bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
When pain is pleasure: Identifying consumer psychopaths
Authors: Karampournioti Evmorfia , Hennigs Nadine , Wiedmann Klaus‐Peter 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn almost every product category, companies have incorporated the emergence of ethical and environmental consumerism into their business activities. Although ethical consumers are supposed to be concerned with a broad spectrum of ethical issues and demand that products and business practices meet their moral principles, a critical perspective supports the assumption that a dark side of consumer personality also exists. Consequently, the role of consumers has become a top priority, especially in the specific ascription of bright and dark personality traits when evaluating cruel business practices and unethical behavior. The paper aims to investigate whether anthropomorphic communication about cruel business tactics affects the formation of explicit and implicit brand attitudes and to shed light on the role of consumers’ personality traits in perceiving anthropomorphic cues and in forming brand attitudes. Referencing the Dark Triad of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy in relation to animal cruelty in the cosmetics industry, the results of an empirical study (N = 610) provide evidence that perceptions of brands or companies conducting cruel practices differ between consumers with more distinct Dark Triad traits and those with stronger empathetic traits.
Power moderates the impact of desire for exclusivity on luxury experiential consumption
Authors: Kim Youngseon 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis research examines the effect of desire for exclusivity on evaluations of luxury experiences and proposes a boundary condition for the effect. The scarcity effect literature suggests that consumers prefer scarce products due to limited supply because they appeal to consumers’ desire for exclusive consumption. Building on this thesis, the current research argues that luxury experiences are intrinsically scarce enough to appeal to consumers’ desire for exclusivity: Consumers with a strong desire for exclusivity will evaluate luxury experiences more favorably than those with a weak desire for exclusivity. A pilot study confirms a positive correlation between consumers’ desire for exclusivity and attitudes toward luxury experiences. Study 1 demonstrates that consumers with a strong desire for exclusivity show more favorable attitudes toward luxury experiences than those with a weak desire for exclusivity. Further, Study 2 finds that consumers’ power state (powerful vs. powerless) moderates the effect of desire for exclusivity on their affinity for luxury experiences: Only when feeling powerful do consumers with a strong desire for exclusivity evaluate luxury experience more favorably than those with a weak desire for exclusivity. However, this is not the case when consumers feel powerless.
Short brand stories on packaging: An examination of consumer responses
Authors: Solja Eeva , Liljander Veronica , Söderlund Magnus 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe persuasiveness of stories and their influence on consumers have been acknowledged in marketing, particularly within the advertising field. In marketing practice, brand stories are increasingly also appearing on product packages. However, packages differ from ads in significant ways as communication channels; for example, the space for messages on a package is limited by the size of the package. This study reports findings from two experiments comparing consumer responses to fast‐moving consumer good (FMCG) packages with and without short brand stories. The findings show that even a short brand story included on FMCG packaging has a positive impact on consumers’ affective, attitudinal, product value, and behavioral intention responses to the brand.
My username is IN! The influence of inward vs. outward wandering usernames on judgments of online seller trustworthiness
Authors: Silva Rita R. , Topolinski Sascha 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrevious research showed that words for which the consonant articulation spots wander from the front of the mouth to the back (e.g., EPOK; inward) are preferred over words with the reversed sequence (e.g., EKOP; outward). In the present research, we extended this effect to judgments of online seller trustworthiness and choice of transaction partners. In seven experiments in the context of the online auction market eBay, we show that the mere use of inward compared to outward usernames increases the level of trustworthiness ascribed to online sellers (Experiments 1A, 1B, 2, 4A, 4B) and the likelihood that a seller is chosen for the economic transaction (Experiment 5). As a boundary condition, this effect is reduced when diagnostic information about the seller's reputation is introduced (Experiment 3). We discuss these results in terms of their practical implications for marketing strategies of online sellers and in terms of their relation to research on interpersonal trust.
Proliferative vasculopathy and hydranencephaly–hydrocephaly syndrome or Fowler syndrome: Report of a family and insight into the disease's mechanism
Authors: Radio Francesca Clementina , Di Meglio Lavinia , Agolini Emanuele , Bellacchio Emanuele , Rinelli Martina , Toscano Paolo , Boldrini Renata , Novelli Antonio , Di Meglio Aniello , Dallapiccola Bruno 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundFowler syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hydranencephaly–hydrocephaly and multiple pterygium due to fetal akinesia. To date, around 45 cases from 27 families have been reported, and the pathogenic bi‐allelic mutations in FLVCR2 gene described in 15 families. The pathogenesis of this condition has not been fully elucidated so far.MethodsWe report on an additional family with two affected fetuses carrying a novel homozygous mutation in FLVCR2 gene, and describe the impact of known mutants on the protein structural and functional impairment.ResultsThe present report confirms the genetic homogeneity of Fowler syndrome and describes a new FLVCR2 mutation affecting the protein function. The structural analysis of the present and previously published FLVCR2 mutations supports the hypothesis of a reduced heme import as the underlying disease's mechanism due to the stabilization of the occluded conformation or a protein misfolding.ConclusionOur data suggest the hypothesis of heme deficiency as the major pathogenic mechanism of Fowler syndrome.
A machine learning approach to the accurate prediction of monitor units for a compact proton machine
Authors: Sun Baozhou , Lam Dao , Yang Deshan , Grantham Kevin , Zhang Tiezhi , Mutic Sasa , Zhao Tianyu 
Published: March 2018

PurposeClinical treatment planning systems for proton therapy currently do not calculate monitor units (MUs) in passive scatter proton therapy due to the complexity of the beam delivery systems. Physical phantom measurements are commonly employed to determine the field‐specific output factors (OFs) but are often subject to limited machine time, measurement uncertainties and intensive labor. In this study, a machine learning‐based approach was developed to predict output (cGy/MU) and derive MUs, incorporating the dependencies on gantry angle and field size for a single‐room proton therapy system. The goal of this study was to develop a secondary check tool for OF measurements and eventually eliminate patient‐specific OF measurements.MethodThe OFs of 1754 fields previously measured in a water phantom with calibrated ionization chambers and electrometers for patient‐specific fields with various range and modulation width combinations for 23 options were included in this study. The training data sets for machine learning models in three different methods (Random Forest, XGBoost and Cubist) included 1431 (~81%) OFs. Ten‐fold cross‐validation was used to prevent “overfitting” and to validate each model. The remaining 323 (~19%) OFs were used to test the trained models. The difference between the measured and predicted values from machine learning models was analyzed. Model prediction accuracy was also compared with that of the semi‐empirical model developed by Kooy (Phys. Med. Biol. 50, 2005). Additionally, gantry angle dependence of OFs was measured for three groups of options categorized on the selection of the second scatters. Field size dependence of OFs was investigated for the measurements with and without patient‐specific apertures.ResultsAll three machine learning methods showed higher accuracy than the semi‐empirical model which shows considerably large discrepancy of up to 7.7% for the treatment fields with full range and full modulation width. The Cubist‐based solution outperformed all other models (P < 0.001) with the mean absolute discrepancy of 0.62% and maximum discrepancy of 3.17% between the measured and predicted OFs. The OFs showed a small dependence on gantry angle for small and deep options while they were constant for large options. The OF decreased by 3%–4% as the field radius was reduced to 2.5 cm.ConclusionMachine learning methods can be used to predict OF for double‐scatter proton machines with greater prediction accuracy than the most popular semi‐empirical prediction model. By incorporating the gantry angle dependence and field size dependence, the machine learning‐based methods can be used for a sanity check of OF measurements and bears the potential to eliminate the time‐consuming patient‐specific OF measurements.
Lymph node segmentation by dynamic programming and active contours
Authors: Tan Yongqiang , Lu Lin , Bonde Apurva , Wang Deling , Qi Jing , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Zhao Binsheng 
Published: March 2018

PurposeEnlarged lymph nodes are indicators of cancer staging, and the change in their size is a reflection of treatment response. Automatic lymph node segmentation is challenging, as the boundary can be unclear and the surrounding structures complex. This work communicates a new three‐dimensional algorithm for the segmentation of enlarged lymph nodes.MethodsThe algorithm requires a user to draw a region of interest (ROI) enclosing the lymph node. Rays are cast from the center of the ROI, and the intersections of the rays and the boundary of the lymph node form a triangle mesh. The intersection points are determined by dynamic programming. The triangle mesh initializes an active contour which evolves to low‐energy boundary. Three radiologists independently delineated the contours of 54 lesions from 48 patients. Dice coefficient was used to evaluate the algorithm's performance.ResultsThe mean Dice coefficient between computer and the majority vote results was 83.2%. The mean Dice coefficients between the three radiologists’ manual segmentations were 84.6%, 86.2%, and 88.3%.ConclusionsThe performance of this segmentation algorithm suggests its potential clinical value for quantifying enlarged lymph nodes.
Effect of noise on MTF calculations using different phantoms
Authors: González‐López Antonio 
Published: March 2018

PurposeIn this work, the effect of noise on the precision in the modulation transfer function (MTF) calculation using different phantoms is investigated. Three different techniques are studied, based on three different phantoms: edge, bar, and star bar. For each technique, theoretical expressions for the standard deviation and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the MTF are derived. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to study the accuracy and precision of all the three techniques.MethodsUsing the analytic expressions for the MTF calculation, statistical fluctuations of noise in the phantom images are propagated to MTF values. Then, for each frequency the standard deviation and the SNR of the MTF are calculated.Monte Carlo simulations are carried out for each phantom image and for different noise level. Images are artificially generated following a procedure that simulates sampling, blurring, and noise present in a real phantom image and takes into account the attenuation of each phantom. Then, oversampling procedures are applied to these images to obtain presampled MTFs.ResultsIn all three techniques the standard deviation of the MTF is proportional to that of the noise in the image. For the edge image, the standard deviation is proportional to the frequency f, whereas for the bar and star bar techniques it is proportional to the square root of f. Regarding the precision, theoretical expressions and simulations results agree that the bar technique shows the best precision for all the frequencies and all the noise levels analyzed in this study. In addition, simulation results show how, for large levels of noise, the edge technique gives rise to large bias errors at high and medium frequencies. Finally, the precision of the star bar technique is similar to that of the bar technique for isotropic systems, but worse for nonisotropic ones.ConclusionThe uncertainties in the MTF calculation with the edge technique are larger than with the bar technique, and the differences increase with the frequency. On the one hand, the stronger dependency on the frequency shown by the standard deviation of the MTF makes the precision gets worse faster in the edge technique. On the other hand, in the case of the edge and for high levels of noise, differentiation produces line spread functions (LSF) with a poor SNR, increasing erroneously the MTF and worsening accuracy.
Improved diagnosis in nonimmune hydrops fetalis using a standardized algorithm
Authors: Laterre Marie , Bernard Pierre , Vikkula Miika , Sznajer Yves 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to outline the disease etiology in a cohort of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF).MethodsBased on a literature review, we defined precise criteria to select the NIHF cases. Those were further classified into 14 categories. To complete this first step, a literature review was performed by using homogeneous criteria to compare our results.ResultsOver the 10‐year period, 102 fetuses were diagnosed with NIHF and included in the analysis. The etiology was identified in 86.3% (88/102) of them, with diagnostic distribution from the most prevalent to the least frequent (number of fetuses; %) being: chromosomal (33/102; 32.4%), lymphatic dysplasia (14; 13.7%), cardiovascular (10; 9.8%), “syndromic” (10; 9.8%), infection (8; 7.8%), and hematologic (8; 7.8%).ConclusionThis literature review enabled us to emphasize the absence of homogeneous criteria used to define NIHF. When compared with literature, our data analysis highlighted the relevance of applying our full diagnostic approach to decrease the rate of idiopathic NIHF cases.
Decarboxylative couplings as versatile tools for late‐stage peptide modifications
Authors: Malins Lara R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWhile strategies for the late‐stage modification of peptides are crucial to the design and synthesis of new peptide‐based materials and therapeutics, synthetic methods have historically focused on the modification of select, nucleophilic amino acids. This review highlights decarboxylative coupling strategies as emerging tools for the targeted functionalization of native peptidic acids—α‐carboxylic acids and aspartic/glutamic acid residues—through complexity building CC and Cheteroatom bond formations. Decarboxylation strategies employing both activated carboxylic acids (redox‐active esters) and the direct application of unprotected carboxylic acids are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the scope and limitations of the methodologies as well as their compatibility with complex peptide substrates.
Choice of reconstitution protocol modulates the aggregation state of full‐length membrane‐reconstituted synaptotagmin‐1
Authors: Nyenhuis Sarah B. , Cafiso David S. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSynaptotagmin‐1 (Syt1) functions as the Ca2+ sensor in neuronal exocytosis, and it is routinely incorporated into lipid bilayers along with other components of the fusion machinery in order to reconstruct the in vivo fusion process. Here, we demonstrate that the detergent used to reconstitute full‐length Syt1 has a significant effect on the state of the protein in bilayers. When octyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside is used to reconstitute the protein, Syt1 is present in an aggregated state that is mediated by the long juxta‐membrane linker. EPR spectra from spin labels in the two C2 domains of Syt1 no longer resemble those obtained from a soluble construct containing these domains, and the C2B domain no longer exhibits a Ca2+‐dependent membrane insertion. In contrast, when reconstituted using 3‐[(3‐cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]‐1‐propanesulfonate, Syt1 is largely monomeric and the EPR spectra from C2A and C2B resemble those of the soluble construct. This result demonstrates that the choice of detergent used to reconstitute Syt1 can modulate the state of the neuronal Ca2+‐sensor.
A fusion‐protein approach enabling mammalian cell production of tumor targeting protein domains for therapeutic development
Authors: Hu Jia , Chen Xiang , Zhang Xuhua , Yuan Xiaopeng , Yang Mingjuan , Dai Hui , Yang Wei , Zhou Qinghua , Wen Weihong , Wang Qirui , Qin Weijun , Zhao Aizhi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA single chain Fv fragment (scFv) is a fusion of the variable regions of heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains of immunoglobulins. They are important elements of chimeric antigen receptors for cancer therapy. We sought to produce a panel of 16 extracellular protein domains of tumor markers for use in scFv yeast library screenings. A series of vectors comprising various combinations of expression elements was made, but expression was unpredictable and more than half of the protein domains could not be produced using any of the constructs. Here we describe a novel fusion expression system based on mouse TEM7 (tumor endothelial marker 7), which could facilitate protein expression. With this approach we could produce all but one of the tumor marker domains that could not otherwise be expressed. In addition, we demonstrated that the tumor associated antigen hFZD10 produced as a fusion protein with mTEM7 could be used to enrich scFv antibodies from a yeast display library. Collectively our study demonstrates the potential of specific fusion proteins based on mTEM7 in enabling mammalian cell production of tumor targeting protein domains for therapeutic development.
Investigation on the electronic structures and nonlinear optical properties of alkali metal atom doped all‐cis 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexafluorocyclohexane
Authors: Hou Na , Wu Yuan‐Yuan , Wang Bing‐Qiang , Wu Hai‐Shun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOn the basis of stable all‐cis 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexafluorocyclohexane, a series of alkali metal atom doped MF6C6H6 (M = Li, Na, and K) compounds were theoretically constructed and studied by using ab initio quantum chemistry method. The calculated results show that the HOMO–LUMO gap of the MF6C6H6 conspicuously narrowed from 10.41 eV of pure F6C6H6 to about 2.00 eV of MF6C6H6. The electride characteristics of MF6C6H6 are verified by their electronic structures, HOMOs, and small VIE values. As expected, these electrides possess considerable static first hyperpolarizabilities (β0). Among the studied electrides, the largest β0 of the LiF6C6H6 is 7.00 × 105 au, which is about 3030 times larger than pure F6C6H6. TD‐M06‐2X calculations show that these larger β0 values are attributed to lower transition energies for the crucial excited states of MF6C6H6 systems. Further, the vibrational contributions to the static first hyperpolarizabilities of these molecules are also estimated. Moreover, Li atom doped dimer and trimer of F6C6H6 also present unusual electride's features and exhibit dramatically large β0. Thus, the F6C6H6 interacting with the alkali metal atoms may be a potential promising NLO nanomaterial.
New methods for measuring atmospheric heavy noble gas isotope and elemental ratios in ice core samples
Authors: Bereiter Bernhard , Kawamura Kenji , Severinghaus Jeffrey P. 
Published: March 2018

RationaleThe global ocean constitutes the largest heat buffer in the global climate system, but little is known about its past changes. The isotopic and elemental ratios of heavy noble gases (krypton and xenon), together with argon and nitrogen in trapped air from ice cores, can be used to reconstruct past mean ocean temperatures (MOTs). Here we introduce two successively developed methods to measure these parameters with a sufficient precision to provide new constraints on past changes in MOT.MethodsThe air from an 800‐g ice sample – containing roughly 80 mL STP air – is extracted and processed to be analyzed on two independent dual‐inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometers. The primary isotope ratios (δ15N, δ40Ar and δ86Kr values) are obtained with precisions in the range of 1 per meg (0.001‰) per mass unit. The three elemental ratio values δKr/N2, δXe/N2 and δXe/Kr are obtained using sequential (non‐simultaneous) peak‐jumping, reaching precisions in the range of 0.1–0.3‰.ResultsThe latest version of the method achieves a 30% to 50% better precision on the elemental ratios and a twofold better sample throughput than the previous one. The method development uncovered an unexpected source of artefactual gas fractionation in a closed system that is caused by adiabatic cooling and warming of gases (termed adiabatic fractionation) – a potential source of measurement artifacts in other methods.ConclusionsThe precisions of the three elemental ratios δKr/N2, δXe/N2 and δXe/Kr – which all contain the same MOT information – suggest smaller uncertainties for reconstructed MOTs (±0.3–0.1°C) than previous studies have attained. Due to different sensitivities of the noble gases to changes in MOT, δXe/N2 provides the best constraints on the MOT under the given precisions followed by δXe/Kr, and δKr/N2; however, using all of them helps to detect methodological artifacts and issues with ice quality.
Morphological diversification of ampullariid gastropods (Nsungwe Formation, Late Oligocene, Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania) is coincident with onset of East African rifting
Authors: Epa Y. Ranjeev , Stigall Alycia L. , Roberts Eric M. , O'Brien Haley D. , Stevens Nancy J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA new freshwater gastropod fauna is described from the late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation of the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania. Six new species of ampullariids are established including five species ofLanistes(L. microovum,L. nsungwensis,L. rukwaensis,L. songwellipticusandL. songweovum) and one species ofCarnevalea(C. santiapillaii). These taxa occupy a morphospace region comparable to nearly half of extantLanistes, a common and widespread genus in Africa and Madagascar. Palaeoecological evidence indicates that Nsungwe ampullariids inhabited fluvial, pond and paludal environments. Among these species are the oldest high‐spired and fluvially adapatedLanistestaxa. We suggest that NsungweLanistesrapidly diversified in concert with habitat heterogeneity associated with the initiation of rifting along the western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). Taxonomy, evolution and the biogeographical affinities of Nsungwe Formation freshwater gastropods contributes significantly to expanding the undersampled Palaeogene invertebrate fossil record of continental Africa.