher education have developed different understandings of the term and different design approaches have evolved. Selecting the most appropriate design approach for a blended course is a major challenge for many teachers in higher education institutions who are new to the idea of blended learning. This paper aims to provide guidance to help teachers of traditional face-to-face courses in selecting the most appropriate approach to use when designing their blended courses. Firstly, it discusses the different definitions of the term blended learning and how they have resulted in a number of design approaches. It then classifies these approaches into: low-impact, medium-impact and high-impact blends according to the potential changes to the existing teaching program and student learning experience. Finally, it describes the benefits and the challenges of applying each approach and provides recommendations about when and how each approach should be used.
An Improved Image Classification Method Based On Spatial Pyramid Matching Framework

Spatial Pyramid Matching (SPM) and its variants have achieved a lot of success in image classification. However, the process of extraction of SIFT descriptors may cause texture information loss under the SPM framework. In addition, traditional Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrices (GLCM) method does not consider the spatial relationship of raw pixels. In this paper, to solve the issues, an improved GLCM method are proposed, which enhances the performance of original GLCM method for image texture feature representation. Firstly, the original images are subdivided to increasingly fine sub-regions and a weighted vector is generated by GLCM method inside each sub-regions. Secondly, the weighted vector of each sub-regions and the SIFT descriptors are concatenated. Thirdly, the descriptors are encoded by using the technique of sparse coding and the final features are obtained by max pooling. Finally, the features are fed to kernel classifiers to evaluate the effectiveness of our method. Comprehensive experimental results reveal that our method achieves comparable classification accuracy compared to the previous methods.