Power's mission: impact and the quest for goal achievement

This article discusses evidence linking power to purpose: that of having an impact in the social environment and carrying out individual or collective aims and desires. First, it highlights the role of goals during the emergence and the exercise of power. Accordingly, it suggests that typical power’s mission is to strive for social or personal objectives in social contexts. This includes social influence goals, organizational or personal agendas. Secondly, the article describes how power affects goal-related strategies and cognitive inclinations. Evidence suggests that power triggers prioritization and facilitates the pursuit of any salient goals, filtered by personal values and inclinations of the powerholder. Thirdly, the article examines powerholders’ effectiveness of goal pursuit, including their performance on tangible social tasks. Finally, the article ends with a discussion on non-intended consequences of the power-goal links in particular in the social domain

Magnetization transfer MRI measurements of cervical spinal cord abnormalities in patients with neuromyelitis optica

Poster Presentation - Advanced Imaging of Spine: no. 4230postprintThe Joint Annual Meeting of ISMRM-ESMRMB 2010, Stockholm, Sweden, 1-7 May 2010

Chemo-enzymatic saccharification strategy of microalgae chlorella sorokiniana

Biofuel production using microalgae attracted much attention because it can be cultured using CO2 and sunlight. With high carbohydrate content, microalgae have the potential to be used as a fermentation feedstock for bioethanol production. In present work, chemo-enzymatic saccharification of Chlorella sorokiniana microalgae were investigated. Chemical hydrolysis of the biomass followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and was also evaluated the effect of combining the two enzymes and the sequential addition. The effect of α-amylase concentrations was analyzed in ranged between 50 and 8000 U/g of biomass and for amyloglucosidase between 90 and 600 U/g of biomass. The higher concentrations showed the highest conversion of reducing sugars. The α-amylase concentration 8000 U/g of biomass presented a conversion of 43.06 ± 2.92% (w/w), while amyloglucosidase with 600 U/g of biomass obtained 76.57 ± 6.42% (w/w). The combination of two enzymes simultaneously was more efficient than the sequential addition for low enzyme concentrations (α-amylase 50 U/g and amyloglucosidase 90 U/g) with a total reducing sugar of 22.78 ± 3.06 and 16.92 ± 2.06% (w/w), respectively. On the other hand, using the higher enzymes concentrations, no difference was observed between the two addition strategies, 58.9 ± 3.55 and 57.05 ± 2.33% (w/w) for the sequential and simultaneous, respectively. Both strategies didn’t present advantage, since the amyloglucosidase enzyme alone produced slightly higher results. Even thought, the obtained results showed successfully performed saccharification of microalgal biomass and clearly point to microalgae use for saccharification and subsequent bioethanol production.Part of this work has been supported by European governments (INTERREG VA-POCTEP- 2014-2020; 0055_ALGARED_PLUS_5_E) and the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) through the grant UID/MAR/00350/2013 to the CIMA of the University of Algarve.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Особенности формирования структуры сплавов системы Al–Ni–Zr, полученных при восстановлении оксидных соединений алюмотермией с применением СВС-металлургии

This work is focused on establishing the regularity of the effect of zirconium (2.21; 3.29; 3.69 and 6.92 wt.% Zr) on structure formation, the nature of distribution of elements and the microhardness of structural components in the Al–Ni–Zr system alloys obtained by aluminothermy using the SHS metallurgy. Regularities of the formation of structural components and their microhardness depending on the content of zirconium in Al–Ni alloys (50 wt.%) have been identified and scientifically substantiated. Structural components were identified by the methods of electromicroscopic studies and X-ray microanalysis of elements. The structure of the initial alloy consists of Al3Ni2 (β′-phase) and Al3Ni nickel aluminides. Zirconium doping of the alloy in the amount of 2.21 wt.% leads to crystallization of zirconium nickel aluminide Al2(Ni,Zr). With further increase in the content of zirconium (more than 2.21 wt.% Zr), complex alloyed intermetallic compounds crystallize – Zr, W, Si aluminides and Ni zirconides. A regularity was established in the decrease of the solubility of nickel in nickel aluminides Al3Ni2 and Al3Ni and their microhardness as the zirconium content increases in the Al–Ni–Zr alloys from 2.21 to 6.92 wt.%. In nickel aluminide with zirconium Al2(Ni,Zr), this contributes to a decrease in the solubility of Ni, Al and increase in the concentration of Si and Zr. Zirconium doping of the Al–Ni alloy in the amount over 2.21 wt.% contributes to an increase in hardness (HRA), despite a decrease in the microhardness of the metal base (Al3Ni2, Al3Ni and Al2(Ni,Zr)). The main reason for increasing the hardness of the Al–Ni–Zr alloys is the crystallization of complex-alloyed intermetallides – Zr, W, Si aluminides and nickel zirconide, which probably have an increased microhardness. Thus, zirconium doping of the Al–Ni alloy makes it possible to obtain a plastic metal base from nickel aluminides Al3Ni2, Al3Ni and Al2(Ni,Zr) and complex-alloyed intermetallides with high hardness.Настоящая работа посвящена установлению закономерности влияния добавки циркония в количестве 2,21, 3,29, 3,69 и 6,92 мас.% на структурообразование, характер распределения элементов и микротвердость структурных составляющих в сплавах системы Al–Ni–Zr, полученных алюмотермией с применением СВС-металлургии. Установлены и научно обоснованы закономерности формирования структурных составляющих и их микротвердости от содержания циркония в сплавах Al–Ni (50 мас.% Ni). Методами электронной микроскопии и микрорентгеноспектрального анализа элементов идентифицированы структурные составляющие. Структура исходного сплава состоит из алюминидов никеля Al3Ni2 (β′-фаза) и Al3Ni. Легирование сплава цирконием в количестве 2,21 мас.% приводит к кристаллизации циркониевого алюминида никеля Al2(Ni,Zr). При дальнейшем увеличении содержания циркония (более 2,21 мас.%) кристаллизуются комплексно-легированные интерметаллидные соединения – алюминиды Zr, W, Si и циркониды Ni. Установлена закономерность снижения растворимости Ni в алюминидах никеля Al3Ni2 и Al3Ni и их микротвердости по мере увеличения содержания циркония от 2,21 до 6,92 мас.% в сплавах Al–Ni–Zr. В алюминиде никеля с цирконием Al2(Ni,Zr) это способствует уменьшению растворимости Ni, Al и повышению концентраций Si и Zr. Легирование сплава Al–Ni цирконием в количестве более 2,21 мас.% способствует повышению твердости (HRA), несмотря на снижение микротвердости металлической основы (Al3Ni2, Al3Ni и Al2(Ni,Zr)). Основной причиной повышения твердости сплавов Al–Ni–Zr является кристаллизация комплексно-легированных интерметаллидов – алюминидов Zr, W, Si и цирконида никеля, обладающих, вероятно, повышенной микротвердостью. Таким образом, легирование сплава Al–Ni цирконием позволяет получить пластичную металлическую основу из алюминидов никеля Al3Ni2, Al3Ni и Al2(Ni,Zr) и высокотвердые комплексно-легированные интерметаллиды

Speed and Accuracy of Static Image Discrimination by Rats

When discriminating dynamic noisy sensory signals, human and primate subjects achieve higher accuracy when they take more time to decide, an effect attributed to accumulation of evidence over time to overcome neural noise. We measured the speed and accuracy of twelve freely behaving rats discriminating static, high contrast photographs of real-world objects for water reward in a self-paced task. Response latency was longer in correct trials compared to error trials. Discrimination accuracy increased with response latency over the range of 500-1200ms. We used morphs between previously learned images to vary the image similarity parametrically, and thereby modulate task difficulty from ceiling to chance. Over this range we find that rats take more time before responding in trials with more similar stimuli. We conclude that rats' perceptual decisions improve with time even in the absence of temporal information in the stimulus, and that rats modulate speed in response to discrimination difficulty to balance speed and accuracy

Measuring the deviation of the 2-3 lepton mixing from maximal with atmospheric neutrinos

The measurement of the deviation of the 2-3 leptonic mixing from maximal, D_23 = 1/2 - sin^2(theta_23), is one of the key issues for understanding the origin of the neutrino masses and mixing. In the three-neutrino context we study the dependence of various observables in the atmospheric neutrinos on D_23. We perform a global three-neutrino analysis of the atmospheric and reactor neutrino data taking into account the effects of both the oscillations driven by the "solar" parameters (Delta_m_21^2 and theta_12) and the 1-3 mixing. The departure from the one-dominant mass scale approximation results into the shift of the 2-3 mixing from maximal by Delta_sin^2(theta_23) ~ 0.04, so that D_23 ~ 0.04 +- 0.07 (1 sigma). Though value of the shift is not statistically significant, the tendency is robust. The shift is induced by the excess of the e-like events in the sub-GeV sample. We show that future large scale water Cherenkov detectors can determine D_23 with accuracy of a few percent, comparable with the sensitivity of future long baseline experiments. Moreover, the atmospheric neutrinos will provide unique information on the sign of the deviation (octant of theta_23).Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX2e file using RevTEX4, 6 figures and 1 table include

Effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein, lipid mediators and statins on vascular cell interactions

The integrin heterodimer CD11b/CD18 (alpha M beta 2, Mac-1, CR3) expressed on monocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is a receptor for iC3b, fibrinogen, heparin, and for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 on endothelium, crucially contributing to vascular cell interactions in inflammation and atherosclerosis. In this report, we summarize our findings on the effects of lipid mediators and lipid-lowering drugs. Exposure of endothelial cells to oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induces upregulation of ICAM-1 and increases adhesion of monocytic cells expressing Mac-1. Inhibition experiments show that monocytes use distinct ligands, i.e. ICAM-1 and heparan sulfate proteoglycans for adhesion to oxLDL-treated endothelium. An albumin-transferable oxLDL activity is inhibited by the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), while 8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2 alpha) or lysophosphatidylcholine had no effect, implicating yet unidentified radicals. Sequential adhesive! and signaling events lead to the firm adhesion of rolling PMN on activated and adherent platelets, which may occupy areas of endothelial denudation. Shear resistant arrest of PMN on thrombin-stimulated platelets in flow conditions requires distinct regions of Mac-1, involving its interactions with fibrinogen bound to platelet alpha llb beta 3, and with other platelet ligands. Both arrest and adhesion strengthening under flow are stimulated by platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, but not by the chemokine receptor CXCR2. We tested whether Mac-1-dependent monocyte adhesiveness is affected by inhibitors of hydroxy-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase (statins) which improve morbidity and survival of patients with coronary heart disease. As compared to controls, adhesion of isolated monocytes to endothelium ex vivo was increased in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Treatment with statins decreased total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol plasma levels, surface expression of Mac-1, and resulted in a dramatic reduction of Mac,mediated monocyte adhesion to endothelium. The inhibition of monocyte adhesion was reversed by mevalonate but not LDL in vitro,indicating that isoprenoid precursors are crucial for adhesiveness of Mac-1. Such effects may crucially contribute to the clinical benefit of statins, independent of cholesterol-lowering, and may represent a paradigm for novel, anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action by this class of drugs

Social media use and impact during the holiday travel planning process

Through an empirical study among holiday travellers, residing in the Former Soviet Union Republics, this paper presents a comprehensive view of role and impact of social media on the whole holiday travel planning process: Before, during and after the trip, providing insights on usage levels, scope of use, level of influence and trust. Findings suggest that social media are predominantly used after holidays for experience sharing. It is also shown that there is a strong correlation between perceived level of influence from social media and changes made in holiday plans prior to final decisions. Moreover, it is revealed that user-generated content is perceived as more trustworthy when compared to official tourism websites, travel agents and mass media advertising

Antiatherogenic Potential of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in a High-Fructose/High-Fat Diet: Experimental Randomized Trial

Background. Transcranial electrical stimulation is a promising method for correction of malnutrition-induced hyperlipidemia, in the absence of indications for drug hypolipidemic therapy in young and middle-aged patients with low and moderate cardiovascular risk. Objectives — to study the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation on lipid metabolism in a high-fructose/high-fat (HFHF) diet in rats.Methods. An experimental randomized trial was performed to study the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation on lipid metabolism in a high-calorie diet enriched with fructose and saturated animal fat in rats. The experiments involved 180 outbred male rats and were carried out on the basis of the vivarium of Kuban State Medical University. The animals were divided into three groups: group 1 (control group, n = 60) — followed a standard diet; group 2 (comparison group, n = 60) — followed a HFHF diet; group 3 (experimental group, n = 60) — underwent transcranial electrical stimulation against the background of a HFHF diet. According to the target reference point of the study, the groups were divided into three equal subgroups of 20 rats each: subgroup A — day 30, subgroup B — day 60, and subgroup C — day 90 (biomaterial sampling and euthanasia were carried out on those days). In the obtained blood samples, the following lipid metabolism parameters were evaluated: total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2021 (Microsoft, USA), GraphPadPrism 9 (GraphPad Software, USA) and Statistica 13.3 (StatSoft, USA).Results. On the 30th day of the study, it was noted that in group 3, the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 14.9% lower and the atherogenic index was 30.8% lower (p < 0.05) than in group 2, while total cholesterol concentration, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On the 60th day of the study, in group 3, when compared to group 2, the concentration of total cholesterol was 18.7% lower, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 42.9% lower, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 16.7% higher, and the atherogenic index was 56.3% lower (p < 0.05), while triglycerides had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On the 90th day of the study, in group 3, when compared to group 2, the concentration of total cholesterol was 29.2% lower, the concentration of triglycerides was 36.0% lower, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 42.8% lower, and the atherogenic index was 57.0% lower (p < 0.05), while the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).Conclusion. High-fructose/high-fat diet leads to a progressive increase in the serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, as well as to a moderate decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a growth in the atherogenic index. Transcranial electrical stimulation has a moderate lipid-lowering effect, manifested in the form of a decrease in the serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and atherogenic index, while the effect on the concentration of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is insignificant

A cross validation of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) with Private Labels in Spain

Molinillo,S., Ekinci, Y., Japutra, A. (2014)'A cross validation of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) with Private Labels in Spain'. in Martínez-López, Gázquez-Abad, J.C. and Sethuraman, R. J.A. (eds.) Advances in National Brand and Private Label Marketing. Second International Conference, 2015. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, pp. 113-125In recent years a number of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) models and measurement scales have been introduced in the branding literature. However, examinations of brand equity in Private Labels (PL) are rather limited. This study aims to compare the validity of the two prominent CBBE models those introduced by Yoo and Donthu (2001) and Nam et al. (2011). In order to test the models and make this comparison, the study collected data from 236 respondents who rated private labels in Spain. A list of 30 different fashion and sportswear PL was introduced to respondents. These brands do not make any reference to the retail store in which they are sold. Research findings suggest that the extended CBBE model introduced by Nam et al. (2011) and Ciftci et al. (2014) is more reliable and valid than Yoo and Donthu’s model for assessing PL. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications are discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech