The effects of perceptions on consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods

This study investigates the effects of risk/benefit beliefs on consumer purchase intentions for genetically modified (GM) foods. A random, national, mail survey is conducted. Three main problems are addressed in the study. The first problem addressed is to analyze the relationship between consumers risk/ benefit beliefs regarding GM foods, and their willingness to buy GM crop and meat products. The second problem deals with linkages between a consumer’s risk/benefit beliefs about GM foods and willingness to pay (WTP) for GM foods with a benefit disclosure. The third problem addressed is to test a causal relationship between knowledge and trust toward GM institutions, and consumer’s purchase behavior toward GM foods. The cognitive factors associated with risk/benefit tradeoffs turn out to have significant impacts on consumer acceptance of GM foods. Results indicate that when consumers decide whether to buy GM crops and meat, the most crucial factor is food safety. Other important factors affecting consumer purchase intentions are ethical issues and concerns regarding the environment and wildlife. Depending upon product types, consumers show different levels of risk perceptions for GM foods. Results indicate that consumers have higher risk sensitivity for GM meats than GM crops, as expected. Consumers living in the Northeast region of the U.S. show a negative attitude about willingness to buy GM meat products. Benefits of GM foods on health and the environment have positive, significant impacts on the premium levels for GM potatoes. Similarly, benefits of GM foods, a positive evaluation of GM foods, and trust in GM institutions such as, government, food companies, consumer environmental groups, and scientists, are significant factors that affect consumers’ participation in the market for GM beef. Unexpectedly, however, health and environmental risk perceptions of GM foods and morality concerns stemming from unnatural way to produce them do not significantly affect either the decision to participate in the market or the premium level. The study found that consumer risk/benefit beliefs depend on their level of knowledge and credibility in GM institutions. Results also indicate that consumers perceive more risks than benefits for GM foods

Consumer Valuation of the Second Generation of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods with Benefits Disclosure

Employing contingent valuation method (CVM), the study explores whether or not consumers risk/benefit beliefs and knowledge about GM foods affect their behavior as measured by willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for GM beef with benefits. The results demonstrate that risk/benefit perceptions play a significant role to elicit WTP for GM beef with benefitsConsumer/Household Economics,

A MULTINOMIAL LOGIT MODEL OF CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS FOR BIOTECH FOOD LABELING

A multinomial logit analysis is employed to analyze consumers' perceptions about purchasing biotech foods and their preferences for mandatory and voluntary labeling. Results showed that consumers who are sensitive to the possible side effects of biotech crops on wildlife and the environment are more likely to support a mandatory labeling policy. Results also indicated that respondents who believe biotech foods may have unforeseen health risks are more likely to favor mandatory labeling. Furthermore, the study found that respondents who are willing to buy a meat product produced using biotechnology are more likely to favor a voluntary labeling policy.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

THE EFFECTS OF RISK PERCEPTIONS ON CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR BIOTECH LABELING

Consumer/Household Economics,

Fabrication of flexible UV nanoimprint mold with fluorinated polymer-coated PET film

UV curing nanoimprint lithography is one of the most promising techniques for the fabrication of micro- to nano-sized patterns on various substrates with high throughput and a low production cost. The UV nanoimprint process requires a transparent template with micro- to nano-sized surface protrusions, having a low surface energy and good flexibility. Therefore, the development of low-cost, transparent, and flexible templates is essential. In this study, a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film coated with a fluorinated polymer material was used as an imprinting mold. Micro- and nano-sized surface protrusion patterns were formed on the fluorinated polymer layer by the hot embossing process from a Si master template. Then, the replicated pattern of the fluorinated polymer, coated on the flexible PET film, was used as a template for the UV nanoimprint process without any anti-stiction coating process. In this way, the micro- to nano-sized patterns of the original master Si template were replicated on various substrates, including a flat Si substrate and curved acryl substrate, with high fidelity using UV nanoimprint lithography

Development of selective blockers for Ca2+-activated Cl- channel using Xenopus laevis oocytes with an improved drug screening strategy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ca²⁺-activated Cl^-channels (CaCCs) participate in many important physiological processes. However, the lack of effective and selective blockers has hindered the study of these channels, mostly due to the lack of good assay system. Here, we have developed a reliable drug screening method for better blockers of CaCCs, using the endogeneous CaCCs in <it>Xenopus laevis </it>oocytes and two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oocytes were prepared with a treatment of Ca²⁺ionophore, which was followed by a treatment of thapsigargin which depletes Ca²⁺stores to eliminate any contribution of Ca²⁺release. TEVC was performed with micropipette containing chelerythrine to prevent PKC dependent run-up or run-down. Under these conditions, Ca²⁺-activated Cl^-currents induced by bath application of Ca²⁺to oocytes showed stable peak amplitude when repetitively activated, allowing us to test several concentrations of a test compound from one oocyte. Inhibitory activities of commercially available blockers and synthesized anthranilic acid derivatives were tested using this method. As a result, newly synthesized <it>N</it>-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)anthranilic acid with trifluoromethyl group (-CF₃) at <it>para </it>position on the benzene ring showed the lowest IC₅₀.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results provide an optimal drug screening strategy suitable for high throughput screening, and propose <it>N</it>-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)anthranilic acid as an improved CaCC blocker.</p

Treatment Results of Major Salivary Gland Cancer by Surgery with or without Postoperative Radiation Therapy

ObjectivesThis is to report treatment results of major salivary gland cancer by surgery with or without postoperative radiation therapy (PORT).MethodsBetween March 1995 and January 2006, 94 patients with primary major salivary cancer underwent curative surgical resection at Samsung Medical Center. The parotid gland was the most commonly involved (73, 77.7%), followed by the submandibular and the sublingual. Neck dissection was added in 28 patients, and PORT was individually recommended to those with risk factors. Seventy-five (79.8%) patients received PORT. PORT volume included primary tumor bed and pathologically involved regional lymphatics, and no additional effort was made for elective nodal irradiation. The median total doses were 56.0 Gy to primary site and 58.7 Gy to regional lymphatics.ResultsAfter median follow-up of 49 months, 21 patients had relapsed: 20 in PORT; and one in surgery alone group. As the first site of failure, distant metastasis was the most common (17 patients). Local recurrence occurred in three, and regional relapse in one. The lung was the most common site (10 patients), followed by the bone, and the brain. Five-yr disease free survival (DFS), local control, and overall survival (OS) rates were 74.4% and 94.7%, 96.0% and 100%, and 78.2% and 100% in PORT and surgery alone groups, respectively. On multivariate analysis, DFS was significantly affected by pN+ (hazard ratio [HR], 3.624; P=0.0319), while OS was by pN+ (HR, 7.138; P=0.0034) and perineural invasion (HR, 5.073; P=0.0187).ConclusionBased on our experience, the patients with early stage major salivary gland cancer with low risk can be effectively treated by surgery alone, and those who with risk factors can achieve excellent local and regional control by adding PORT. Omitting elective neck irradiation in patients with N0 disease seems a feasible strategy under accurate clinical evaluation. An effort is needed to decrease distant metastasis through further clinical trials

CREEP-FATIGUE DAMAGE AND CRACK INITIATION FOR A MOD 9CR-1MO STRUCTURE WITH WELDMENTS

ABSTRACT A structural test and evaluation on creep-fatigue damage, and creep-fatigue crack initiation have been carried out for a Mod. 9Cr-1Mo steel structural specimen with weldments. The conservatisms of the design codes of ASME Section III subsection and NH and RCC-MR codes were quantified at the welded joints of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel and 316L stainless steel with the observed images from the structural test. In creep damage evaluation using the RCC-MR code, isochronous curve has been used rather than directly using the creep law as the RCC-MR specifies. A y-shaped steel specimen of a diameter 500mm, height 440mm and thickness 6.35mm is subjected to creep-fatigue loads with two hours of a hold time at 600°C and a primary nominal stress of 30MPa. The defect assessment procedures of RCC-MR A16 guide do not provide a procedure for Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel yet. In this study application of σ d method for the assessment of creep-fatigue crack initiation has been examined for a Mod. 9Cr-1Mo steel structure