THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF RURAL IMMIGRANT POPULATION GROWTH, 1950-1990

This study tests whether evidence supports the hypothesis that rural immigrant populations are more sensitive to relative returns to human capital and living costs will be more elastic than those of native-born citizens. An empirically tractable model of incentive to migrate is developed following work of Huang et al (2001). The model is tested using Census data from 1950-1990 for a sample of rural counties from 18 Midwest and South central states. Preliminary results show that residential decisions of the rural foreign-born population are more sensitive to relative returns to human capital and relative costs of living than are native-born populations. Consequently, rural areas can attract immigrants if they offer earnings opportunities relative to housing costs that are superior to urban markets. Fears that immigrants will form a pocket of rural unemployed appear to be unfounded--immigrants will leave if rural job opportunities are not present.Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital,

AI Design to Innovation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to create various innovations for changing human workplaces. AI is characterized by features of learning and self-growth. Efficient AI learning should depend on human inputs, particularly from human professionals (e.g., doctors and nurses). Hence, professionals’ intention to facilitate AI innovation is critical. However, little is known about how to design AI to strengthen such intention, warranting our research to answer this question. We use expectancy-value theory to identify three potential AI design elements and examine how they enhance the perception that AI enhances professionals’ capabilities and their intention to facilitate AI innovation. These elements are contextual-specific features of AI, extending the expectancy-value theory to the novel AI technologies. We will test our model by using two-wave data of nursing professionals’ responses. The results are expected to assist AI designs that effectively motivate professionals to facilitate AI innovations

Media Richness and User Continuance to Instant Messaging

Media richness determines adoption of information systems. Insufficient research was done for investigating its influence on user continuance of using instant messaging applications. This study used classic IS and psychological theories to construct a research framework. This study gathered more than 200 responses by using an online form. LISREL software was used to conduct structural equation modeling technique to test the research framework. The findings indicated that various but not all dimensions of media richness positively contribute to users’ continuance to use instant messaging applications. Specific dimensions provide insights for managers to design their applications to effectively retain their users

MECHANISM OF LANDING STRATERGY DURING STEP AEROBICS WITH DIFFERENT BENCH HEIGHTS AND LOADS

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of different heights (6inch, 8inch, 10inch) and external loads (0% BW, 10% BW, 15% BW) on lower extremity during step aerobics. Ten college physical education students (age: 23.8 ± 2.1 years, height: 173.5 ± 6.1 cm, weight: 68.5 ± 8.0 kg) participated in this study. A Mega high-speed camera (100 Hz) and an ATMI force plate (1000Hz) were used to record kinematic and kinetic data respectively during step aerobics. Increased vertical ground reaction force, ankle movement, and decreased leg stiffness and ankle joint stiffness were found as the bench height increased to 10 inches which were considered to a high loading rates and shock to the lower extremity, especially at ankle joint. Therefore, people should avoid doing step aerobics at 10-inch bench height for a long time to protect ankle joint and soft tissue from injury

Developing Routinized Information Processing Capabilities for Operational Agility: Insights from China

Operational agility, which reflects the agile practices at business process level, is increasingly deemed as a significant determinant of business success in a turbulent business environment. Despite its importance, how operational agility can be attained is not answered by existing research. Drawing on the classic organization theory—information processing view of firms, the main contribution of this study is that it provides a process model of developing routinized information processing capabilities for operational agility in a turbulent business environment which fulfills this theoretical gap. It indicates the significant roles played by IT-enabled information processing networks and organizational controls during the process. It also identifies three routinized information processing capabilities including information sensitivity, information fluidity, and information decomposability. This is achieved by conducting a case study of Haier, one of the largest producers of household appliances in China. This paper concludes with a discussion of potential theoretical and practical contributions

Whole-body vibration training effect on physical performance and obesity in mice

The purpose of this study was to verify the beneficial effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on exercise performance, physical fatigue and obesity in mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups: normal group (n=6), fed standard diet (control), and experimental group (n=18), fed a HFD. After 4-week induction, followed by 6-week WBV of 5 days per week, the 18 obese mice were divided into 3 groups (n=6 per group): HFD with sedentary control (HFD), HFD with WBV at relatively low-intensity (5.6 Hz, 0.13 g) (HFD+VL) or high-intensity (13 Hz, 0.68 g) (HFD+VH). A trend analysis revealed that WBV increased the grip strength in mice. WBV also dose-dependently decreased serum lactate, ammonia and CK levels and increased glucose level after the swimming test. WBV slightly decreased final body weight and dose-dependently decreased weights of epididymal, retroperitoneal and perirenal fat pads and fasting serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, CK, glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol. Therefore, WBV could improve exercise performance and fatigue and prevent fat accumulation and obesity-associated biochemical alterations in obese mice. It may be an effective intervention for health promotion and prevention of HFD-induced obesity

Nonparetic Knee Extensor Strength Is the Determinant of Exercise Capacity of Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors

Objective. To investigate the relationship among walking speed, exercise capacity, and leg strength in community dwelling stroke subjects and to evaluate which one was the leading determinant factor of them. Design. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Thirty-five chronic stroke patients who were able to walk independently in their community were enrolled. Walking speed was evaluated by using the 12-meter walking test. A maximal exercise test was used to determine the stroke subjects’ exercise capacity. Knee extensor strength, measured as isokinetic torque, was assessed by isokinetic dynamometer. Results. The main walking speed of our subjects was 0.52 m/s. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) was 1.21±0.43 L/min. Knee extensor strength, no matter whether paretic or nonparetic side, was significantly correlated to 12-meter walking speed and exercise capacity. Linear regression also showed the strength of the affected knee extensor was the determinant of walking speed and that of the nonparetic knee extensor was the determinant of exercise capacity in community dwelling stroke subjects. Conclusions. Walking speed and peak oxygen uptake were markedly decreased after stroke. Knee extensor strength of nonparetic leg was the most important determinant of exercise capacity of the community-dwelling stroke subjects. Knee extensor strengthening should be emphasized to help stroke patient to achieve optimal community living

Development of a Transgenic Flammulina velutipes Oral Vaccine for Hepatitis B

Oralna primjena cjepiva dobivenih iz gljiva obećavajuća je za prevenciju zaraznih bolesti. Jestive gljive smatraju se prikladnim domaćinom za proizvodnju cjepiva zbog malih troškova proizvodnje i malog rizika kontaminacije gena. Međutim, zbog slabe ekspresije antitijela gljive imaju limitirani potencijal za razvoj oralnih cjepiva. Niska razina ekspresije gena vjerojatno je posljedica nečistoće transgenih micelija, budući da se za transformaciju uglavnom koriste miceliji dikariona. U radu je transformacijom gena iz gljive Flammulina velutipes pomoću bakterije Agrobacterium dobiven stabilni antigen hepatitisa B (HBsAg). Zatim je uslijedilo formiranje plodišta i klijanje bazidiospora. Metodom Western blot potvrđeno je formiranje HBsAg. Razine ekspresije HBsAg u plodištima gljive F. velutipes bile su: (129,3±15,1), (1 10,9±1,7) i (161,1±8,5) ng po gramu ukupnog topljivog proteina. Međutim, te vrijednosti mogu biti i veće, jer u radu nije postignuta potpuna ekstrakcija proteina. Dvije od četiri svinje u pokusnoj skupini imale su IgG protutijela na HBsAg nakon hranidbe plodištima transgene gljive F. velutipes tijekom 20 tjedana. U uzorcima krvi svinja u kontrolnoj skupini nisu opažena protutijela na HBsAg. Jedna od dviju pozitivnih svinja imala je vrijednosti titra protutijela na HBsAg od 5,36 miliinternacionalnih jedinica po mililitri (mlJ/mL) u desetom tjednu i 14,9 mlJ/mL u četrnaestom tjednu ispitivanja, nakon čega su se te vrijednosti smanjivale. Druga je svinja imala vrijednosti titra od 9,75 mlJ/mL u četrnaestom tjednu, 17,86 mlJ/mL u osamnaestom tjednu i 39,87 mlJ/mL u dvadesetom tjednu ispitivanja. Imunogenost svinja hranjenih plodištima transgene gljive F. velutipes potvrđuje mogućnost primjene ove gljive kao oralnog cjepiva.Orally administered fungal vaccines show promise for the prevention of infectious diseases. Edible mushrooms are deemed appropriate hosts to produce oral vaccines due to their low production cost and low risk of gene contamination. However, their low expression level of antigens has limited the potential development of oral vaccines using mushrooms. The low expression level might result from impurity of the transgenic mycelia since dikaryotic mycelia are commonly used as transformation materials. In this study, stable transgenic hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in Flammulina velutipes transformants was obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, followed by fruiting and basidiospore mating. The formation of HBsAg was detected by western blot analysis. The expression levels of HBsAg in transgenic F. velutipes fruiting bodies were (129.3±15.1), (110.9±1.7) and (161.1±8.5) ng/g total soluble protein. However, the values may be underestimated due to incomplete protein extraction. Two of the four pigs in the experimental group produced positive anti-HBsAg-specific IgG after being fed the HBsAg transgenic F. velutipes fruiting bodies for 20 weeks, while no anti-HBsAg antibody was detected in the control group. One of the positive pigs had HBsAg titres of 5.36 and 14.9 mIU/mL in weeks 10 and 14, respectively, but expression faded thereafter. The other positive pig displayed HBsAg titres of 9.75, 17.86 and 39.87 mIU/mL in weeks 14, 18 and 20, respectively. The successful immunogenicity in pigs fed transgenic F. velutipes fruiting bodies demonstrated the potential of using the fungus as an oral vaccine