Search

AbstractIn the past five years, the textile industry has undergone significant transformations in response to evolving fashion trends and increased consumer garment turnover. To address the environmental impacts of fast fashion, the industry is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies, particularly leveraging conversational agents as personalized guides for sustainable fashion practices. In this research article, we conduct a systematic literature review to categorize techniques, platforms, and applications of conversational agents in promoting sustainability within the fashion industry. Additionally, the review aims to scrutinize the solutions offered, identify gaps in the existing literature, and provide insights into the effectiveness and limitations of these conversational agents. Utilizing a predefined search strategy on IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, 15 relevant articles were selected through a step-by-step procedure based on the guidelines of the PRISMA framework. The findings reveal a notable global interest in AI-powered conversational agents, with Italy emerging as a significant center for research in this domain. The studies predominantly focus on consumer perceptions and intentions regarding the adoption of AI technologies, indicating a broader curiosity about how individuals incorporate such innovations into their daily lives. Moreover, a substantial proportion of the studies employ diverse methods, reflecting a comprehensive approach to understanding the functionality and performance of conversational agents in various contexts. While acknowledging the historical precedence of text-based agents, the review highlights a research gap related to embodied agents. The conclusion emphasizes the need for continued exploration, particularly in understanding the broader impact of these technologies on creating sustainable and environmentally friendly business models in the e-retail sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapeutic resistance is one of the most common reasons for poor prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We found that CENPN can promote the growth, proliferation and apoptosis resistance of NPC cells, but its relationship with chemotherapeutic resistance in NPC is unclear. Here we verified that the CENPN expression level in NPC patients was positively correlated with the degree of paclitaxel (PTX) resistance and a poor prognosis through analysis of clinical cases. VAMP8 expression was significantly increased after knockdown of CENPN by transcriptome sequencing. We found in cell experiments that CENPN inhibited macroautophagy/autophagy and VAMP8 expression and significantly increased PTX resistance. Overexpression of CENPN reduced the inhibitory effects of PTX on survival, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis resistance in NPC cells by inhibiting autophagy. In turn, knockdown of CENPN can affect the phenotype of NPC cells by increasing autophagy to achieve PTX sensitization. Sequential knockdown of CENPN and VAMP8 reversed the PTX-sensitizing effect of CENPN knockdown alone. Experiments in nude mice confirmed that knockdown of CENPN can increase VAMP8 expression, enhance autophagy and increase the sensitivity of NPC cells to PTX. Mechanistic studies showed that CENPN inhibited the translocation of p-CREB into the nucleus of NPC cells, resulting in the decreased binding of p-CREB to the VAMP8 promoter, thereby inhibiting the transcription of VAMP8. These results demonstrate that CENPN may be a marker for predicting chemotherapeutic efficacy and a potential target for inducing chemosensitization to agents such as PTX. Abbreviations: 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ATG5: autophagy related 5; CENPN: centromere protein N; CQ: chloroquine; CREB: cAMP responsive element binding protein; ChIP: chromatin immunoprecipitation assay; IC50: half-maximal inhibitory concentration; LAMP2A: lysosomal associated membrane protein 2A; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; NPC: nasopharyngeal carcinoma; NPG: nasopharyngitis; oeCENPN: overexpressed CENPN; PTX: paclitaxel; RAPA: rapamycin; RNA-seq: transcriptome sequencing; shCENPN: small hairpin RNA expression vector targeting the human CENPN gene; shCENPN-shVAMP8: sequential knockdown targeting the human CENPN gene and VAMP8 gene; shVAMP8: small hairpin RNA expression vector targeting the human VAMP8 gene; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TIR: tumor inhibitory rate; VAMP8: vesicle associated membrane protein 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs the WITS-SMART model to analyze the potential impacts of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on specific industries in Malaysia and China. By modifying the Armington elasticity and the parameter ‘a’ in the Swiss formula, five distinct scenarios are established to simulate the effects of various tariff reduction schemes. The analysis reveals positive and significant overall trade effects. In a scenario of complete tariff elimination, Malaysia experiences higher trade and welfare effects compared to China, addressing the longstanding trade deficit between the two countries. Finally, recommendations are made to gradually reduce tariffs in stages and sectors, prioritize tariff reduction on specific goods, implement zero tariffs in China first, focus on products with international competitiveness, and address potential asymmetric industrial output effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autobiographical memory (AM) is an important psychological phenomenon that has significance for self-development and mental health. The psychological mechanisms of emotional AM retrieval and their association with individual emotional symptoms remain largely unclear in the literature. For this purpose, the current study provided cue words to elicit emotional AMs. Event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with the retrieval process of AMs were recorded and analyzed. We found that the ERP component N400 was sensitive to both emotional valence and retrieval state, such that its amplitude was larger for negative compared to positive AMs, and larger responses for unrecalled compared to recalled AMs. Further, the N400 amplitude in the positive recalled condition was correlated with individual difference in depression (measured by the Beck Depression Inventory). Another ERP component, the late positive potential (LPP), was also sensitive to emotional valence, such that its amplitude was larger (i.e., more positive-going) for positive compared to negative cues. No significant effect was observed on the early ERP components P1, N1, or P2. The current findings bring new understanding on the difference between positive and negative AMs retrieval in the time domain. Also, the importance of this difference to the individual level of depression is worth noting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new fluoride-free awaterborne polyurethane (WPUA) water repellent agent was synthesized and used for cotton fabrics with the concerns of environmental and human safety. Specifically, the WPUA was prepared by isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTMG), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid (DMBA), and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), followed by polymerization of long-chain alkyl acrylate monomers by a seed emulsion method. After being treated with the water repellent agent via a dip-pad-curing process, cotton fabrics could gain desired water repellent (contact angel at 145° and hydrostatic pressure up to 264 mm). Atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the low surface energy WPUA polymers coated the fabric and formed a concavo-convex structure. Benefiting from the robust formation of coatings, the cotton fabrics could obtain good durability for daily laundry. After 50 home laundering cycles, the static water contact angle of the fabric coated with the WPUA could be maintained at 127°. Moreover, the addition of the WPUA to cotton fabrics also exhibited minimally impacting breaking strength and whiteness of the cotton fabric. All the results showed that the new WPUA dispersion is a promising water repellent for textile due to its environment-friendly and cost-effective nature and could be used as a substitute for fluorocarbons water repellent agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, one of the most successful technology-enabled initiatives in the fintech revolution, has drastically changed the way individual investors and borrowers meet and transact. While prior research has found herding among investors at the listing level, such social behavior has been underexplored at a macro, platform level. In this study, we attempt to fill this gap by examining whether subsequent investors follow their predecessors’ actions when choosing which platform to invest, and if so, how various platform attributes and regulations moderate herding behavior. We collected a novel data set from leading platforms in a large P2P lending market. Our baseline analysis reveals that herding exists at the platform level. Using a multilevel model, we further identify several interesting moderators: the investor’s herding behavior is accentuated by platforms’ market share and the cumulative amount funded, but attenuated by their time in operation. Finally, we find that government regulatory events dampen the magnitude of the herding effect, suggesting that more information disclosure and stricter operation standards reduce the value of observational learning. The results from our analysis provide implications for P2P lending investors, platform designers, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) rank as the first leading cause of death globally. High dietary polyphenol (especially flavonoids) intake has strongly been associated with low incidence of the primary outcome, overall mortality, blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, onset of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. Phytogenic flavonoids affect the physiological and pathological processes of CVDs by modulating various biochemical signaling pathways. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have attracted increasing attention as fundamental regulator of gene expression involved in CVDs. Among the different ncRNA subgroups, long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as regulatory eukaryotic transcripts and therapeutic targets with important and diverse functions in health and diseases. lncRNAs may be associated with the initiation, development and progression of CVDs by modulating acute and chronic inflammation, adipogenesis and lipid metabolism, and cellular physiology. This review summarizes this research on the modulatory effects of lncRNAs and their roles in mediating cellular processes. The mechanisms of action of flavonoids underlying their therapeutic effects on CVDs are also discussed. Based on our review, flavonoids might facilitate a significant epigenetic modification as part (if not full) of their tissue-/cell-related biological effects. This finding may be attributed to their interaction with cellular signaling pathways involved in chronic diseases. Certain lncRNAs might be the target of specific flavonoids, and some critical signaling processes involved in the intervention of CVDs might mediate the therapeutic roles of flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International relationships are critical to business success in this increasingly interdependent world. China is the world’s second largest economy and may soon overtake the United States in the near future. Thus, it becomes important for potential trading partners to understand how to effectively develop and maintain business relationships with this growing economic entity. In this study, we surveyed Chinese business people with purchasing responsibilities to better understand the dynamics of their business-to-business relationships. The data were empirically analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the interrelationship between perceptions of salesperson and corporate expertise, trust and loyalty. The results suggest that trust and expertise play key roles in developing long-term business-to-business associations in China. Managerial implications are discussed and avenues of future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using polyethylene wax (PW) as the coating matrix, the lambda-cyhalothrin-PW nanosuspoemulsion (LC-PW) with a particle size of 80-150nm was prepared through high-speed stirring, hot melt emulsification and ultrasonic dispersion. The formulation and composition of the LC-PW were optimized, the morphology of the LC-PW was analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and TEM, and the structure of the LC-PW was characterized by UV and IR. The anti-photolysis test showed that LC-PW had a good anti-photolysis performance. Furthermore, LC-PW could sustainably release Lambda-cyhalothrin, which was pH- and temperature dependent. The insecticidal activity analysis in the greenhouse indicated that the toxic strength between LC-PW and LC-SC (lambda-cyhalothrin-suspension concentrate) to Mythimna separata was similar within the same concentration ranges tested, but the insecticidal duration of LC-PW was significantly longer than LC-SC. Thus, the new type of LC-PW with the properties of anti-photolysis and controlled release is suitable for application in the field as a better insecticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine growth hormone (pGH) is most important hormone which is involved in the growth and development of pig. However, a series of studies have indicated that neonatal pig is insensitive to pGH; the reason for this phenomenon is still not fully understood. In this work, we try to investigate this issue from the angle of intracellular signaling induced by pGH. In the present study, porcine hepatocytes from neonatal pig were used as a model, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Western blot, co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization assay were used to study pGH's signaling properties in hepatocytes of neonatal pig and explore the possible mechanism(s) for why intracellular signaling is insensitive to pGH. The results indicated that Janus kinase 2 and signal transducers and activators of transcription 5/3/1 (JAK2-STATs) signaling are not activated. We further investigated the possible mechanism(s) by which JAK2-STATs' signaling is not activated by pGH and growth hormone receptor (GHR) and found that the negative regulatory molecules of JAK2-STATs signaling may be associated with this phenomenon in the hepatocytes of neonatal pig. In addition, we also explored pGH's biology in hepatocytes from neonatal pig, it can be found that pGH/GHR could translocate into the cell nucleus, which implies that pGH/GHR may exhibit physiological roles based on their nuclear localization. We found that pGH could not trigger intracellular signaling in the hepatocytes of neonatal pigs, but not young pigs, which provides an important explanation for why the growth of neonatal pig is GH independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives containing a pyrimidine moiety were synthesized and their fungicidal activities were evaluated. The preliminary biological test indicated that some of the target compounds exhibited moderate to good fungicidal activities against the tested plant pathogenic fungi compared with the commercial agent. Among them, compounds 9n and 9o exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Phompsis sp., with the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 25.4 and 31.6 μg/mL, which were even better than the commercial agent of Pyrimethanil (32.1 μg/mL). Meanwhile, compound 9o showed better fungicidal activities against B. dothidea and B. cinerea with 40.1 and 55.1 μg/mL, respectively, in comparison with that of commercial Pyrimethanil (57.6 and 62.8 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clopidogrel is one of the most frequently used drugs in patients to reduce cardiovascular events. Since patients with different genetic variations respond quite differently to clopidogrel therapy, the related genetic testing plays a vital role in its dosage and genetic testing related to clopidogrel therapy is currently considered as routine test worldwide. In this study, we aim to use two different methods MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and pyrosequencing to detect gene variant of CYP2C19 and ABCB1. Six single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNP) within CYP2C19 (*2, *3, *4, *5, *17) and ABCB1 C3435T in 458 Chinese Han patients were determined using both MassARRAY and Pyrosequencing. Sanger sequencing was used for verification. Results of both methods were analyzed and compared. Allele frequencies of each SNP and distribution of different genotypes were calculated based on the MassARRAY and Sanger sequencing results. Both methods provided 100% call rates for gene variants, while results of six samples were different with two methods. With Sanger sequencing as the reference results, MassARRAY generated all the same results. The minor allele frequencies of the above six SNPs were 27.1% (CYP2C19*), 5.9% (CYP2C19*3), 0% (CYP2C19*4), 0% (CYP2C19*5), 1.1% (CYP2C19*17), 40.9% (ABCB1), respectively. MassARRAY provides accurate clopidogrel related genotyping with relatively high cost-efficiency, throughput and short time when compared with pyrosequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of China Tourism Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Silanized graphene oxide (SiGO) was synthesized and characterized using KH570 as a modifier on graphene oxide (GO). Subsequently, high performance silanized graphene oxide/cardanol based benzoxazine (C-fa)-bismaleimide (BMI) resin composites (SiGO/C-fa/BMI) were prepared by blending and step thermal curing. The reaction and dispersion of SiGO in C-fa/BMI matrix were studied by FTIR and XRD. The effects of SiGO on the thermal and mechanical properties of the SiGO/C-fa/BMI composites were investigated. The results shown that SiGO has good dispersity in CFa-BMI matrix. The thermal decomposition temperature and char yield of SiGO/C-fa/BMI composites was improved markedly. Comparing with that of neat C-fa/BMI resin, the young's modulus and tensile strength of SiGO0.5/C-fa/BMI composite increased by 110.8% and 142.0%. The water absorption of SiGO/C-fa/BMI composites also decreased significantly. The great improvement in thermal and mechanical properties of SiGO/C-fa/BMI composites make them as a potential alternative high performance resin composite candidate in aerospace and electronic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, with the world in search for new economic engines, China and Japan have explicitly given their answer through their expansion of overseas infrastructure investments. This study focuses on the flagship sector of high-speed railways (HSR) and examines what kinds of development financing China and Japan have adopted in making these investments. It asks the following questions: What similarities are there in the Chinese and Japanese approaches to investments in overseas infrastructure, and how do they differ from traditional Western development financing? Also, in what ways have China and Japan changed their approaches to overseas infrastructure projects during this process? It argues that in the process of expanding overseas infrastructure investments and competing for infrastructure projects, China and Japan have become 'competitive partners' in challenging the traditional norms of development financing represented by the Washington Consensus and the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). To be more specific, China and Japan have adopted each other's practices of tied commercial financing, heavy government involvement, focusing on physical infrastructure and industrialization, and showing respect for host-country forms of governance. In particular, by joining China in the new game of exporting infrastructure and through its own 'quality infrastructure investment' initiative, Japan has broken out of the constraints of DAC norms as an aid donor and endorsed some fundamental Chinese approaches to development and development cooperation, which in their turn were inspired by earlier Japanese practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attentional deficits may be caused by neurological diseases, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), etc. This work aims to evaluate selective attention under visual stimulations of faces and scenes using electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interface.The experiment consisted of two phases: 1) image recognition and 2) attention evaluation. In phase 1, the mean response time was 547 ms vs. 633 ms to faces and scenes, respectively. In phase 2, the mean response time was 667 ms vs. 706 ms to face and scene categories, respectively. We analyzed the event-related time-frequency representation of faces and scenes and the causal relationship between object recognition and the motor response associated with category selection using the brain connectivity based on Granger causality. The developed experimental protocols and connectivity evaluation methods may provide insights for a better understanding of the neural processes for object recognition and category selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The impact that visual perturbation has on upright postural stability in an athlete with a concussion has not been established. The present study aimed to characterize the influence that visual perturbation stimuli have on upright balance among athletes with acute concussions. Design: A 2X2X2 repeated measure designed was used. Method: The present study examined the influence visual perturbation has on individuals suffering from an acute concussion. Fourteen participants (7 with a concussion and 7 matched controls) underwent various balance assessments with and without visual perturbation. Results: Overall, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated impairments in balance 24-48 hours following a concussion. However, when assessed using a visual perturbation task, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated improved balance, while control subjects did not show any significant changes during the same visual perturbation task. Conclusion: An athlete’s ability to disregard visual perturbation stimuli is imperative for successful participation in sports. Due to the observed alterations in balance when given a visual perturbation task, it is suggested that athletes with acute concussions place more attention on the balance task and may disregard other less meaningful tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitogenome sequence of Ochotona coreana was determined using long PCR. The genome was 17,283 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 1 origin of L strand replication, and 1 control region. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is A (31.5%), C (28.7%), T (26.2%), and G (13.6%). The base compositions present clearly the A–T skew, which is most obviously in the control region and protein-coding genes. Mitochondrial genome analyses based on MP, ML, NJ and Bayesian analyses yielded identical phylogenetic trees. This study verifies the evolutionary status of O. coreana in Ochotonidae at the molecular level. The mitochondrial genome would be a significant supplement for the O. coreana genetic background. The seven Ochotona species formed a monophyletic group with the high bootstrap value (100%) in all examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitogenome sequence of Blarinella griselda was determined using long PCR. The genome was 16,947 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 1 origin of L strand replication and 1 control region. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is A (33.1%), C (22.6%), T (31.6%) and G (12.7%). The base compositions present clearly the A–T skew, which is most obviously in the control region and protein-coding genes. Mitochondrial genome analyses based on MP, ML, NJ and Bayesian analyses yielded identical phylogenetic trees. This study verifies the evolutionary status of Blarinella griselda in Soricidae at the molecular level. The mitochondrial genome would be a significant supplement for the Blarinella griselda genetic background. The three Blarinella species formed a monophyletic group with the high bootstrap value (100%) in all examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Individuals with dementia of the Alzheimer type (AD) classically show disproportionate impairment in measures of working memory, but repetition learning effects are relatively preserved. As AD affects brain regions implicated in both working memory and repetition effects, the neural basis of this discrepancy is poorly understood. We hypothesized that the posterior repetition effect could account for this discrepancy due to the milder effects of AD at visual cortex. Method: Participants with early AD, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls performed a working memory task with superimposed repetition effects while electroencephalography was collected to identify possible neural mechanisms of preserved repetition effects. Results: Participants with AD showed preserved behavioral repetition effects and a change in the posterior repetition effect. Conclusion: Visual cortex may play a role in maintained repetition effects in persons with early AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for simultaneous determination of 11 organophosphorus pesticides residues in river water by MWCNTs-solid phase extraction combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was developed. After centrifugation and filtration, the target pesticides were enriched with MWCNTs-SPE cartridge. Then the pesticides adsorbed on MWCNTs were eluted with ethyl acetate and dichloromethane, the eluent was dried-up under nitrogen flow and the residue was dissolved in methanol-water (1:1, v/v) as sample solution. The separation was accomplished on a C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.1% formic acid at 0.20 mL/min in gradient elution. The pesticides were detected in multiple reaction monitoring mode by a triple quadruple mass spectrometer. Good linearities were obtained within 1-200 ng/L, with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.998. The detection and quantification limits were in the ranges of 0.02-1.00 ng/L and 0.07-3.33 ng/L, respectively. The recoveries and relative standard deviations were in the range of 88.3-124.9% and 0.12-20.5%, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the detection of 34 urban river water samples from Chengdu, China and 7 organophosphorus pesticides were detected with the concentrations of 0.32-211 ng/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave I threshold, latency and amplitude are insensitive to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) degeneration, but are sensitive to the degeneration of Schwann cells and can estimate the status of Schwann cells in a neural degeneration mouse model. The thorough pre-operative ABR assessment would be helpful in predicting cochlear implant performance. Objectives: This study aimed in finding a non-invasive electrophysiological method to evaluate the status of the auditory nerve and the Schwann cells in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and auditory neuropathy (AN) ears, and providing useful information for candidates screening and outcome prediction in cochlear implantation. Methods: The frequency-specific acoustic ABR was recorded in mice. The immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the SGNs and Schwann cells in mice cochlea. The correlations between ABR wave I metrics and SGNs, Schwann cells were investigated. Results: In SNHL and AN mice cochlea, statistically significant correlations between ABR wave I thresholds, latencies and amplitudes at 8, 16, and 32 kHz and their corresponding SGNs densities were found only in wave I amplitude at 8 kHz. While the ABR wave I metrics at all three frequencies showed strong significant correlations with their corresponding Schwann cells densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites of poly(lactic acid) with wood flour which was grafted by melt extruding with methyl acrylate in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) were investigated. The modification of filler (WF-g-PMA) was carried out to enhance the filler-matrix interactions, while the treated component was characterized by infrared spectrum. Properties of binary (PLA/WF, PLA/WF-g-MA) composites were analyzed as a function of the grafting monomer amount by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, water absorption and mechanical tests. Compared with the untreated system (PLA/WF), all treated composites showed higher interfacial compatibility as a result of chemical bonding between WF and grated monomer. All composites showed higher tensile modulus and lower strength and elongation at break as compared to pure PLA; grafting modification with methyl acrylate led to an increased stiffness and decreased water absorption of the composites because of an enhanced filler-matrix interfacial compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, composites of thermoplastic poly (lactic acid) filled with wood flour (WF) were prepared via melt extrusion. Before that, alkali treatment was performed on WF to improve the properties of the WF/PLA composite materials. The effect of the solution concentrations of NaOH, namely 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0%, on mechanical properties of the composites was evaluated. The results showed that the properties of the composites with treated WF were enhanced greatly compared with that of the untreated composites. The composites had a best improvement in its compatibility and mechanical strength when the concentration of NaOH solution was 5.0%. The brittle fracture of composites showed that the chemical modification of WFs improved the compatibility between the filler and matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with genotypes that code for reduced dopaminergic brain activity often exhibit a predisposition toward aggression. However, it remains largely unknown how dopaminergic genotypes may increase aggression. Lower-functioning dopamine systems motivate individuals to seek reward from external sources such as illicit drugs and other risky experiences. Based on emerging evidence that aggression is a rewarding experience, we predicted that the effect of lower-functioning dopaminergic functioning on aggression would be mediated by tendencies to seek the environment for rewards. Caucasian female and male undergraduates (N = 277) were genotyped for five polymorphisms of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene; they reported their previous history of aggression and their dispositional reward-seeking. Lower-functioning DRD2 profiles were associated with greater sensation-seeking, which then predicted greater aggression. Our findings suggest that lower-functioning dopaminergic activity puts individuals at risk for violence because it motivates them to experience aggression’s hedonically rewarding qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The costs for rent and utilities account for the largest share of living expenses, yet these two critical dimensions of material hardship have seldom been examined concurrently in population-based studies. This paper employs multivariate statistical analysis using American Community Survey data to demonstrate the relative risk ratio of low-income renter-occupied households with children experiencing ‘rent burden', ‘energy insecurity', or a ‘double burden’ as opposed to no burden. Findings suggest that low-income households are more likely to experience these economic hardships in general but that specific groups are disproportionately burdened in different ways. For instance, whereas immigrants are more likely to experience rental burden, they are less likely to experience energy insecurity and are also spared from the double burden. In contrast, native-born African Americans are more likely than all other groups to experience the double burden. These results may be driven by the housing stock available to certain groups due to racial residential segregation, decisions regarding the quality of housing low-income householders are able to afford, as well as home-country values, such as modest living and energy conservation practices, among immigrant families. This paper also points to important policy gaps in safety net benefits related to housing and energy targeting low-income households. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mitigating and adapting to climate change includes a requirement to evaluate the role of future land uses in delivering robust integrated responses that are sensitive to local landscape contexts. In practice, this emphasises the need for community engagement, planning and inclusive decision-making. Community engagement may be potentially facilitated by the use of spatially explicit quantitative scenarios of land-use change in combination with interactive visualisation. This requires a coherent framework to integrate spatial data modelling, analytical capabilities and visualisation tools in a format that will also engage diverse public audiences. These challenges were explored with a case study of virtual landscapes from N-E Scotland that was used to test preferences for scenarios of future land use. Visualisations employed texture-based rendering rather than full photo-realistic rendering to facilitate interactivity and this provided additional scope for audiences to explore multiple future scenarios compared to the present landscape. Interactive voting in a virtual landscape theatre suggested preferences for visual diversity, good stewardship and perceived naturalness that should be considered in developing planned responses to change. Further investigation of preferences was conducted using interactive 3D features located within the landscape. Study findings are reviewed against objectives for inclusive engagement in the Digital Earth agenda and used to make further recommendations on the use of scenarios and visualisation tools. In particular, technical advances in user engagement need to be developed in conjunction with emerging good practice that addresses ethical, behavioural and inclusion issues so that the content is presented in as transparent and unbiased format as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of heavy metals inPanax notoginseng(Sanchi), a valued traditional Chinese medicine, have drawn increasing concern regarding the safe usage of Sanchi preparations. Here, we measured the concentrations of six heavy metals in Sanchi samples from 20 major plantations, investigated the pharmaceutical processes and usages of Sanchi preparations, and assessed the associated potential health risks to consumers. The average concentrations of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in the Sanchi samples were 2.7, 3.7, 6.2, 22.1, 2.0, and 1.4 mg/kg, respectively. The hazard quotients (HQs) for these six single metals and the hazard index (HI) of these metals’ combination were all far less than 1, indicating the absence of a non-carcinogenic health hazard to consumers. The carcinogenic risk of As was 2.1 × 10−6, which is higher than the allowable level suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but less than the level suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). The probabilities of consumers’ exposure due to daily medicine consumption exceeding the allowable daily intakes from medicine (ADIsdrug, 1% of the ADI) suggested by the WHO were 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.1%, 0.0%, 1.6%, and 27.3% for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and As, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When Keynesianism received renewed interest in the global financial crisis, some economists regarded China’s response as exemplary of effective Keynesian counter-cyclical strategy or even a non-crisis development strategy. At the same time, there have been critical voices against China’s Keynesian measures. This article therefore asks: To what extent was China’s response to the global financial crisis Keynesian? What factors determined the Chinese characteristics of Keynesian policy both in design and in implementation? It points out that China did follow a Keynesian formula in its crisis response, boosted infrastructure construction, GDP growth and created some employment. However, Chinese Keynesianism is a vulgarised version that is merged with its developmental state model. It simply boasted a big state and massive deficit spending, and socialised investment without really benefiting consumers or the private sector. This article also provides an analysis of how ideational and institutional politics in China vulgarised Keynesianism and exacerbated socio-economic problems. Ideational politics included the dominance of Keynesian discourse at the beginning of the crisis and an obsession with short-term results. Institutional factors included ‘firework’ local government politics, the state being captured by state-owned enterprises and a concentration of central distributive power without proper monitoring over implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Study of repeated learning mechanisms has been limited in amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a preclinical stage of Alzheimer disease modifiable by cognitive rehabilitation. We assessed repeated contextual working memory decline as an indicator of amnestic mild cognitive impairment in a sample of 45 older adults recruited from the tertiary care setting. Results indicated that contextual working memory impairment distinguished adults with preclinical disease from those without impairment despite similar overall cognitive performance, and comparison of the indicator with standard-of-care neuropsychological measures indicated discriminant validity. Contextual working memory impairment may represent a novel predictor of Alzheimer disease conversion risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to examine whether the personality trait of stress reaction (SR), as assessed with the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire-Brief Form ( MPQ-BF), (1) influences prefrontal and limbic area activity during overt sentence reading and if (2) SR and associated individual differences in prefrontal and limbic activations correlate with sensorimotor cortical activity during overt sentence reading. Ten vocally healthy adults (22-57 years) participated in a functional MRI study using an event-related sparse sampling design to acquire brain activation data during sentence production tasks (covert, whispered, overt). The outcome measure was the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal change in prefrontal, limbic, and primary somatosensory (S1) and motor cortices (M1). Significant positive correlations were found between SR scores and S1, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (both r =.73, p <.05), and periaqueductal gray (r =.88, p <.01) activity. M1 activity was positively correlated with SR (r =.64, p <.05) and negatively with social potency (r = −.70, p <.05). Our findings suggest that motor cortical control subserving voice and speech production varies with expression of selected personality traits. Future studies should investigate the functional significance of personality differences in the central neural control of vocalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the role of the Beijing Consensus type of foreign and economic policymaking in China's development since the Asian financial crisis and in its response to the global crisis, and argues that it has been a double-edged sword, as reflected in several aspects. First, the lesson that China learned from the Asian financial crisis was not the importance of liberalisation but prudence or conservativeness, which despite serving as a shield this time sustains problems in the long term. Second, an obsession with foreign reserves accumulation and the pursuit of political influence have for a long time overshadowed the increasing dependence on the US market, putting China in a dilemma now in both development and diplomatic strategies. Third, centralised decision-making may be faster than democratic processes, but it may also go against the principle of 'scientific decision' as proposed by the Chinese leadership. A prominent feature of China's responses to the crisis is a bias towards state-owned enterprises and the public sector, which exacerbates the existing problems of monopoly, over-capacity, inequality, the regulators being 'captured' by industrial interests and protectionism. Given limited economic resources, domestic political contentions and the questionable credibility of the China Model, it would be difficult for China to practice 'responsible great power' diplomacy or assume leadership in the region or globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's behaviour in East Asian financial cooperation has overall changed from passively responding to external pressures to taking proactive initiatives, which are highlighted by Chinese elites as evidence of a sense of responsibility. China has taken varied positions towards proposals for Asian financial regionalism, from 'silent' objection, to lukewarm or superficial support, to enthusiastic participation and substantial contribution, and this variance has not always taken place in a chronological order. Despite much speculation over the trajectory of China's role in East Asian regionalism, there has not been a study focused on China's policymaking towards East Asian financial cooperation. Therefore, this paper fills the gap by analysing the factors and policymaking processes that have led to those varied positions. It argues that China, recognising the momentum in the region to enhance cooperation, has replaced the blunt dismissals of proposals, particularly those from Japan, with a more subtle approach that is aimed at ensuring China's influence and promoting the image of a responsible great power; that the extent to which it can contribute to this process is mainly constrained by its economic conditions, particularly the financial institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is widely viewed as exceptional in its free trade agreement (FTA) activity for two reasons. First, the existing literature on East Asian regionalism has treated China as a strategic unitary actor. Second, Chinese policy elites claim that China is exceptional for its 'big country morality' of seeking to provide agreements that benefit smaller countries. What drives China's trade policy in the 'post-WTO' era? More precisely, does China, as a state ruled by a Communist Party, have different factors affecting its FTA policy-making than do other states? Is China pursuing FTAs 'with Chinese characteristics': are the motivations behind China's FTAs different from those of other countries? The research presented in this paper finds that China's FTA policymaking process involves a lot of bargaining and is particularly affected by the relative weakening of liberalizing forces vis-a-vis protectionist ones after the WTO accession. Moreover, the effectiveness of economic diplomacy is affected by coordination problems between economic and political sections within the government. Although China has a few motivations that go beyond what drives other countries to FTAs, those expectations are either difficult to realize or not very useful even if realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) and flower-shaped nanocrystals (NCs) were successfully synthesised via a cheap, green and nontoxic route, using environmentally friendly N, N-dimethyl-oleoyl amide as the solvent of Se. The experimental results show that the as-prepared ZnSe QDs with a zinc-blende structure have a narrow size distribution and without resorting to any as-synthetic size-selective procedure. A systematic study of the ZnSe QDs formation process indicates the following properties: variation of some reaction parameters allows us to tune the particle sizes and plays a greater role in the determination of the monodisperse characterisation, for example, these parameters include the amount of ligand and precursors, the injection temperature of Se solution. These size tunabilities interpreted well by the growth kinetics. Another interesting result is that the ZnSe QDs aggregate to flower-shaped NCs, and the flower-shaped NCs also have size-dependence quantum effects as the prepared disperse ZnSe QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China was a latecomer to the preferential trading bandwagon that has swept East Asia in the years since the financial crises. The Chinese government was unwilling to go down the path of negotiating bilateral and minilateral agreements until the terms of its accession to the World Trade Organization were finalized. Since then, it has become one of the most active participants in the negotiation of preferential trading arrangements, currently being engaged in negotiations with more than 20 countries. The paper will address the following questions about China's move to preferential trade: (a) What forces are driving China's approach to the negotiation of preferential trade agreements? (b) To what extent is it possible to untangle economic and political motivations in China's choice of partners for PTA negotiations? And, which economic interests are being pursued most aggressively? (c) How are conflicting domestic interests reconciled in the policy-making process? (d) To what extent will the new PTAs facilitate Chinese-dominated production networks in the regions? (e) What overall impact will the PTAs have on the Chinese economy? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), reaction times (RTs), and event-related potentials (ERPs) to detect malingered neurocognitive deficit (MNCD) was examined in 32 normal individuals answering under honest (HON; n = 16) or malingering (MAL; n = 16) instructions as well as in 15 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who answered under honest instructions. Overall, the TOMM was the most effective at classifying groups. However, new accuracy, RT, and ERP measures reached promising hit rates in the range of 71-88%. In particular, the difference in frontal versus posterior ERP obtained during an old-new task was effective at classifying MAL versus TBI (hit rate = 87%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to explain why the Free Trade Agreement negotiation between Australia and China has been extremely difficult, despite political goodwill from Beijing and Canberra. It first argues that the reason for the slow progress of the negotiation is not caused by lack of motivation from the Chinese government. It then lists the differences in negotiation between China and Australia, focusing on their respective selective vs. comprehensive, border vs. behind-the-border, flexible vs. rigid and state vs. market approaches. It then looks into domestic politics in China to explain why China has taken such a stance, underlining domestic resistance from sectors like agriculture and services in a dynamic domestic political environment on the one hand, and the structure of the policymaking institution that constrains the power of trade negotiators on the other. It concludes by pointing out where the potential for a breakthrough in the FTA negotiation lies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the adaptive robust control of a class of single-input-single-output nonlinear systems in semi-strict feedback form using radial basis function (RBF) networks. It is well known that the standard backstepping design may suffer from "explosion of terms". To overcome this problem, the recently developed dynamic surface control technique which employs a first-order low-pass filter at each step of the backstepping design procedure is generalized to the nonlinear system under study. Our attention is paid to achieve guaranteed transient performance of the adaptive controller. At each step of design, a feedback controller strengthened by nonlinear damping terms to counteract nonlinear uncertainties is designed to guarantee input-to-state practical stability of the corresponding subsystem, and then parameter adaptations are introduced to reduce the ultimate error bound. Furthermore, for the output trajectory tracking problem, it is recommended to adopt the partial adaptation policy to reduce the computational burden due to "curse of dimension" of the RBF networks. Finally, numerical examples are included to verify the results of theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined working memory/repetition priming task was administered to 13 young (mean age 23) and 13 elderly (mean age 69) adults. Each participant memorized a sample target face at the beginning of a trial and then determined whether each of 13 serially presented test faces matched the sample target. In each trial, both the target and one particular distracter face were repeated during the test phase. Within-trial repetition priming effects indicated the contribution of implicit memory to task performance. Response times decreased as items were tested repeatedly within a trial, but this decrement was greater for distracters than for targets. Young and older participants were equally accurate at identifying targets, but elderly were slightly less accurate for distracters. Elderly participants showed repetition priming effects for both targets and distracters, while the young showed such effects only for distracters. The results suggest that active maintenance in working memory, but not inhibition or rejection of distracters, may suppress implicit memory systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactivity of N -phosphoryl α-alanine differs from N -phosphoryl β-alanine and N -phosphoryl γ-amino butyric acid enormously. N -phospho-α-alanine could self-activate to yield N -phosphopeptides either in aqueous or nonaqueous media, but not β- or γ-amino acid analogues. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile and fashion brands convey core values through marketing, and in slow-fashion heritage brands this often includes skilled craftsmanship, authenticity, sustainability, and provenance. As industry digitalisation continues, brands are employing immersive technologies – virtual (VR) or augmented (AR) reality – however there is scarce evidence of these being used to communicate craftsmanship or provenance. To explore this potential, survey participants were shown immersive and traditional marketing content and perceptions of brand image were sought. The immersive content elicited new brand associations compared with the traditional content, which may be desirable if targeting a younger or more fashion-forward demographic. However, the immersive content was less effective at inspiring participants to make a purchase, with many participants overwhelmed by the virtual environment. The research concludes that effective immersive content should incorporate a streamlined representation of brand identity and core values, utilising an accessible platform while the adoption of VR headsets remains limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rice is a staple food for two-thirds of the world’s population and is grown in over a hundred countries around the world. Due to its large scale, it is vulnerable to adulteration. In addition, the quality attribute of rice is an important factor affecting the circulation and price, which is also paid more and more attention. The combination of spectroscopy and chemometrics enables rapid detection of authenticity and quality attributes in rice. This article described the application of seven spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics to the rice industry. For a long time, near-infrared spectroscopy and linear chemometric methods (e.g., PLSR and PLS-DA) have been widely used in the rice industry. Although some studies have achieved good accuracy, with models in many studies having greater than 90% accuracy. However, higher accuracy and stability were more likely to be obtained using multiple spectroscopic techniques, nonlinear chemometric methods, and key wavelength selection algorithms. Future research should develop larger rice databases to include more rice varieties and larger amounts of rice depending on the type of rice, and then combine various spectroscopic techniques, nonlinear chemometric methods, and key wavelength selection algorithms. This article provided a reference for a more efficient and accurate determination of rice quality and authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]