85 research outputs found
Trust in the US-EU fruit and vegetable chain: Do US exporters understand EU importers?
Research on organizational and inter organizational trust has become an important field in management and marketing literature, as it is perceived as a pivotal aspect of business transactions. However, clarifications are still needed on the issue of whom we trust; is the person whom we are trading with trusted, or the organization, or just the productâquality? Not only has this question not been answered within this field of research, neither have cultural differences have been described to any great extent. Additionally, if the perceived factors important to establish trusting relationships may or may not be the same on the buyers and the sellers side in international business transaction in food chains. The primary objective of this research study therefore is to identify how well US exporters understand the elements of trust that establish strong relationships with EU importers. The Analytical Hierarchy Process was used to evaluate the importance of different trust elements in interviews conducted with US exporters and EU importers of fruits and vegetables. Results are compared, providing both a picture of the important facets of trust, as well as whether the partners understand the perspectives of the other partner
Performance of novel VUV-sensitive Silicon Photo-Multipliers for nEXO
Liquid xenon time projection chambers are promising detectors to search for
neutrinoless double beta decay (0), due to their response
uniformity, monolithic sensitive volume, scalability to large target masses,
and suitability for extremely low background operations. The nEXO collaboration
has designed a tonne-scale time projection chamber that aims to search for
0 of \ce{^{136}Xe} with projected half-life sensitivity of
~yr. To reach this sensitivity, the design goal for nEXO is
1\% energy resolution at the decay -value (~keV).
Reaching this resolution requires the efficient collection of both the
ionization and scintillation produced in the detector. The nEXO design employs
Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPMs) to detect the vacuum ultra-violet, 175 nm
scintillation light of liquid xenon. This paper reports on the characterization
of the newest vacuum ultra-violet sensitive Fondazione Bruno Kessler VUVHD3
SiPMs specifically designed for nEXO, as well as new measurements on new test
samples of previously characterised Hamamatsu VUV4 Multi Pixel Photon Counters
(MPPCs). Various SiPM and MPPC parameters, such as dark noise, gain, direct
crosstalk, correlated avalanches and photon detection efficiency were measured
as a function of the applied over voltage and wavelength at liquid xenon
temperature (163~K). The results from this study are used to provide updated
estimates of the achievable energy resolution at the decay -value for the
nEXO design
Engaging audiences with difficult pasts: the Voices of â68 Project at the Ulster Museum, Belfast
Can history museums influence the relationship between divided communities? This paper explores why an initially modest collaboration between the authors and the Ulster Museum on the nonâviolent Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement of 1968/69, eventually had substantial impact beyond the museumâs walls. Having placed the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement within the context of both the international protests of 1968 and the specific environment of Northern Ireland, particularly the virtual civil war known as the Troubles, the paper turns to the role of museums in responding to the legacy of this past, and the evolving practice of the Ulster Museum, as background to the project. The latter began as a limited intervention within an existing display, based on oral histories and underpinned by the theory of âagonismâ, proposing that divided communities must learn to live with difference. It eventually included exhibitions, workshops, school study days, curricular materials and online provision. It has directly influenced the Northern Ireland GCSE History Curriculum and been held up as an example of good practice within the provinceâs peace process. The paper discusses why the project succeeded â location within a national museum; credibility with protagonists, academics, communities and audiences; starting small; a willingness to take risks and share control; multiple perspectives; and an acceptance that not everyone will be satisfied. With a version of the Voices of 68 exhibition now installed in the Museumâs permanent gallery, the next challenges are longitudinal studies on its impact and assessing the approachâs relevance to other museums working in postâconflict societies
The AURORA Study: a longitudinal, multimodal library of brain biology and function after traumatic stress exposure
Adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) are common among civilian trauma survivors and military veterans. These APNS, as traditionally classified, include posttraumatic stress, postconcussion syndrome, depression, and regional or widespread pain. Traditional classifications have come to hamper scientific progress because they artificially fragment APNS into siloed, syndromic diagnoses unmoored to discrete components of brain functioning and studied in isolation. These limitations in classification and ontology slow the discovery of pathophysiologic mechanisms, biobehavioral markers, risk prediction tools, and preventive/treatment interventions. Progress in overcoming these limitations has been challenging because such progress would require studies that both evaluate a broad spectrum of posttraumatic sequelae (to overcome fragmentation) and also perform in-depth biobehavioral evaluation (to index sequelae to domains of brain function). This article summarizes the methods of the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA (AURORA) Study. AURORA conducts a large-scale (n = 5000 target sample) in-depth assessment of APNS development using a state-of-the-art battery of self-report, neurocognitive, physiologic, digital phenotyping, psychophysical, neuroimaging, and genomic assessments, beginning in the early aftermath of trauma and continuing for 1 year. The goals of AURORA are to achieve improved phenotypes, prediction tools, and understanding of molecular mechanisms to inform the future development and testing of preventive and treatment interventions
Fluxes and concentrations of volatile organic compounds above central London, UK
Concentrations and fluxes of eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured during October 2006 from a high telecom tower above central London, as part of the CityFlux contribution to the REPARTEE I campaign. A continuous flow disjunct eddy covariance technique with analysis by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry was used. Daily averaged VOC mixing ratios were within the range 1â19 ppb for the oxygenated compounds (methanol, acetaldehyde and acetone) and 0.2â1.3 ppb for the aromatics (benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene). Typical VOC fluxes were in the range 0.1â1.0 mg mâ2 hâ1. There was a non-linear relationship between VOC fluxes and traffic density for most of the measured compounds. Traffic activity was estimated to account for approximately 70% of the aromatic compound fluxes, whereas non-traffic related sources were found to be more important for methanol and isoprene fluxes. The measured fluxes were comparable to the estimates of the UK national atmospheric emission inventory for the aromatic VOCs and CO. In contrast, fluxes of the oxygenated compounds were about three times larger than inventory estimates. For isoprene and acetonitrile this difference was many times larger. At temperatures over 25°C it is estimated that more than half the isoprene observed in central London is of biogenic origin
Parallel lives? Ethnic segregation in schools and neighbourhoods
We provide evidence on the extent of ethnic segregation experienced by children across secondary schools and neighbourhoods (wards). Using 2001 Schools Census and Population Census data we employ the indices of dissimilarity and isolation and compare patterns of segregation across nine ethnic groups, and across Local Education Authorities in England. Looking at both schools and neighbourhoods, we find high levels of segregation for the different groups, along with considerable variation across England. We find consistently higher segregation for South Asian pupils than for Black pupils. For most ethnic groups children are more segregated at school than in their neighbourhood. We analyse the relative degree of segregation and show that high population density is associated with high relative school segregation
Surface/atmosphere exchange and chemical interactions of reactive nitrogen compounds above a manured grassland
Manure application to managed grassland is a common agricultural practice. There are, however, limited studies looking at the fluxes and interactions of reactive N compounds and aerosols following fertilisation with manure. In this study, state-of-the-art chemical analysers (GRAEGOR, QCLAS, PTRMS) were used to investigate concentrations, fluxes and chemical interactions of reactive nitrogen containing trace gases (NH3, HNO3, HONO) and aerosols (NO3â) above a grassland fertilised with 164 kg N haâ1 of cattle slurry. Emissions of NH3 peaked at >67 ÎŒg mâ2 sâ1, based on a 30 min average. The estimated overall loss of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) from the applied slurry through NH3 emissions in the first 5 days was 33.5%. The average trimethylamine flux in the first 31 h following the first slurry application was 40 ng mâ2 sâ1 and amounted to 0.38% of the NH3-N emissions. Apparent nitrate aerosol emissions were observed following the slurry application peaking at 13.0 ng mâ2 sâ1. This suggests formation of NH4NO3 from reaction of the emitted NH3 with atmospheric HNO3, consistent with the observation of gaseous concentration products exceeding the dissociation constants of ammonium nitrate. Fluxes of total nitrate (HNO3 + NO3â) were bi-directional and positive during the mid-day period after fertilisation, suggesting that the slurry acted as a net source for these compounds. There is evidence of small HONO emission following fertilisation (up to 1 ng mâ2 sâ1), although the production process is currently not identified. By contrast, all compounds showed deposition to the adjacent unfertilised grassland
e-Trust: Building trust for quality assurance in emerging markets for food chains
The vision of the e-Trust project is to provide consumers with high quality food they do trust and can afford. The combination of
trust and affordability can be reached through improvements in trade processes and in the communication of trustworthiness
between trading partners along the chain. The project delivers concepts for trade relationships that combine actual e-commerce
developments with trust mediating functionalities. It will support both, improvements in consumers\u2019 food supply situation and the
competitiveness of the European food sector.
This project is highly relevant to the Food Quality and Safety Priority as it contributes to the well-being of European citizens
through high quality, safe to eat, affordable food. The project creates consumer confidence through transparent, trustworthy
food chains able to deliver guarantees to consumers and ensures the affordability of high quality food by exploiting the
efficiency power of e-commerce for food chains. The project bridges the gap between the innovative ICT potentials for costefficient
processes in the European food chain and the trust between companies in the food chain.
The project will setup a network of European experts in the fields of food chain management, food quality and trust in food
chains from different European countries, Turkey, Brazil, and the US to cover food import to the EU. Business representatives
from the European food sector will act as intermediaries and multipliers to SMEs in the European food sector and will organize
the participation of SMEs in the project in order to reach the largest possible number of SMEs in the European food sector and
the dissemination of the project\u2019s results to SMEs in different European countries by organizing workshops, conferences and
brochures to SMEs
e-Trust: Building trust for quality assurance in emerging markets for food chains
The vision of the e-Trust project is to provide consumers with high quality food they do trust and can afford. The combination of
trust and affordability can be reached through improvements in trade processes and in the communication of trustworthiness
between trading partners along the chain. The project delivers concepts for trade relationships that combine actual e-commerce
developments with trust mediating functionalities. It will support both, improvements in consumers\u2019 food supply situation and the
competitiveness of the European food sector.
This project is highly relevant to the Food Quality and Safety Priority as it contributes to the well-being of European citizens
through high quality, safe to eat, affordable food. The project creates consumer confidence through transparent, trustworthy
food chains able to deliver guarantees to consumers and ensures the affordability of high quality food by exploiting the
efficiency power of e-commerce for food chains. The project bridges the gap between the innovative ICT potentials for costefficient
processes in the European food chain and the trust between companies in the food chain.
The project will setup a network of European experts in the fields of food chain management, food quality and trust in food
chains from different European countries, Turkey, Brazil, and the US to cover food import to the EU. Business representatives
from the European food sector will act as intermediaries and multipliers to SMEs in the European food sector and will organize
the participation of SMEs in the project in order to reach the largest possible number of SMEs in the European food sector and
the dissemination of the project\u2019s results to SMEs in different European countries by organizing workshops, conferences and
brochures to SMEs
- âŠ