Do We Blame it on the Machine? Task Outcome and Agency Attribution in Human-Technology Collaboration

With the growing functionality and capability of technology in human-technology interaction, humans are no longer the only autonomous entity. Automated machines increasingly play the role of agentic teammates, and through this process, human agency and machine agency are constructed and negotiated. Previous research on “Computers are Social Actors (CASA)” and self-serving bias suggest that humans might attribute more technology agency and less human agency when the interaction outcome is undesirable, and vice versa. We conducted an experiment to test this proposition by manipulating task outcome of a game co-played by a user and a smartphone app, and found partially contradictory results. Further, user characteristics, sociability in particular, moderated the effect of task outcome on agency attribution, and affected user experience and behavioral intention. Such findings suggest a complex mechanism of agency attribution in human-technology collaboration, which has important implications for emerging socio-ethical and socio-technical concerns surrounding intelligent technology

Impact of thermal processing on dietary flavonoids

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGFlavonoids are widely distributed in natural products and foods as a class of polyphenols. They processed diverse bioactivities, including anti-inflammation activity, antiaging activity, and antioxidant activity. The foods rich in flavonoids are usually consumed after thermal processing. However, flavonoids are commonly vulnerable under thermal processing, and it could cause various influences on their stability and bioactivities. Therefore, in this review, the effects of thermal processing on thermal stability and bioactivities of dietary flavonoids from different food sources were first summarized. The strategies to improve thermal stability of dietary flavonoids were then discussed. Noticeably, the effect of some of the promising thermal technologies on dietary flavonoids was also clarified preliminarily in the current review. The promising thermal technologies may be an alternative to conventional thermal processing technologies.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RYC2020-030365-

Effects on Physicochemical and Dissolution Characteristics of Lentinus edodes Stem Powder by Jet Milling

In order to increase the utilization rate of shiitake mushroom by-products, the shiitake mushroom stem was crushed after superfine grinding with a jet mill, with coarse powder and 40 mesh powder as the control. The effect of jet milling on the physicochemical properties of shiitake mushroom stem powder and the dissolution amount of functional components represented by ergosterol and polysaccharides were studied. The cumulative dissolution rate of ergosterol and polysaccharides was fitted by the Weibull model. The results showed that after superfine grinding by jet milling, the average particle size (D50) of powder decreased to 3.21 μm, bulk density, tap density and L* value increased from 0.15 g/mL to 0.25 g/mL, 0.23 g/mL to 0.42 g/mL, 65.31 to 73.49, respectively. The superfine powder fluidity, water holding capacity and swelling capacity were significantly enhanced (P<0.05). The cumulative dissolution 50% of the time (T50) of ergosterol and polysaccharide in superfine powder was reduced by 2.56 min and 8.14 min, respectively, compared with coarse powder. And cumulative dissolution rate at 45 min (Q45) increased by 10.88% and 19.15%, respectively. The powder properties and the dissolution rate of the functional ingredients were improved, after the jet milling to treat the shiitake mushroom stem, which was conducive to the comprehensive utilization of shiitake mushroom by-products

The change of intimate relationship between people with Alzheimer's disease and their adult child caregivers : An interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study aims to explore the change of intimate relationship between people with Alzheimer’s disease and their adult child caregivers as the disease progresses. Twelve adult child caregivers were recruited through purposive sampling. Explanatory phenomenological analysis was conducted to analyse data collected by semi-structured in-depth interviews. This study found a dynamically changing relationship between adult child caregivers and their parents with Alzheimer’s disease during care giving that evolved with the progress of the disease. The relationship was the most intimate in the middle stage of the disease for most caregivers and a new reciprocal relationship developed due to caregiving. Caregivers experienced different degrees of self-growth when providing care, though caregiver burdens were common. The positive experience and perception of caregivers were important for improving the quality of life for adult child caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease

Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been reported in several studies, but it is not well-recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SCH in women with PCOS.Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. All articles published before May 2018 was considered for eligibility. No language restrictions were implemented. The prevalence of SCH in PCOS was calculated by the meta-analysis to produce an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: A total of 6 studies including 692 PCOS patients and 540 controls were eligible for the meta-analysis. The combined odds ratio (OR) of SCH risk for women with PCOS compared with controls was 2.87 (95% CI = 1.82–9.92; P &lt; 0.000001). The OR increased to 3.59 when limiting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) cut-off to ≥4 mIU/L.Conclusions: Women with PCOS are more likely to develop SCH