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 product‐quality? 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

Technology for large-scale translation of clinical practice guidelines : a pilot study of the performance of a hybrid human and computer-assisted approach

Background: The construction of EBMPracticeNet, a national electronic point-of-care information platform in Belgium, was initiated in 2011 to optimize quality of care by promoting evidence-based decision-making. The project involved, among other tasks, the translation of 940 EBM Guidelines of Duodecim Medical Publications from English into Dutch and French. Considering the scale of the translation process, it was decided to make use of computer-aided translation performed by certificated translators with limited expertise in medical translation. Our consortium used a hybrid approach, involving a human translator supported by a translation memory (using SDL Trados Studio), terminology recognition (using SDL Multiterm termbases) from medical termbases and support from online machine translation. This has resulted in a validated translation memory which is now in use for the translation of new and updated guidelines. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the hybrid human and computer-assisted approach in comparison with translation unsupported by translation memory and terminology recognition. A comparison was also made with the translation efficiency of an expert medical translator. Methods: We conducted a pilot trial in which two sets of 30 new and 30 updated guidelines were randomized to one of three groups. Comparable guidelines were translated (a) by certificated junior translators without medical specialization using the hybrid method (b) by an experienced medical translator without this support and (c) by the same junior translators without the support of the validated translation memory. A medical proofreader who was blinded for the translation procedure, evaluated the translated guidelines for acceptability and adequacy. Translation speed was measured by recording translation and post-editing time. The Human Translation Edit Rate was calculated as a metric to evaluate the quality of the translation. A further evaluation was made of translation acceptability and adequacy. Results: The average number of words per guideline was 1,195 and the mean total translation time was 100.2 min/1,000 words. No meaningful differences were found in the translation speed for new guidelines. The translation of updated guidelines was 59 min/1,000 words faster (95% CI 2-115; P=.044) in the computer-aided group. Revisions due to terminology accounted for one third of the overall revisions by the medical proofreader. Conclusions: Use of the hybrid human and computer-aided translation by a non-expert translator makes the translation of updates of clinical practice guidelines faster and cheaper because of the benefits of translation memory. For the translation of new guidelines there was no apparent benefit in comparison with the efficiency of translation unsupported by translation memory (whether by an expert or non-expert translator

Beyond clustering: mean-field dynamics on networks with arbitrary subgraph composition

Clustering is the propensity of nodes that share a common neighbour to be connected. It is ubiquitous in many networks but poses many modelling challenges. Clustering typically manifests itself by a higher than expected frequency of triangles, and this has led to the principle of constructing networks from such building blocks. This approach has been generalised to networks being constructed from a set of more exotic subgraphs. As long as these are fully connected, it is then possible to derive mean-field models that approximate epidemic dynamics well. However, there are virtually no results for non-fully connected subgraphs. In this paper, we provide a general and automated approach to deriving a set of ordinary differential equations, or mean-field model, that describes, to a high degree of accuracy, the expected values of system-level quantities, such as the prevalence of infection. Our approach offers a previously unattainable degree of control over the arrangement of subgraphs and network characteristics such as classical node degree, variance and clustering. The combination of these features makes it possible to generate families of networks with different subgraph compositions while keeping classical network metrics constant. Using our approach, we show that higher-order structure realised either through the introduction of loops of different sizes or by generating networks based on different subgraphs but with identical degree distribution and clustering, leads to non-negligible differences in epidemic dynamics

Multi-Scaling of Correlation Functions in Single Species Reaction-Diffusion Systems

We derive the multi-fractal scaling of probability distributions of multi-particle configurations for the binary reaction-diffusion system $A+A \to \emptyset$ in $d \leq 2$ and for the ternary system $3A \to \emptyset$ in $d=1$. For the binary reaction we find that the probability $P_{t}(N, \Delta V)$ of finding $N$ particles in a fixed volume element $\Delta V$ at time $t$ decays in the limit of large time as $(\frac{\ln t}{t})^{N}(\ln t)^{-\frac{N(N-1)}{2}}$ for $d=2$ and t^{-Nd/2}t^{-\frac{N(N-1)\epsilon}{4}+\mathcal{O}(\ep^2)} for $d<2$. Here \ep=2-d. For the ternary reaction in one dimension we find that $P_{t}(N,\Delta V) \sim (\frac{\ln t}{t})^{N/2}(\ln t)^{-\frac{N(N-1)(N-2)}{6}}$. The principal tool of our study is the dynamical renormalization group. We compare predictions of \ep-expansions for $P_{t}(N,\Delta V)$ for binary reaction in one dimension against exact known results. We conclude that the \ep-corrections of order two and higher are absent in the above answer for $P_{t}(N, \Delta V)$ for $N=1,2,3,4$. Furthermore we conjecture the absence of \ep^2-corrections for all values of $N$.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Qualitative study of healthcare providers’ current practice patterns and barriers to successful rehydration for pediatric diarrheal illnesses in Kenya

Background For children worldwide, diarrhea is the second leading cause of death. These deaths are preventable by fluid resuscitation. Nasogastric tubes (NGs) have been shown to be equivalent to intravenous fluids for rehydration and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in severe dehydration. Despite this, NGs are rarely used for rehydration in Kenya. Our objective was to evaluate clinicians’ adherence to rehydration guidelines and to identify barriers to the use of NGs for resuscitating dehydrated children. Methods A case-based structured survey was administered to pediatric care providers in western Kenya to determine their choices for alternative rehydration therapies when oral rehydration and intravenous fluids fail. Providers then participated in a qualitative, semi-structured interview to identify barriers to using nasogastric tubes for rehydration. Analysis included manual, progressive coding of interview transcripts to identify emerging central themes. Results Of 44 participants, only four (9%) followed WHO guidelines that recommend quickly switching to NG for rehydration in their case responses. Participants identified that placing intravenous lines in dehydrated children is a challenge. However, when discussing NG use, many believed NGs are not effective for rehydration. Other participants’ concerns surrounded knowledge and training regarding guidelines as well as not having NGs available. Discussion Healthcare providers in western Kenya do not report using NGs for rehydration in accordance with WHO guidelines for diarrheal illness with severe dehydration. Barriers to the use of NG tubes were lack of knowledge and availability. Education and implementation of guidelines using NG tubes for rehydration may improve outcomes of children suffering from diarrheal illness with severe dehydration

Employee Stock Ownership and Financial Performance in European Countries: The Moderating Effects of Uncertainty Avoidance and Social Trust

This study investigates how the effect of employee stock ownership on financial performance may hinge on the diverse cultural and societal contexts of European countries. Based on agency and national culture theories, we hypothesize that the positive relationship between employee stock ownership and return on assets (ROA) is stronger in those nations with lower uncertainty avoidance and higher social trust. Using a multisource, time‐lagged, large‐scale dataset of 1,741 firms from 21 countries in Europe, our multilevel, random coefficient modeling analysis found evidence for these hypotheses, suggesting that uncertainty avoidance and social trust serve as important contextual cues in predicting the linkage between employee stock ownership and financial performance. Our supplemental analysis with distinction between the managerial and nonmanagerial employee stock ownership further indicates managerial employee stock ownership has a direct positive effect on ROA. Although nonmanagerial employee stock ownership had a nonsignificant association with ROA, the relationship was positive and significant when uncertainty avoidance was low and social trust was high. This research contributes to the existing literature by illuminating some of the contextual influences altering the effectiveness of employee stock ownership. Our findings also offer practical suggestions for effectively using employee stock ownership

Nitrogen Heterocycles Form Peptide Nucleic Acid Precursors in Complex Prebiotic Mixtures

The ability to store information is believed to have been crucial for the origin and evolution of life; however, little is known about the genetic polymers relevant to abiogenesis. Nitrogen heterocycles (N-heterocycles) are plausible components of such polymers as they may have been readily available on early Earth and are the means by which the extant genetic macromolecules RNA and DNA store information. Here, we report the reactivity of numerous N-heterocycles in highly complex mixtures, which were generated using a Miller-Urey spark discharge apparatus with either a reducing or neutral atmosphere, to investigate how N-heterocycles are modified under plausible prebiotic conditions. High throughput mass spectrometry was used to identify N-heterocycle adducts. Additionally, tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to elucidate reaction pathways for select reactions. Remarkably, we found that the majority of N-heterocycles, including the canonical nucleobases, gain short carbonyl side chains in our complex mixtures via a Strecker-like synthesis or Michael addition. These types of N-heterocycle adducts are subunits of the proposed RNA precursor, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). The ease with which these carbonylated heterocycles form under both reducing and neutral atmospheres is suggestive that PNAs could be prebiotically feasible on early Earth

Emergency Management

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Large Scale Distribution of Massive Dose Vitamin a in Indonesia (a Study of the Operational Aspects)

Suatu pilot proyek pemberian vitamin A dosis tinggi (200.000 IU vitamin A dan 40 IU vitamin E dalam kapsul) sekali tiap 6 bulan kepada anak-anak umur 1-4 tahun di 20 kecamatan Jawa Barat, Tengah dan Timur diadakan mulai 1973. Berdasar perhitungan proyeksi penduduk hasil sensus 1971, di wilayah proyek ini terdapat sejumlah 92.247-101.468 anak sasaran. Pemberian kapsul vitamin A di tiap kecamatan dilakukan oleh dua petugas Puskesmas yang bekerja 3 hari seminggu sedemikian hingga dalam 6 bulan dicapai seluruh anak sasaran dalam wilayah tugasnya. Mereka masing-masing dibantu oleh dua tenaga desa selama bekerja di desa yang bersangkutan. Pemberian kapsul dijalankan secara mengumpulkan anak-anak di suatu tempat di Rukun Tetangga, atau mengunjungi rumah-ke-rumah, atau kombinasi dari keduanya. Tiap anak berumur 1-4 tahun didaftar nama, jenis, umur, nama orang tuanya. Mereka yang berhasil diberi kapsul dicatat. Juga dicatat mereka yang tidak berhasil diberi kapsul, serta alasannya. Pada putaran berikutnya; semua anak yang menjadi berumur 1 tahun diberi kapsul, sedang yang lewat 4 tahun tidak diberi lagi. Hasil penilaian tahun pertama menunjukkan bahwa 76-86 persen dari anak sasaran berhasil diberi kapsul. Jumlah ini menurun dari putaran pertama ke putaran kedua. Sebabnya a.l. musim hujan, sukar mengenali kembali anak yang telah diberi kapsul, dan penolakan orang tua terhadap pemberian kapsul kepada anaknya. Penolakan karena anak muntah dan berak setelah diberi kapsul sebesar setengah persen dari jumlah anak yang diberi kapsul. Tidak diketahui dengan pasti apakah itu gejala hipervitaminosis A. Jumlah anak yang tidak berhasil diberi kapsul rata-rata 20 persen dari anak sasaran. Tidak diketahui apakah kepekaan terhadap defisiensi vitamin A mereka ini sama dengan yang berhasil diberi kapsul. Jika anak yang tidak berhasil diberi kapsul itu justru golongan terpeka, maka cara pencegahan defisiensi vitamin A ini belum berhasil. Perhitungan sementara menunjukkan bahwa biaya pemberian vitamin A dosis tinggi ini per tahun per anak = 54 sen US$, dan akan berkurang bila modal awal dirata-ratakan untuk tahun-tahun berikutnya