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Scaling down of the microelectronic devices feature size is demanding high-quality ultra thin high-k gate dielectric as a potential replacement for SiO[SUB2] gate dielectric. Among the high-k materials, ZrO[SUB2] is considered as a potential alternative to SiO[SUB2] gate dielectric below 2 nm due to its thermodynamical stability as well as excellent electrical properties. For these reasons, we investigated ZrO[SUB2] films prepared by the normal atomic layer deposition (ALD) and plasma enhanced ALD (PEALD) techniques using Zr t-butoxide and Zr(NEt[SUB2])[SUB4] metal organic precursors. This study showed that ZrO[SUB2] films deposited by the PEALD method showed generally improved film qualities with relatively low-leakage current, negligible hysteresis, and low-carbon incorporation compared to those of the films deposited by the conventional ALD method. Also, ZrO[SUB2] films deposited using Zr(NEt[SUB2])[SUB4] precursor showed better film qualities than those of films deposited using Zr t-butoxide. Especially, ZrO[SUB2] films deposited using Zr(NEt[SUB2])[SUB4] with oxygen plasma showed the leakage current as low as about 2.5 × 10[SUP-9] A/cm[SUP2] with an equivalent oxide thickness value of about 1.4 nm. This study demonstrated the possible application of the PEALD technique for the high-quality ultra thin high-k gate dielectric film deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ethnic restaurants use authentic-language labels (e.g., “Khao Pad Sapparod”), as opposed to English-language labels (e.g., “Pineapple Fried Rice”), in the menu to make their dishes appeal more authentic. Yet, the effectiveness of authentic-language labels is not well understood. To address this gap, the present research examines consumers’ attitudes toward a menu as a function of (a) authentic-language versus English-language menu labeling and (b) the consumer’s Need for Cognitive Closure (NFCC)—a fundamental desire to achieve resolution on a decision. The results show that while consumers with low NFCC prefer a menu using authentic-language (vs. English-language) labeling, their high NFCC counterparts respond more favorably to a menu using English-language (vs. authentic-language) labeling. Moreover, a moderated mediation analysis reveals that an intensified bothersome feeling in achieving resolution is the psychological mechanism explaining why authentic-language labels backfire among consumers with high NFCC. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As online reviews have become increasingly prevalent in recent years and their influence on consumers’ purchasing decisions has grown exponentially, some companies have begun to ask people to write fake reviews about their businesses or their competitors while offering compensation in return. This process has drawn the attention of regulators because it knowingly misleads consumers. This article reports on two studies that looked at the effect of two types of incentives (self-benefiting or charitable) on individuals’ intentions to write fake reviews and examined the moderating role of a person’s sense of power on his or her propensity to post a fake review. The study findings indicate that powerless individuals are more likely to post a fake review when presented with a monetary incentive rather than a charity incentive, while powerful individuals are not impacted by incentive type. Moreover, when asked to post negative fake reviews about competitors, such effects are mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cluster headache (CH) is characterized by severe unilateral pain ranging from the orbital to the temporal regions with ipsilateral autonomic manifestations. Although most patients respond to drugs or oxygen inhalation, some do not. In this case report, we introduce sympathetic nerve entrapment point injection (SNEPI), a new adjuvant treatment for CH. Case Report: We introduce two CH patients who did not respond well to pharmacological treatment or 100% oxygen inhalation, but who improved after SNEPI. Patient 1, a 42-year-old man, visited the Emergency Department (ED) with severe periorbital right frontal headache accompanied by ipsilateral rhinorrhea, conjunctival injection, and eyelid edema. The symptoms did not fully respond to drugs or oxygen inhalation, but improved after SNEPI into the tender point of the splenius capitis (SC) muscle; there was no further pain for 1 month thereafter. Patient 2, a 26-year-old woman, presented to the ED complaining of severe headache in the right supraorbital-temporal-occipital region with ipsilateral lacrimation and conjunctival congestion. The patient was taking various drugs for CH, but there was no improvement; the symptoms improved dramatically after SNEPI into the tender points of the SC and paraspinal deep muscles (levels T1–2), and the pain was well managed with reduced drug doses for 3 months. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? CH can cause severe acute pain, and sometimes pharmacological treatment or oxygen inhalation is not effective. SNEPI, which is inexpensive and can be easily performed, may be considered as an adjuvant treatment for intractable CH in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• At check-out, round-up (vs. flat-dollar) donations increase donation likelihood. • Perceived pain of donation mediates the impact of round-up (vs. flat-dollar) donations on donation likelihood. • Particularly in the crowded (vs. non-crowded) environment, round-up donations enhance donation likelihood. Prior research demonstrates that consumers are more likely to donate when asked to round up their total bill to the next whole dollar (vs. donate a flat-dollar amount). However, there is scant research demonstrating boundary conditions for the effectiveness of round-up donations. The purpose of this study is to fill this knowledge gap by suggesting crowding level of a service establishment as a boundary condition. Study 1 demonstrates that round-up (vs. flat-dollar) donations decrease perceived pain of donation, thereby increasing donation likelihood. Study 2 shows that round-up (vs. flat-dollar) donations decrease pain of donation in a crowded environment. Conversely, such differences in pain of donation are not observed in a non-crowded environment. The present study contributes to the nascent literature on round-up donations and provides insight to cause-related marketing managers concerning how to design donation messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT For topical, dermatological drug products, an in vitro option to determine bioequivalence (BE) between test and reference products is recommended. In particular, in vitro permeation test (IVPT) data analysis uses a reference‐scaled approach for two primary endpoints, cumulative penetration amount (AMT) and maximum flux (Jmax), which takes the within donor variability into consideration. In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a draft IVPT guidance that includes statistical analysis methods for both balanced and unbalanced cases of IVPT study data. This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of various methodologies used to estimate critical parameters essential in assessing BE. Specifically, we investigate the performance of the FDA draft IVPT guidance approach alongside alternative empirical and model‐based methods utilizing mixed‐effects models. Our analyses include both simulated scenarios and real‐world studies. In simulated scenarios, empirical formulas consistently demonstrate robustness in approximating the true model, particularly in effectively addressing treatment–donor interactions. Conversely, the effectiveness of model‐based approaches heavily relies on precise model selection, which significantly influences their results. The research emphasizes the importance of accurate model selection in model‐based BE assessment methodologies. It sheds light on the advantages of empirical formulas, highlighting their reliability compared to model‐based approaches and offers valuable implications for BE assessments. Our findings underscore the significance of robust methodologies and provide essential insights to advance their understanding and application in the assessment of BE, employed in IVPT data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells are often employed as a model to dissect mechanisms of erythropoiesis and erythroleukemia in vitro. Here, an allograft model using MEL cells resulting in splenomegaly was established to develop a diagnostic model for isolation/quantification of metastatic cells, anti-cancer drug screening, and evaluation of the tumorigenic or metastatic potentials of molecules in vivo. In this animal model, circulating MEL cells from the blood stream were successfully isolated and quantified with an additional in vitro cultivation step. In terms of the molecular-pathological analysis, we were able to successfully evaluate the functional discrimination between methyl-CpG-binding domain 2 (Mbd2) and p66α in erythroid differentiation, and tumorigenic potential in spleen and blood stream of allograft model mice. In addition, we found that the number of circulating MEL cells in anti-cancer drug-treated mice was dose-dependently decreased. Our data demonstrate that the newly established allograft model is useful to dissect erythroleukemia pathologies and non-invasively provides valuable means for isolation of metastatic cells, screening of anti-cancer drugs, and evaluation of the tumorigenic potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Quantitative imaging of glutathione (GSH) with high spatial and temporal resolution is essential for studying the roles of GSH in redox biology. To study the long-standing question of compartmentalization of GSH, especially its distribution between the nucleus and cytosol, an organelle-targeted quantitative probe is needed. Results: We developed a reversible reaction-based ratiometric fluorescent probe—HaloRT—that can quantitatively measure GSH dynamics with subcellular resolution in real time. Using HaloRT, we quantitatively measured the GSH concentrations in the nucleus and cytosol of HeLa cells and primary hepatocytes under different treatment conditions and found no appreciable concentration gradients between these two organelles. Innovation and Conclusion: We developed the first reversible ratiometric GSH probe that can be universally targeted to any organelle of interest. Taking advantage of this new tool, we provided definitive evidence showing that GSH concentrations are not significantly different between the nucleus and cytosol, challenging the view of nuclear compartmentalization of GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]