Patterns of Individual Shopping Behavior

Much of economic theory is built on observations of aggregate, rather than individual, behavior. Here, we present novel findings on human shopping patterns at the resolution of a single purchase. Our results suggest that much of our seemingly elective activity is actually driven by simple routines. While the interleaving of shopping events creates randomness at the small scale, on the whole consumer behavior is largely predictable. We also examine income-dependent differences in how people shop, and find that wealthy individuals are more likely to bundle shopping trips. These results validate previous work on mobility from cell phone data, while describing the unpredictability of behavior at higher resolution.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Extração e caracterização de duas ligninas residuais da madeira de eucalipto

Lignin, the second most abundant biopolymer on the planet, has properties that can be widely explored, moving from waste to products with high added value. Therefore, this work aimed to extract and characterize Klason and Kraft lignins from sawdust and black liquor, considered industrial waste. The raw material used was Eucalyptus grandis chips. To obtain Klason lignin according to TAPPI 222 om-02 (2002), part of the chips were transformed into sawdust. To obtain Kraft lignin, another part of the chips passed through a digester to obtain black liquor, which was subsequently subjected to acid precipitation. The characterization of lignins was performed by granulometry analysis, scanning electron microscopy with elemental chemical analysis (EDS), transmission electron microscopy, medium infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential calorimetry. Microscopy analyzes showed irregular structures of various shapes, including spherical structures, most evident and frequent in Kraft lignin. The elementary chemical analysis showed that the lignin washing process was satisfactory, due to the small percentage of sulfur detected in the samples. The results of the granulometry confirmed that the lignins had micrometric dimensions. The medium infrared spectra showed the characteristic peaks of the chemical composition of lignin. The thermal analysis showed three ranges of degradation, attributed to the drying of the samples, degradation of the hemicelluloses and the lignin itself. All results confirmed the obtaining of Klason and Kraft lignins. Therefore, the techniques were satisfactory in transforming waste into lignin with the potential for a variety of commercial applications, mainly in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.A lignina, o segundo biopolímero mais abundante do planeta, possui propriedades que podem ser amplamente exploradas, passando de resíduos a produtos de alto valor agregado. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo extrair e caracterizar as ligninas Klason e Kraft de serragem e licor negro, considerados resíduos industriais. A matéria-prima utilizada foram cavacos de Eucalyptus grandis. Para a obtenção da lignina Klason conforme TAPPI 222 om-02 (2002), parte dos cavacos foi transformada em serragem. Para a obtenção da lignina Kraft, outra parte dos cavacos passou por um digestor para a obtenção do licor negro, que posteriormente foi submetido à precipitação ácida. A caracterização das ligninas foi realizada por análise de granulometria, microscopia eletrônica de varredura com análise química elementar (EDS), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, espectroscopia de infravermelho médio, análise termogravimétrica e calorimetria diferencial. As análises microscópicas mostraram estruturas irregulares de vários formatos, incluindo estruturas esféricas, mais evidentes e frequentes na lignina Kraft. A análise química elementar mostrou que o processo de lavagem da lignina foi satisfatório, devido ao pequeno percentual de enxofre detectado nas amostras. Os resultados da granulometria confirmaram que as ligninas apresentaram dimensões micrométricas. Os espectros de infravermelho médio mostraram os picos característicos da composição química da lignina. A análise térmica mostrou três faixas de degradação, atribuídas à secagem das amostras, degradação das hemiceluloses e da própria lignina. Todos os resultados confirmaram a obtenção das ligninas Klason e Kraft. Portanto, as técnicas foram satisfatórias na transformação de resíduos em lignina com potencial para diversas aplicações comerciais, principalmente nas indústrias química e farmacêutica

The Impact of Grounding in Running Shoes on Indices of Performance in Elite Competitive Athletes

The introduction of carbon fiber plate shoes has triggered a plethora of world records in running, which has encouraged shoe industries to produce novel shoe designs to enhance running performance, including shoes containing conductor elements or "grounding shoes" (GS), which could potentially reduce the energy cost of running. The aim of this study was to examine the physiological and perceptual responses of athletes subjected to grounding shoes during running. Ten elite runners were recruited. Firstly, the athletes performed an incremental running test for VO(2)max and anaerobic threshold (AT) determination, and were familiarized with the two shoe conditions (traditional training shoe (TTS) and GS, the latter containing a conductor element under the insole). One week apart, athletes performed running economy tests (20 min run at 80% of the AT) on a 400 m dirt track, with shoe conditions randomized. VO2, heart rate, lactate, and perceived fatigue were registered throughout the experiment. No differences in any of the physiological or perceptual variables were identified between shoe conditions, with an equal running economy in both TTS and GS (51.1 +/- 4.2 vs. 50.9 +/- 5.1 mL kg(-1) min(-1), respectively). Our results suggest that a grounding stimulus does not improve the energy cost of running, or the physiological/perceptual responses of elite athletes

Silicic Acid and Beer Consumption Reverses the Metal Imbalance and the Prooxidant Status Induced by Aluminum Nitrate in Mouse Brain

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Abstract: Background: Emerging evidence suggests that by affecting mineral balance, aluminum (Al) may enhance some events associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Aim: To examine the effect of Al(NO3)3 exposure on brain Al, cooper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and zinc (Zn) levels, and the metal-change implication in brain oxidant and inflammatory status. Methods: Four groups of six-week-old male NMRI mice were treated for three months: i) controls, administrated with deionized water; ii) Al, which received Al(NO3)3; iii) Al+silicic acid, which were given Al(NO3)3 plus silicic acid; and iv) Al+beer, which received Al(NO3)3 plus beer. Results: Brain Al and TBARS levels and TNFα and GPx expressions increased, while Cu, Mn, and Zn levels, and catalase and CuZn-SOD expression decreased (at least, p < 0.05) in Al versus control animals. Al, Si, and TBARS levels and TNFα expression decreased (p < 0.05) in Al+silicic acid and Al+beer specimens while Cu, Mn, and Zn levels and antioxidant expression increased versus the Al group. Brain Al levels correlated negatively with those of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and catalase, CuZn-SOD, and GPx enzyme expressions but positively with Si and TBARS levels and TNFα expression. Two components of the principal component analysis (PCA) explained 71.2% of total data variance (p < 0.001). PCA connected the pro-oxidant markers with brain Al content, while brain Zn and Cu levels were closer to antioxidant enzyme expression. Conclusion: Administration of Al(NO3)3 induced metal imbalance, inflammation, and antioxidant status impairment in the brain. Those effects were blocked to a significant extent by silicic acid and beer administration

Neutrinos Associated With Cosmic Rays of Top-Down Origin

Top-down models of cosmic rays produce more neutrinos than photons and more photons than protons. In these models, we reevaluate the fluxes of neutrinos associated with the highest energy cosmic rays in light of mounting evidence that they are protons and not gamma rays. While proton dominance at EeV energies can possibly be achieved by efficient absorption of the dominant high-energy photon flux on universal and galactic photon and magnetic background fields, we show that the associated neutrino flux is inevitably increased to a level where it should be within reach of operating experiments such as AMANDA II, RICE and AGASA. In future neutrino telescopes, tens to a hundred, rather than a few neutrinos per kilometer squared per year, may be detected above 1 PeV.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Preferences, use of and satisfaction with mental health services among a sample of Puerto Rican cancer patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the preferences, the use, satisfaction of mental health services (MHS) among a sample of Puerto Rican patients with cancer undergoing oncology treatment. METHODS: A convenience sample of 120 patients diagnosed with cancer was recruited. Self-report questionnaires assessed socio-demographic and background questions, and the Mental Health Service Preference, Utilization and Satisfaction Questionnaire (MHSPUS). The Socio-demographic and Background Questionnaire inquired about participants\u27 demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and included questions such as history of psychiatric diagnosis and spiritual practices. Univariate and Chi square analyses were used for descriptive purposes. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between sociodemographic factors and MHS preferences and use. RESULTS: The majority of the sample were females (53.8%), 61 and older (53.8%), and married or living with partner (57.1%), and reported an income equal to or less than $12,000 per year (44.4%), which places them under the US federal poverty line. Most of the participants (66.7%) reported being receptive to seeking services. Findings showed a significant association between living situation and past (p \u3c .05) and lifetime use (p \u3c .05) of MHS and past use of MHS. Participants living alone were more like to have used MHS in the past and during their lifetime. Adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed that living with someone was a protective factor for not using MHS in their lifetime (OR = 0.28; C1 = 0.08-0.95). Participants preferred to receive MHS at the oncology clinic, preferably on the date of their oncology appointments and during morning hours. CONCLUSION: Findings support the integration of mental health services within the oncology practice setting

IceHEP High Energy Physics at the South Pole

With the solar and SN87 neutrino observations as proofs of concepts, the kilometer-scale neutrino experiment IceCube will scrutinize its data for new particle physics. In this paper we review the prospects for the realization of such a program. We begin with a short overview of the detector response and discuss the reach of ``beam'' luminosity. After that we discuss the potential of IceCube to probe deviations of neutrino-nucleon cross sections from the Standard Model predictions at center-of-mass energies well beyond those accessible in man-made accelerators. Then we review the prospects for extremely long-baseline analyses and discuss the sensitivity to measure tiny deviations of the flavor mixing angle, expected to be induced by quantum gravity effects. Finally we discuss the potential to uncover annihilation of dark matter particles gravitationally trapped at the center of the Sun, as well as processes occurring in the early Universe at energies close to the Grand Unification scale.Comment: Typos corrected and references added. Version with high resolution figures available at http://www.hep.physics.neu.edu/staff/doqui/icehep_rev6.p

Brief Report: Hispanic Patients\u27 Trajectory of Cancer Symptom Burden, Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life

Background: Anxiety and depression symptoms are known to increase cancer symptom burden, yet little is known about the longitudinal integrations of these among Hispanic/Latinx patients. The goal of this study was to explore the trajectory and longitudinal interactions among anxiety and depression, cancer symptom burden, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic/Latinx cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Baseline behavioral assessments were performed before starting chemotherapy. Follow-up behavioral assessments were performed at 3, 6, and 9 months after starting chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Fisher\u27s exact tests, and Mann-Whitney tests explored associations among outcome variables. Adjusted multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were also used to evaluate the association between HADS scores, follow-up visits, FACT-G scale, MDASI scale, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Increased cancer symptom burden was significantly related to changes in anxiety symptoms\u27 scores (adjusted beta^ = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.02, 0.19]. Increased quality of life was significantly associated with decreased depression and anxiety symptoms (adjusted beta^ = -0.33; 95% CI: -0.47, -0.18, and 0.38 adjusted beta^= -0.38; 95% CI: -0.55, -0.20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the need to conduct periodic mental health screenings among cancer patients initiating cancer treatment