Sports Celebrity Influence on the Behavioral Intentions of Generation Z

The research is to determine what the effects, if any, professional athlete endorsers or spokespersons have on the generation Z cohort. There is a relative lack of published research that investigated the influence sport celebrity endorsers had on generation Z. This study primarily focused on the exploration of the role sports celebrities play as vicarious role models for members of generation, as well as touched upon whether sports celebrity endorsers affected generation Z’s behavioral intentions. In addition, the influence sports celebrity endorsers had on females in comparison to males was also studied. It was found that sports celebrity spokespersons or endorsers act as vicarious role models for specifically generation Z. It was also concluded that sports celebrity spokesperson or endorsers influence Generation Z’s behavioral intentions

Observation of a Tricyclic[4.1.0.0 2,4]heptane During a Michael Addition-Ring Closure Reaction and a Computational Study on Its Mechanism of Formation

We describe the formation of a bis-cyclopropane product, a tricyclic[4.1.0.02,4]heptane, that is formed during a Johnson-Corey-Chaykovsky reaction on a cyclopentenone. Two (of four possible) bicyclic products are selectively formed by addition of a COOEt-stabilized sulfur ylide onto the Michael acceptor. The tricyclic product is formed subsequently via a retro Michael elimination of a hindered ether followed by addition of a further cyclopropyl moiety, affecting only one of the two bicyclic products initially formed. The experimental reaction outcome was rationalized using density functional theory (DFT), investigating the different Michael-addition approaches of the sulfur ylide, the transition state (TS) energies for the formation of possible zwitterionic intermediates and subsequent reactions that give rise to cyclopropanation. Selective formation of only two of the four possible products occurs due to the epimerization of unreactive intermediates from the other two pathways, as revealed by energy barrier calculations. The formation of the tricyclic product was rationalized by evaluation of energy barriers for proton abstraction required to form the intermediate undergoing the second cyclopropanation. The selectivity-guiding factors discussed for the single and double cyclopropanation of this functionalized Michael-acceptor will be useful guidelines for the synthesis of future singly and doubly cyclopropanated compounds

Abundance analysis of a nitrogen-rich extreme-helium hot subdwarf from the SALT survey

We have performed a detailed spectral analysis of the helium-rich hot subdwarf EC 20187-4939 using data obtained in the SALT survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs. We have measured its effective temperature, surface gravity and chemical abundances from the spectrum. Its radius has also been determined by fitting the spectral energy distribution using photometric data, from which a mass of 0.44 Msun has been inferred using the measurement of surface gravity. This star is particularly abundant in helium and nitrogen, whilst being both carbon and oxygen-weak. The surface abundances and mass have been found to be consistent with a helium white dwarf merger product. The abundance effects of alpha captures on nitrogen during the merger process and possible connections between EC 20187-4939 and other carbon-weak related objects are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Kitchen Lab for Kids. Program kształtowania umiejętności STEM w przedszkolu

The authors of the article: “Kitchen Lab for Kids – a Programme for Shaping STEM Skills in Preschool” have presented the assumptions of the project financed from the European Funds within the Programme “Erasmus+ Action 2. School education – strategic partnerships for school education” (KA 201). The objective of five research teams from Italy, Ireland, Spain and Poland, is promoting the international exchange of the best practices and experiences in selecting active learning at the level of early childhood education and care (ECEC), as well as stimulating and encouraging teachers to find new, modern and interactive teaching methods, especially in the scope of STEM education. In the first part of the article the authors analysed the EU documents being the basis for the project actions. Also, they emphasized the meaning of improving the quality of teaching young children. In the further part of the article, they presented the methodological assumptions of the project and expected intellectual results.Article prepared within the frame of Erasmus+ Project “Kitchen Lab for Kids,” grant number 2018-1-PL01-KA201-050857.The article prepared with financial support of EU Erasmus+ programme. The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.Autorzy artykułu „Kitchen Lab for Kids – Program kształtowania umiejętności STEM w przedszkolu” przedstawiają założenia projektu, dofinansowanego z Funduszy Europejskich w ramach Programu „Erasmus+ Akcja2. Edukacja szkolna – Partnerstwa strategiczne na rzecz edukacji szkolnej” (KA201). Celem działań pięciu zespołów badawczych z Włoch, Irlandii, Hiszpanii i Polski jest promowanie międzynarodowej wymiany najlepszych praktyk i doświadczeń w zakresie wspierania aktywnego uczenia się na poziomie wczesnej edukacji i opieki nad dzieckiem (ECEC), a także stymulowanie i zachęcanie nauczycieli do znajdowania nowych, nowoczesnych i interaktywnych metod nauczania zwłaszcza w zakresie edukacji STEM. W pierwszej części artykułu przedstawiono analizę dokumentów unijnych, które stanowiły podstawę dla podjętych działań projektowych. Przybliżono znaczenie podnoszenie jakości kształcenia małych dzieci. W dalszej części artykułu zamieszczono założenia metodologiczne projektu oraz planowane rezultaty intelektualne. Badania przeprowadzone w ramach programu Erasmus +, projekt „Kitchen Lab for Kids”, numer grantu: 2018-1-PL01-KA201-050857 Artykuł sfinansowany ze środków EU. Wsparcie Komisji Europejskiej dla produkcji tej publikacji nie stanowi poparcia dla treści, które odzwierciedlają jedynie poglądy autorów, a Komisja nie może zostać pociągnięta do odpowiedzialności za jakiekolwiek wykorzystanie informacji w niej zawartych

GAtor: A First Principles Genetic Algorithm for Molecular Crystal Structure Prediction

We present the implementation of GAtor, a massively parallel, first principles genetic algorithm (GA) for molecular crystal structure prediction. GAtor is written in Python and currently interfaces with the FHI-aims code to perform local optimizations and energy evaluations using dispersion-inclusive density functional theory (DFT). GAtor offers a variety of fitness evaluation, selection, crossover, and mutation schemes. Breeding operators designed specifically for molecular crystals provide a balance between exploration and exploitation. Evolutionary niching is implemented in GAtor by using machine learning to cluster the dynamically updated population by structural similarity and then employing a cluster-based fitness function. Evolutionary niching promotes uniform sampling of the potential energy surface by evolving several sub-populations, which helps overcome initial pool biases and selection biases (genetic drift). The various settings offered by GAtor increase the likelihood of locating numerous low-energy minima, including those located in disconnected, hard to reach regions of the potential energy landscape. The best structures generated are re-relaxed and re-ranked using a hierarchy of increasingly accurate DFT functionals and dispersion methods. GAtor is applied to a chemically diverse set of four past blind test targets, characterized by different types of intermolecular interactions. The experimentally observed structures and other low-energy structures are found for all four targets. In particular, for Target II, 5-cyano-3-hydroxythiophene, the top ranked putative crystal structure is a $Z^\prime$=2 structure with P$\bar{1}$ symmetry and a scaffold packing motif, which has not been reported previously

Analysis of Mandibular Fractures Caused by Work Related Accidents. Retrospective Descriptive Study

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la tendencia de los pacientes con fracturas mandibulares asociados a accidentes laborales. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en todos los casos de fracturas mandibulares que asistieron al servicio de cirugía maxilofacial del Hospital Clínico Mutual de Seguridad C.Ch.C., Santiago de Chile en un periodo de 4 años (enero 2009 - diciembre 2012). Todas las fracturas mandibulares fueron consignadas. La información fue recopilada a través de revisión de fichas clínicas electrónicas. Entre los años 2009 al 2012 se presentaron un total de 74 pacientes incluidos en el estudio con 102 rasgos de fracturas mandibulares. La fractura más común fue la de cóndilo mandibular (35 pacientes). Se observó una tasa de complicaciones del 8%. Los resultados mostrados en este estudio están en línea con la literatura y el análisis de este reporte provee información para el diseño de planes de prevención de riesgos, especialmente para desarrollar medidas de protección facial. Nivel de Evidencia: Tipo II. Estudio descriptivo.ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the tendency of patients with mandibular fractures associated with working accidents. A retrospective descriptive study was performed in all cases of mandibular fractures who attended the maxillofacial surgery service at the Clinical Hospital Mutual Seguridad C.CH.C. Santiago de Chile, in a 4-year period (January 2009 - December 2012). All mandibular fractures were recorded. The information was collected through review of electronic medical records. Between 2009 and 2012, 74 patients were included in the study with 102 lines of mandibular fractures. The most common fracture was the mandibular condyle (35 patients). The complication rate was 8%. The results shown in this study are in line with the literature and the analysis of this report provides information for the design of risk prevention plans, especially in developing measures of facial protection.http://ref.scielo.org/p5w48

Minimal residual disease detection with tumor-specific CD160 correlates with event-free survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) correlates with outcome in the trial setting. However, MRD assessment does not guide routine clinical management and its assessment remains complex. We incorporated detection of the B cell, tumor-specific antigen CD160 to develop a single-tube, flow cytometry assay (CD160FCA) for CLL MRD to a threshold of 10(−4) to 10(−5). One hundred and eighty-seven patients treated for CLL were enrolled. Utilizing the CD160FCA methodology, there was a high level of comparison between blood and bone marrow (R=0.87, P<0.001). In a validation cohort, CD160FCA and the international standardised approach of the European Research Initiative on CLL group demonstrated high concordance (R=0.91, P<0.01). Patients in complete remission (CR) and CD160FCA negative had longer event-free survival (EFS) (63 vs 16 months, P<0.01) and prolonged time to next treatment (60 vs 15 months, P<0.001) vs MRD positive patients; with a median time to MRD positivity of 36 months. In multivariate analysis, CD160FCA MRD detection was independently predictive of EFS in patients in CR and even predicted EFS in the good-risk cytogenetic subgroup. CD160FCA offers a simple assay for MRD detection in CLL and gives prognostic information across different CLL risk groups

Rational optimization of tolC as a powerful dual selectable marker for genome engineering

Selection has been invaluable for genetic manipulation, although counter-selection has historically exhibited limited robustness and convenience. TolC, an outer membrane pore involved in transmembrane transport in E. coli, has been implemented as a selectable/counter-selectable marker, but counter-selection escape frequency using colicin E1 precludes using tolC for inefficient genetic manipulations and/or with large libraries. Here, we leveraged unbiased deep sequencing of 96 independent lineages exhibiting counter-selection escape to identify loss-of-function mutations, which offered mechanistic insight and guided strain engineering to reduce counter-selection escape frequency by ∼40-fold. We fundamentally improved the tolC counter-selection by supplementing a second agent, vancomycin, which reduces counter-selection escape by 425-fold, compared colicin E1 alone. Combining these improvements in a mismatch repair proficient strain reduced counter-selection escape frequency by 1.3E6-fold in total, making tolC counter-selection as effective as most selectable markers, and adding a valuable tool to the genome editing toolbox. These improvements permitted us to perform stable and continuous rounds of selection/counter-selection using tolC, enabling replacement of 10 alleles without requiring genotypic screening for the first time. Finally, we combined these advances to create an optimized E. coli strain for genome engineering that is ∼10-fold more efficient at achieving allelic diversity than previous best practices

Energy Saving Melting and Revert Reduction (E-SMARRT): Optimization of Heat Treatments on Stainless Steel Castings for Improved Corrosion Resistance and Mechanical Properties

It is commonly believed that high alloy steel castings have inferior corrosion resistance to their wrought counterparts as a result of the increased amount of microsegregation remaining in the as-cast structure. Homogenization and dissolution heat treatments are often utilized to reduce or eliminate the residual microsegregation and dissolve the secondary phases. Detailed electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and light optical microscopy (LOM) were utilized to correlate the amount of homogenization and dissolution present after various thermal treatments with calculated values and with the resultant corrosion resistance of the alloys.The influence of heat treatment time and temperature on the homogenization and dissolution kinetics were investigated using stainless steel alloys CN3MN and CK3MCuN. The influence of heat treatment time and temperature on the impact toughness and corrosion reistance of cast stainless steel alloys CF-3, CF-3M, CF-8, and CF-8M was also investigated