Financial Fraud Identification Based on Stacking Ensemble Learning Algorithm: Introducing MD&A Text Information.

In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of financial fraud committed through various means. How to more efficiently identify financial fraud and maintain capital market order is a problem that scholars from all walks of life are discussing and urgently seeking to resolve. In this study, a financial fraud identification model is constructed based on the stacking ensemble learning algorithm, and the text of the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) chapter in annual reports is introduced based on financial and nonfinancial variables, using sentiment polarity, emotional tone, and text readability as text variables. The results show that when considering financial and nonfinancial variables and introducing text variables, the recognition effect of the stacking ensemble learning model constructed in this study is significantly better than the classification results of each single classifier model. In addition, the model recognition effect is better after adding text variables. Therefore, the model is expected to provide a new and more effective method of identifying financial fraud.

The dissipation behavior, household processing factor and risk assessment for cyenopyrafen residues in strawberry and mandarin fruits.

A modified QuEChERS method for determining cyenopyrafen in strawberries, mandarins and their processed products was established with a good linearity (R2 > 0.9981), accuracy (recoveries of 83% to 111%) and precision (relative standard deviations of 0.9% to 14%). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 mg/kg. Field results showed that the half-lives of cyenopyrafen were 6.8 and 11.8 d in strawberry and mandarin respectively, and that the final residues were within established maximum residue limits (MRLs). The household processing factors (PFs) for cyenopyrafen residues in strawberry and mandarin fruits were also studied: residues increased in strawberry jam (PF 1.51) and mandarin juice (1.31) but decreased in strawberries (0.58) and mandarin pulp (<0.17) after washing and peeling, respectively. A risk assessment showed that the risk from long-term dietary exposures to cyenopyrafen was 73.73%, indicating that consuming these products was unlikely to present a public health concern.

Combined detection of COMP and CS846 biomarkers in experimental rat osteoarthritis: a potential approach for assessment and diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: To comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS846) biomarkers in osteoarthritis (OA), longitudinal and combined measurement of serum COMP and CS846 were performed at different stages in the pathological process of OA in a rat model of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, including a model group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Rat models were established by ACLT surgery, and sham operations were performed on rats in the control group. Prior to surgery and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after ACLT surgery, serum levels of COMP and CS846 biomarkers were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay approach. Five rats per group were euthanized at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after surgery, after which tibial plateau specimens were collected. Macroscopic observation and histological examination were employed for rat tibial plateau. Histological changes in articular cartilage were evaluated according to Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring criteria. The area under the curve (AUC) of COMP, CS846, and combined biomarkers was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Within 10 weeks after surgery, serum levels of COMP and CS846 in the model group were significantly higher when compared to those in the control group. Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between changes in COMP and CS846 levels. At each time point, macroscopic observations and OARSI scores were significantly increased in the development of OA. The AUC of combined biomarkers was higher compared to that of COMP and CS846 alone. Finally, a positive relationship was found between levels of COMP and CS846 and the OARSI score. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that combined detection of serum CS846 and COMP levels can be used for diagnosis and monitoring of OA progression.

Health risk assessment of Chinese consumers to Cadmium via dietary intake.

This paper investigated the concentration of Cd in foods via surveys and a literature review. The concentration of Cd in different food groups was in the decreasing order of meat > aquatic products > cereal > vegetable > bean > egg > dairy > fruit. More precisely, on average the weekly Cd intake for men, women, 2-3-year-old children and 4-17-year-old children were 0.0039, 0.0041, 0.0069 and 0.0064mgkg-1 bw week-1, respectively. Among all food groups, cereal was the most significant contributor to the dietary intake of Cd, followed by vegetable, aquatic products and meat. For Chinese consumers, the results of risk assessment for all groups by the deterministic method and the probabilistic method showed the mean weekly Cd intake via dietary exposure was lower than the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) proposed by WHO. However, the 95th and 97.5th percentile THQ values all exceeded 1, and the probability of dietary Cd exposure greater than the weekly intake tolerance (THQ >1) were 15.9%, 17.1%, 42.3% and 28.4% for men, women, 2-3-year-old children and 4-17-year-old children, indicating a potential risk from Cd exposure via dietary intake, especially for children. It appeared that dietary Cd exposure should deserve our attention, and positive measures must be taken to reduce the concentration of Cd in food at once.

The dissipation and risk assessment of 2,4-D sodium, a preharvest anti-fruit-drop plant hormone in bayberries.

Preharvest fruit-drop is a challenge to bayberry production. 2,4-D sodium as a commonly used anti-fruit-drop hormone on bayberry can reduce the yield loss caused by preharvest fruit-drop. The persistence and risk assessment of 2,4-D sodium after applying on bayberries were investigated. A method for determining 2,4-D sodium in bayberry was established based on LC-MS-MS. The average recoveries of 2,4-D sodium were at the range of 93.7-95.8% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.9 to 2.8%. The dissipation rates of 2,4-D sodium were described using first-order kinetics, and its half-life ranged from 11.2 to 13.8 days. A bayberry consumption survey was carried out for Chinese adults for the first time. The safety assessments of 2,4-D sodium were conducted by using field trail data as well as monitoring data. Results showed that the chronic risk quotient and the acute risk quotient were calculated to be 0.23-0.59 and 0.02-0.05%, respectively, for Chinese adults, indicating low dietary risk for adults and children. In the end, the household cleaning steps were compared, and results showed that water rinsing for 1 min can remove 49.9% 2,4-D sodium residue, which provides pesticide removal suggestion for consumers.

Dietary exposure to aluminium in the popular Chinese fried bread youtiao.

Youtiao is a typical, traditional and widely consumed fried food in China. Fermentation of youtiao involves the use of aluminium potassium sulphate (alum). There are health concerns related to the levels of aluminium in food; therefore, we aimed to determine the aluminium concentrations of youtiao from various locations, and to estimate the dietary exposure by different age groups in southern and northern China. The aluminium content of youtiao samples varied considerably (range = 4.46-852.69 mg kg-1). Both the mean and median aluminium contents of youtiao exceeded 100 mg kg-1, which is the China National Standard (GB) 2760-2014 National Food Safety for Standards for food additives. However, the median and 97.5th percentile of weekly dietary exposure to aluminium from youtiao, estimated using Monte Carlo simulation, did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) set by the joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. The weekly dietary exposure to aluminium would exceed the PTWI if children, adolescents, adults and seniors consumed 134.47, 260.98, 327.10 or 320.41 g of youtiao per week, respectively.

Health risk assessment of Chinese consumers to nickel via dietary intake of foodstuffs.

A quantitative risk assessment was carried out to characterise the health risk from nickel (Ni) via dietary exposure for Chinese consumers. Ni contamination in foods was investigated by conducting a survey and a literature review. The daily diet of the public was categorised into nine food groups and the consumption data for each group were obtained from a nationwide survey. Deterministic and probabilistic methods were applied to calculate the target hazard quotients (THQs) by comparing the estimated dietary Ni intake with respect to the tolerable daily intake (TDI). The average estimated daily Ni intake (µg kg(-1) bw day(-1)) for men, women, 2-3-year-old children and 4-17-year-old children were 7.2, 7.3, 17.1 and 10.0, respectively. The consumption of cereals, beans, vegetables and marine products contributed significantly to the total daily intake of Ni. The mean THQ values (95% confidence interval) and the probability of dietary Ni exposure higher than the TDI were 0.60 (0.58-0.62) and 8.2% for men, 0.61 (0.59-0.63) and 8.4% for women, 1.35 (1.32-1.39) and 72.0% for 2-3-year-old children, and 0.87 (0.82-0.91) and 28.5% for 4-17-year-old children, respectively. This study showed a potential health risk from Ni via dietary exposure for Chinese consumers, especially among children.