Consumers’ Adoption of B2C E-Commerce in Macao

This research sets out to determine factors that influence consumers’ adoption of B2C E-commerce in Macao. While prior research has shown that there are many factors that influence E-commerce adoption, this research hypothesized that two variables – namely, trust and willingness to use credit cards for online transactions – influence E-commerce adoption in Macao. This research further hypothesized that trust and willingness to use credit card interact to influence adoption. Using data collected from a questionnaire survey, the results of this study found that the two hypothesized variables are positively related to intention to adopt E-commerce. The results also support the interaction effect. The nature of interaction showed that trust is related to E-commerce adoption only when willingness to use credit card for online transaction is high. Also, willingness to use credit card for online transaction is related to E-commerce adoption only when the level of trust is high. These results provide a richer understanding of the relationship between the hypothesized variables and Ecommerce adoption. This study also collected interview data related to Internet users’ adoption of E-commerce. The interview data provide a better understanding on why Macao people are afraid of using credit card for online transactions. The researchers gathered more information about interviewees’ credit card usage and habits, their attitudes toward credit card security, and their thoughts regarding identity theft. The interviews also uncovered other factors that may influence E-commerce adoption

Genome sequence and genetic linkage analysis of Shiitake mushroom _Lentinula edodes_

_Lentinula edodes_ (Shiitake/Xianggu) is an important cultivated mushroom. Understanding the genomics and functional genomics of _L. edodes_ allows us to improve its cultivation and quality. Genome sequence is a key to develop molecular genetic markers for breeding and genetic manipulation. We sequenced the genome of _L. edodes_ monokaryon L54A using Roche 454 and ABI SOLiD genome sequencing. Sequencing reads of about 1400Mb were de novo assembled into a 40.2 Mb genome sequence. We compiled the genome sequence into a searchable database with which we have been annotating the genes and analyzing the metabolic pathways. In addition, we have been using many molecular techniques to analyze genes differentially expressed during development. Gene ortholog groups of _L. edodes_ genome sequence compared across genomes of several fungi including mushrooms identified gene families unique to mushroom-forming fungi. We used a mapping population of haploid basidiospores of dikaryon L54 for genetic linkage analysis. High-quality variations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions, and deletions of the mapping population formed a high-density genetic linkage map. We compared the linkage map to the _L. edodes_ L54A genome sequence and located selected quantitative trait loci. The Shiitake community will benefit from these resources for genetic studies and breeding.
&#xa

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy v. group psychoeducation for people with generalised anxiety disorder: randomised controlled trial

Background: Research suggests that an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course may be effective for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Aims: To compare changes in anxiety levels among participants with GAD randomly assigned to MBCT, cognitive–behavioural therapy-based psychoeducation and usual care. Method: In total, 182 participants with GAD were recruited (trial registration number: CUHK_CCT00267) and assigned to the three groups and followed for 5 months after baseline assessment with the two intervention groups followed for an additional 6 months. Primary outcomes were anxiety and worry levels. Results: Linear mixed models demonstrated significant group × time interaction (F(4,148) = 5.10, P = 0.001) effects for decreased anxiety for both the intervention groups relative to usual care. Significant group × time interaction effects were observed for worry and depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life for the psychoeducation group only. Conclusions: These results suggest that both of the interventions appear to be superior to usual care for the reduction of anxiety symptoms

Use of electroacupuncture to accelerate the antidepressant action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a single-blind, randomised, controlled study

published_or_final_versio

The Use of Modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Program for Family Caregivers of People Living with Dementia: A Feasibility Study

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program for reducing the stress, depressive symptoms, and subjective burden of family caregivers of people with dementia (PWD). Methods A prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial design was adopted. Fifty-seven participants were recruited from the community and randomized into either the modified MBSR group (n = 27) or modified MBCT group (n = 26), receiving seven face-to-face intervention sessions for more than 16 weeks. Various psychological outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), immediately after intervention (T1), and at the 3-month follow-up (T2). Results Both interventions were found to be feasible in view of the high attendance (more than 70.0%) and low attrition (3.8%) rates. The mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed positive within-group effects on perceived stress (p = .030, Cohen's d = 0.54), depressive symptoms (p = .002, Cohen's d = 0.77), and subjective caregiver burden (p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.12) in both interventions across the time points, whereas the modified MBCT had a larger effect on stress reduction, compared with the modified MBSR (p = .019). Conclusion Both the modified MBSR and MBCT are acceptable to family caregivers of PWD. Their preliminary effects were improvements in stress, depressive symptoms, and subjective burden. The modified MBCT may be more suitable for caregivers of PWD than the MBSR. A future clinical trial is needed to confirm their effectiveness in improving the psychological well-being of caregivers of PWD

Treatment outcome and prognostic factor analysis in transplant-eligible Chinese myeloma patients receiving bortezomib-based induction regimens including the staged approach, PAD or VTD

BACKGROUND: We have reported promising outcomes using a staged approach, in which bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone was used only in 14 patients with suboptimal response to VAD (vincristine/adriamycin/dexamethasone) before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Here we compared the outcomes of the staged approach with frontline PAD (bortezomib/doxorubicin/dexamethasone) or VTD (bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone) induction, and analysed prognostic factors for outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-one transplant-eligible Chinese patients received three induction regimens prior to ASCT [staged approach (N = 25), PAD (N = 31), VTD (N = 35)]. and received thalidomide maintenance for 2 years post-ASCT. RESULTS: 43 (47.3%) patients had International Staging System (ISS) III disease. By an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall CR/nCR rate were 37.4% post-induction, and 62.6% post-ASCT. Five-year overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survivals were 66% and 45.1%. There was no difference of the post-induction CR/nCR rate, EFS or OS between patients induced by these three regimens. Moreover, ISS III disease did not affect CR/nCR rates. Multivariate analysis showed that ISS and post-ASCT CR/nCR impacted OS while ISS and post-induction CR/nCR impacted EFS. CONCLUSIONS: These three induction regimens produced comparable and favorable outcomes in myeloma. The unfavorable outcome of ISS stage III persisted despite upfront/early use of bortezomib. CR/nCR predicted favorable survivals

Influência do regime alimentar sobre os parâmetros de crescimento de borregas merinas.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito que três suplementos alimentares (alimento composto comercial (CP), farinha forrageira de milho (FM) e cladódios de Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI)) tiveram sobre os indicadores de crescimento de borregas de substituição de raça Merino Branco alimentadas com feno de consociação (F), como alimento forrageiro base em regime ad libitum controlado, assim como a ingestão de água. Os 24 animais selecionados foram organizados em grupos de 8 borregas cada um, homogéneos em relação ao peso vivo, à idade e ao ganho de peso médio diário do nascimento até ao início do ensaio. Cada grupo de 8 borregas foi organizado em quatro subgrupos de 2 borregas cada um e o controlo da ingestão alimentar foi feito para cada um destes subgrupos. Para cada tratamento avaliou-se os seguintes parâmetros de crescimento e de consumo de alimentos: peso vivo; ganho de peso diário; consumo de feno (MS); consumo de cada um dos suplementos alimentares (MS); consumo de MS/kg0,75; consumo de PB/kg0,75; consumo de EM/kg0,75; consumo de NDF/kg0,75; consumo de NFC/kg0,75; índice de conversão alimentar (kg MS/kg PVG); consumo de água; ingestão total de água. Durante os 63 dias de ensaio, verificou-se que as borregas submetidas ao regime alimentar CP+F (T1) apresentaram maior ingestão (p≤0,05) de MS, MS/kg PV0,75, C, NDF, ADF, PB, PB/kg PV0,75, GB, EM e H2O e menor ingestão (p≤0,05) de NFC e de NFC/kg PV0,75. No regime alimentar FM+F (T2), verificou-se maior ingestão (p≤0,05) de NFC/kg PV0,75 e menor ingestão (p≤0,05) de C. No regime alimentar OFI+FM+F (T3) as borregas ingeriram menos (p≤0,05) NDF, PB/kg PV0,75 e H2O. Não se encontraram diferenças estatísticas significativas entre os tratamentos T2 e T3 relativamente à ingestão média diária de MS, de EM, de PB, de NDF e de ADF (p≤0,05). O maior consumo de H2O foi apresentado no T1 (2,037 kg/dia) (p≤0,05), seguido das borregas do T2 (1,459 kg/dia). O menor consumo médio diário de H2O de bebida ocorreu nas borregas do T3 (0,277 kg/dia ±0,038) (p≤0,05), no entanto as borregas do T3 apresentaram o maior CTH2O (3,900 kg/dia) (p≤0,05). As borregas do T1 apresentaram GPD significativamente mais elevado (0,180 kg/dia ±0,009) (p≤0,05) do que as borregas do T2 e T3 (0,110 kg/dia ±0,020 e 0,131 kg/dia 0,006 respetivamente). No final do ensaio, as borregas do T3 alimentadas com OFI+FM+F apresentaram PV semelhante (29,5 kg; p≤0,05) às borregas do T2 alimentadas com FM+F (27,94 kg), porém inferiores (p≤0,05) às borregas do T1 alimentadas com CP+F (33,01 kg). Considera-se que a baixa concentração proteica dos 2 regimes alimentares OFI+FM+F (85,54 g PB/kg MS ±0,560) e FM+F (84,76 g PB/kg MS ±0,367) terá afetado o crescimento dos animais relativamente aos animais alimentados com CP+F (148,62 g PB/kg MS ±2,914).The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three feed supplements (commercial compound (CC), corn flour (CF) and Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes) on the growth indicators of Merino Branco female lambs, fed as forage with hay (H) of association based on controlled ad libitum regime, as well water intake. The 24 animals selected were organized in groups of 8 lambs each, homogeneous in relation to live weight, age and average daily weight gain from birth until the beginning of the test. Each group of 8 lambs was organized in four subgroups of 2 lambs each and the food intake control was done for each of these subgroups. For each treatment the following growth and food consumption parameters were evaluated: live weight; daily weight gain; hay consumption (DM); consumption of each dietary supplements (DM); consumption of DM/kg0,75; consumption of CP/kg0,75; consumption of ME/kg0,75; consumption of NDF/kg0,75; consumption of NFC/kg0,75; feed conversion index (kg DM/kg DWG); water consumption; total water intake. During the 63 test days, it has been found that lambs submitted on the diet CC+H (T1) presented the highest intake (p≤0.05) of DM, DM/kg LW0,75, A, NDF, ADF, CP, CP/kg LW0,75, CF, ME and H2O, and the lowest intake (p≤0.05) of NFC and NFC/kg LW0,75. In the CF+H diet (T2), it was verified the highest intake (p≤0.05) of NFC/kg LW0,75 and the lowest intake (p≤0.05) of A. In the OFI+CF+H diet (T3) the lambs ingested less (p≤0.05) NDF, CP/kg LW0,75 and H2O. No statistically significant differences were found between treatments T2 and T3 in relation to the mean daily intake of DM, ME, CP, NDF and ADF (p≤0.05). The T1 showed the highest H2O intake (2.037 kg/day) (p≤0.05), followed by the lambs of T2 (1.459 kg/day). The lowest daily H2O intake occurred in the lambs of T3 (0.277 kg/day ±0.038) (p≤0.05), however the lambs of T3 showed the highest TH2OI (3.900 kg/day) (p≤0.05). The lambs of T1 presented significantly higher DWG (0.180 kg/day ±0.009) (p≤0.05) than lambs of T2 and T3 (0.110 kg/day ±0.020 and 0.131 kg/day 0.006 respectively). At the end of the test, the lambs fed with OFI+CF+H (T3) showed a LW similar (29.5 kg; p≤0.05) to the lambs fed with CF+H (T2) (27.94 kg) but lower (p≤0.05) than the animals fed with CC+H (T1) (33.01 kg). It was considered that the low protein concentration of the 2 feed treatments OFI+CF+H (85.54 g CP/kg DM ±0,560) and CF+H (84.76 g CP/kg DM ±0,367) will have affected the growth of the animals compared to animals feed with CC+H (148.62 g CP/kg DM ±2.914)

Bilayer Interdiffused Heterojunction Organic Photodiodes Fabricated by Double Transfer Stamping

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136265/1/adom201600784-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136265/2/adom201600784_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136265/3/adom201600784.pd

Clofarabine and high-dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia

Clofarabine (40 mg/m2/day × 5) and high-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C, 1–2 g/m2/day × 5) were used in 10 men and 11 women, at a median age of 45 (22–62) years, with refractory (N = 4) and relapsed (N = 17) acute myeloid leukaemia, after a median of 3 (2–5) prior regimens. Grade 4 myelosuppression was observed in all cases, with two patients dying of bacterial sepsis. Nine patients achieved a complete remission. Disease status, number of prior therapies, and cytogenetic aberrations were not associated with the outcome. However, remission was only achieved with Ara-C at 2 g/m2/day and not 1 g/m2/day (9/15 versus 0/4, P = 0.03)