Ab Initio Computations of O and AO as well as ReO2, WO2 and BO2-Terminated ReO3, WO3, BaTiO3, SrTiO3 and BaZrO3 (001) Surfaces

2022

This research received funding from the Latvian-Ukraine cooperation Project No. LV/UA-2021/5. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia), as the Centre of Excellence, has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD01-2016-2017-Teaming Phase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Temperature-responsive hybrid nanomaterials based on modified halloysite nanotubes uploaded with silver nanoparticles

2022

New temperature-responsive hybrid nanomaterials based on modified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) containing grafted polymer brushes with silver nanoparticles have been successfully fabricated. We used a three steps process including synthesis of the initiating coatings onto HNTs surface, fabrication of the POEGMA – poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether methacrylate) grafted brushes and synthesis of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesis and properties of hybrid nanomaterials were studied by FT-IR, TGA and DLS methods. It is shown that the introduction of AgNPs, formed from 0.005 M AgNO3 solution leads to a significant reduction of low critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polym…

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is more effective than cervical arthroplasty in relieving atypical symptoms in patients with cervical spondyl…

2022

Background and purpose Patients with cervical spondylosis often present with concurrent 'atypical symptoms' of unknown etiology that have been associated with cervical spondylotic disease, including dizziness, headache, nausea, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations, and memory and gastrointestinal disturbances. Few studies have addressed whether surgical intervention to treat classic symptoms of cervical spondylosis can also effectively alleviate atypical symptoms. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to compare the ability of cervical arthroplasty (CA) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to alleviate atypical symptoms associated with cervical spondylosis. Materials and…

Application of ultrasound as clean technology for extraction of specialized metabolites from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

2022

Nettle is a highly valued medicinal plant that is still largely neglected, both in terms of nutrition and use for pharmacological purposes. Tinctures, i.e., alcoholic extracts, are becoming increasingly popular nettle products, mainly because they allow better availability of phytochemicals and their stability over a longer period of time. The production of alcoholic extracts is a chemically demanding process that is still usually carried out using conventional techniques, which have numerous drawbacks. The use of green technologies such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), which is characterized by high efficiency of phytochemical extraction, shorter treatment time, and a much lower en…

Efficacy of Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized 3-Month Follow-Up Study.

2022

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a modern physiotherapeutic method that is useful for treating musculoskeletal conditions. There are still limited data from well-designed studies evaluating the clinical efficiency of ESWT in low back pain (LBP). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the focused ESWT (fESWT) in reducing pain and improving the functional status of patients with chronic LBP. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 40 patients with L5-S1 discopathy with chronic LBP pain who were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n=20, mean age of 42.3±13.1 years) and group B (n=20, mean age of 45.4±14 years). Group A was an experimental group treated …

Physical Exercise for Health and Performance Post-Pandemic COVID-19 Era, a Renewed Emphasis on Public Health

2022

After the period of forced quarantine due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the physiological principle of detraining became more evident than ever [...]

No evidence of DUI in the Mediterranean alien species Brachidontes pharaonis (P. Fisher, 1870) despite mitochondrial heteroplasmy

2022

AbstractTwo genetically different mitochondrial haplogroups of Brachidontes pharaonis (p-distance 6.8%) have been identified in the Mediterranean Sea. This hinted at a possible presence of doubly uniparental inheritance in this species. To ascertain this possibility, we sequenced two complete mitogenomes of Brachidontes pharaonis mussels and performed a qPCR analysis to measure the relative mitogenome copy numbers of both mtDNAs. Despite the presence of two very similar regions composed entirely of repetitive sequences in the two haplogroups, no recombination between mitogenomes was detected. In heteroplasmic individuals, both mitogenomes were present in the generative tissues of both sexes…

Orthodontic bracket bonding techniques and adhesion failures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

2022

This systematic review compared the bonding failures of orthodontic brackets bonded by indirect or direct techniques. Data sources: The searched databases were Cochrane Library, LILACS, BBO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science.A search for randomized clinical trials comparing the two techniques was carried out to answer the research question: When considering orthodontic bracket bonding on permanent teeth, does the indirect technique reduce the number of bonding failures compared to the direct one over time? The quality of the included papers was assessed with Cochrane risk of bias tool and the quality of evidence with GRADE.From 3096 articles identified, seven were included in the systematic re…

Liquid biopsy in the assessment of microRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

2022

The identification of non-invasive biomarkers from biological fluids collected by liquid biopsy provides new horizons for individualized therapeutic strategies and improves clinical decision-making in OSCC patients. Circulating microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers that may reflect not only the existence of cancer, but also the dynamic, malignant potential, and drug resistance of tumors. The aim of the systematic review is to evaluate and summarize the results of the published studies regarding the use of microRNAs as biomarkers for OSCC.A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases till November 2020. A total of 34 studies met the inclusion crit…

Effects of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on phytoplankton community structure and water quality: A short-term mesocosm study

2022

Nile tilapia is a highly invasive fish species, deliberately introduced into many lakes and reservoirs worldwide, sometimes resulting in significant ecosystem alterations. A short-term mesocosm experiment with and without Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was designed to test the hypotheses that the presence of tilapia may affect phytoplankton community structure, increase nutrients availability in water column and deteriorate water quality. Nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS) and biomass of phytoplankton in different size classes (as Chl a) were measured. We found that tilapia increased the total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), NH4 + and TSS concentrations, deteriorat…

Players with high physical fitness are at greater risk of injury in youth football.

2022

The aim of this study was to investigate physical fitness, football-specific skills and their association with injury risk in youth football. Altogether 447 male and female players aged 9 to 14 years (median 12 years) participated in performance tests and prospective follow-up. The physical fitness tests included five-jump test for distance, 30-m sprint, football-specific figure of eight agility, countermovement jump, and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 1. The football-specific skill tests included dribbling and passing tests. Injuries and exposure were registered during the 20-week follow-up. Our candidate risk factors were low/high level of physical fitness measured with a composi…

Continuous auditing in public sector and central banks: a framework to tackle implementation challenges

2022

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the implementation challenges faced by internal audit departments of public sector organisations and central banks when implementing continuous auditing (CA) systems. CA aims to monitor internal control systems and risk levels on a continuous basis to support the audit process. This study identifies the implementation challenges of CA systems and proposes adequate countermeasures. Design/methodology/approach This study employs the design science information system research and the design science research process methodologies to ensure the rigor of this analysis. These research methodologies are adopted to tackle identified organisational problems and pro…

Estimation of hydrodynamic properties of a sandy-loam soil by two analysis methods of single-ring infiltration data

2022

Abstract Beerkan infiltration runs could provide an incomplete description of infiltration with reference to either the near steady-state or the transient stages. In particular, the process could still be in the transient stage at the end of the run or some transient infiltration data might be loss. The Wu1 method and the BEST-steady algorithm can be applied to derive soil hydrodynamic parameters even under these circumstances. Therefore, a soil dataset could be developed using two different data analysis methods. The hypothesis that the Wu1 method and BEST-steady yield similar predictions of the soil parameters when they are applied to the same infiltration curve was tested in this investi…

Physical activity, healthy behaviors and its motivational correlates: exploring the spillover effect through stages of change

2022

On the basis of the spillover or transfer effect and the transtheoretical model of change, this study assessed the association between amount of physical activity, healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors, and motivational types, as well as their variability across stages of change. A total of 1219 randomly selected Mexican adults from 18 to 65 years old, representative of the city of Monterrey (México), participated in the study. Correlation analyses, differences by gender, and multivariate analyses of variance, controlling for age, were performed. We found that in the maintenance stage, there is higher frequency of physical activity more healthy weight control behaviors, as well as …

Never Cared for What They Do: High Structural Stability of Guanine-Quadruplexes in the Presence of Strand-Break Damage

2022

DNA integrity is an important factor that assures genome stability and, more generally, the viability of cells and organisms. In the presence of DNA damage, the normal cell cycle is perturbed when cells activate their repair processes. Although efficient, the repair system is not always able to ensure complete restoration of gene integrity. In these cases, mutations not only may occur, but the accumulation of lesions can either lead to carcinogenesis or reach a threshold that induces apoptosis and programmed cell death. Among the different types of DNA lesions, strand breaks produced by ionizing radiation are the most toxic due to the inherent difficultly of repair, which may lead to genomi…

Marco legislativo de las empresas de inserción en España. Aproximación histórica y momento actual

2022

'En las dos últimas décadas, las empresas de inserción han experimentado un gran crecimiento en cuanto al volumen d s y sobre todo en relación al número de personas a las que dan trabajo. Ubicadas dentro del ámbito de la economía social, en el contexto actual español de crisis socioeconómica, suponen una de las medidas de mayor impacto para colectivos en situación o riesgo de exclusión de entre las diferentes políticas activas de empleo. Este artículo pretende poner en valor este hecho, realizando para ello un recorrido histórico de las mismas hasta llegar al momento actual, destacando los momentos clave que han incidido positivamente en su expansión y prestando especial atención al momento…

La herencia de Prometeo. Las enfermedades ocupacionales en el Corpus Hippocraticum

2022

El presente trabajo analiza las enfermedades ocupacionales en el Corpus Hippocraticum. Principalmente nos centraremos en Epidemias, que recoge numerosas historias clínicas, con el objetivo de analizar la asistencia sanitaria de los trabajadores en la médica griega. Finalmente, abordamos el debate historiográfico en torno al acceso a la sanidad en el mundo antiguo.

Fracture stratigraphy of Mesozoic platform carbonates, Agri Valley, southern Italy

2022

The outcropping platform carbonates form a layered succession crosscut by a dense array of bed-parallel pressure solution seams and veins, oblique-to-bedding pressure solution seams, and high-angle joints, veins, and pressure solution seams. Altogether, these structural elements form sub-seismic heterogeneities that formed during the polyphase tectonic evolution of the southern Apennines fold and-thrust belt, Italy. Aiming at assessing the role exerted by the primary carbonate architecture on failure modes and fracture geometry and distribution, we conduct a multi-disciplinary study by performing stratigraphic, petrographic, mineralogical, and mesoscale structural analyses. Based on carbona…

Self-exciting point process modelling of crimes on linear networks

2022

Although there are recent developments for the analysis of first and second-order characteristics of point processes on networks, there are very few attempts in introducing models for network data. Motivated by the analysis of crime data in Bucaramanga (Colombia), we propose a spatiotemporal Hawkes point process model adapted to events living on linear networks. We first consider a non-parametric modelling strategy, for which we follow a non-parametric estimation of both the background and the triggering components. Then we consider a semi-parametric version, including a parametric estimation of the background based on covariates, and a non-parametric one of the triggering effects. Our mode…

Life Cycle Assessment applied to a new system for sea wave energy harvesting

2022

A new technology for wave energy harvesting is currently under development at the University of Palermo. The target is the exploitation of sea waves in the Mediterranean Sea, and small islands. The paper suggests an innovative technology for the wave energy harvesting in onshore areas. Indeed, the machine can be installed on existing infrastructures, like breakwaters of harbours. A small-scale prototype was already tested in laboratory. In this paper, a Life Cycle Assessment is performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of this technology, considering the potential energy production as functional unit.

Sekaiza | Sekeiza | Sekaisa

2022

La ceca de Sekaiza se localizó en el yacimiento de Poyo de Mara, hasta ca. 153 a.C., y posteriormente se desplazó al yacimiento de Belmonte, permaneciendo en ese lugar hasta mediados del siglo I a.C., quizás fue destruida durante las Guerras Sertorianas (Burillo y Ostalé 1984: 305-309; Gomis 2001: 33; Burillo 2006: 203-240; Asensio 2001: 89). Se ha discutido la posibilidad de que esta ceca y Bilbilis, dada su proximidad, emitieran moneda de manera simultánea (Burillo, Ostalé 1984), aunque Villaronga (1988) propone una jerarquización de sus emisiones que las haría compatibles. Es una de las cecas celtibéricas con mayor volumen de producción y cantidad de hallazgos. La producción monetaria ha…

Bimetallic Intersection in PdFe@FeO x ‐C Nanomaterial for Enhanced Water Splitting Electrocatalysis

2022

Supported Fe-doped Pd-nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared via soft transformation of a PdFe-metal oraganic framework (MOF). The thus synthesized bimetallic PdFe-NPs are supported on FeO@C layers, which are essential for developing well-defined and distributed small NPs, 2.3 nm with 35% metal loading. They are used as bifunctional nanocatalysts for the electrocatalytic water splitting process. They display superior mass activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), both in alkaline and acid media, compared with those obtained for benchmarking platinum HER catalyst, and ruthenium, and iridium oxide OER catalysts. PdFe-NPs also exhibit outstanding sta…

Prototyping Crop Traits Retrieval Models for CHIME: Dimensionality Reduction Strategies Applied to PRISMA Data

2022

In preparation for new-generation imaging spectrometer missions and the accompanying unprecedented inflow of hyperspectral data, optimized models are needed to generate vegetation traits routinely. Hybrid models, combining radiative transfer models with machine learning algorithms, are preferred, however, dealing with spectral collinearity imposes an additional challenge. In this study, we analyzed two spectral dimensionality reduction methods: principal component analysis (PCA) and band ranking (BR), embedded in a hybrid workflow for the retrieval of specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area index (LAI), canopy water content (CWC), canopy chlorophyll content (CCC), the fraction of absorbed photo…

Photoinduced charge separation in functional carbon-silver nanohybrids

2022

In recent times, nanoscience is devoting growing interest to the easy assembly of well-established nanomaterials into hybrid nanostructures displaying new emerging features. Here, we study the photophysicochemical response of binary nanohybrids obtained by the spontaneous coupling of luminescent carbon dots to silver nanoparticles with controlled surface charge. Evidence of the successful coupling is obtained by steady-state and time resolved optical measurements and further confirmed by direct imaging. We demonstrate strong interactions within nanohybrids, which can be modelled in terms of a sub-picosecond electron transfer from photoexcited carbon dots to silver nanoparticles. Accordingly…

Reuse of Food Waste: The Chemical Composition and Health Properties of Pomelo (Citrus maxima) Cultivar Essential Oils

2022

The aim of the present study is to investigate the chemical profile, antioxidant activity, carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzyme inhibition, and hypolipidemic effect of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Sicilian Citrus maxima (pomelo) flavedo. Using gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) we analysed the Eos of five cultivars of C. maxima, namely, ‘Chadock’, ‘Maxima’, ‘Pyriformis’, ‘Terracciani’, and ‘Todarii’, and their blends. The antioxidant activity was performed by using a multi-target approach using 2,2′-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reduc…

Estimation of the energy producibility of an offshore wave energy converter

2022

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Each year that passes the atmosphere warms up and the climate changes with possible catastrophic consequences for all living species. It is therefore necessary to implement a decisive change of course in terms of energy and environmental strategies at a global level, gradually abandoning the use of fossil sources in favor of renewable ones. A lot of country participates to European or global energy treaties or pacts to reduce step by step their fossil energy consumption and greenhouse gas. Among all renewable energies, the engineering department of the University of Palermo focuses the exploitati…

Testing a linear ironless generator for the sea wave energy harvesting

2022

Wave energy represents a "new entry"in the renewable energy sector; however, it is believed that in near future sea wave might have a key role for the electrical energy production, thanks its huge energy potential. In this context, the paper suggests an innovative ironless linear generator, that can be used as main component inside a point absorber. In order to exploit the wave energy potential in the Mediterranean Sea, the Engineering Department of Palermo University realized a first small-scale prototype of the electrical linear generator, that is the main component for the energy conversion.

Algorithms and Organizing

2022

Abstract Algorithms are a ubiquitous part of organizations as they enable, guide, and restrict organizing at the level of everyday interactions. This essay focuses on algorithms and organizing by reviewing the literature on algorithms in organizations, examining the viewpoint of relationality and relational agency on algorithms and organizing, exploring the properties of algorithms, and concluding what these mean from an organizational communication viewpoint. Algorithms need data to be collected. The data are always biased, and algorithms exclude everything that is not in their code. They define what is seen as important. Their operating principles are opaque, and they are political due to…

Effects of a 12‐month home‐based exercise program on functioning after hip fracture – Secondary analyses of an RCT

2022

Background Long-term functional limitations are common after hip fractures. Exercise may alleviate these negative consequences but there is no consensus on an optimal training program. The objective was to study the effects of a 12-month home-based supervised, progressive exercise program on functioning, physical performance, and physical activity. Methods Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial targeting patients with surgical repair of a hip fracture, aged >= 60 years, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of >= 12. The participants were randomized into Exercise (n = 61) or Usual care (n = 60). Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months included Lawton's Instrumental Ac…

Enlarging the Toolbox: Epoxide Termination of Polyferrocenylsilane (PFS) as a Key Step for the Synthesis of Amphiphilic PFS-Polyether Block Copolymer…

2022

Epoxide termination and functionalization of living poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS) is introduced by precapping the living PFDMS with a 4/2 molar mixture of 1,1-diphenylethylene and 1,1-dimethylsilacyclobutane acting as a “carbanion pump” system. Subsequent addition of allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) leads to quantitatively functionalized PFDMS–AGE polymers with molecular weights between 1500 and 15 400 g mol–1 and polydispersity indices ≤1.10, carrying one hydroxyl group and an additional allylic double bond. PFDMS–AGE was then applied as a macroinitiator for the living anionic ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) to generate amphiphilic and water-soluble poly(ferrocenyldim…

A multivariate statistical test for differential expression analysis

2022

AbstractStatistical tests of differential expression usually suffer from two problems. Firstly, their statistical power is often limited when applied to small and skewed data sets. Secondly, gene expression data are usually discretized by applying arbitrary criteria to limit the number of false positives. In this work, a new statistical test obtained from a convolution of multivariate hypergeometric distributions, the Hy-test, is proposed to address these issues. Hy-test has been carried out on transcriptomic data from breast and kidney cancer tissues, and it has been compared with other differential expression analysis methods. Hy-test allows implicit discretization of the expression profi…

Looking for the exotic X0(2866) and its JP=1+ partner in the B¯0→D(*)+K−K(*)0 reactions

2022

Impact of Amino-Functionalization on the Response of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to External Stimuli

2022

It is shown that amino-functionalization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with the comonomer N,N-diethyl glycidyl amine (DEGA) triggers the emergence of extraordinary stimuli responsiveness and phase behavior of PEG. In dependence of the solution pH, tapered PEG-co-PDEGA exhibits a highly cooperative two-step inverse phase transition with respect to temperature. The polymer forms dispersed metastable nanoglobules in the medically relevant temperature range around human body temperature. Independently, cloud points can be adjusted between 40 and 90 °C via the pH of the solution. Changing the polymer architecture to a block structure, in pronounced contrast, the polymer exhibits a gradual growt…

Spanish cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire in running women

2022

AbstractPelvic floor dysfunctions are a wide range of disorders in the gynaecological, lower urinary and gastrointestinal tracts that affect the structure and/or function of the pelvic organs. The objective of this study was to carry out a cross-cultural adaptation and a psychometric analysis of the Spanish version of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire. Observational study divided into two main phases: (1) translation and cross-cultural adaptation and (2) psychometric tests. Women runners from all over the Spanish territory, from different federations, clubs and levels were recruited. Participants: 424 female runners, native Spanish, over 18 years of age and who had been practicing r…

Longitudinal and situational associations between math anxiety and performance among early adolescents

2022

Studies have found math anxiety and achievement to be related from the beginning of formal schooling, but the knowledge regarding the direction of the relationship is vague. The purpose of the present study was to study this relationship. We investigated math anxiety from two points of view: trait and state anxiety. In the first substudy, we investigated the longitudinal relationship between math anxiety and performance from sixth to seventh grade (n = 848) with cross-lagged modeling. In the second substudy, we investigated the situational relationship of anxiety and performance by giving the participants (n = 149) challenging and nonchallenging math tasks adapted to their skill level, and …

Non-IFRS and changes in accounting institutions : Lessons from Nokia

2022

We analyse the lessons learned from Nokia to illustrate the changing focus in accounting and organisational practices that affect the perceptions of relevant accounting work and the key measures of success. In the course of an analysis covering 25 years, the introduction of management accounting innovations was first emphasised regarding managerial relevance but were later replaced by financial accounting emphasis and innovations (e.g. non-IFRS reporting). Our data includes public reports, newspaper articles and 21 interviews made between 1996 and 2019. We present a framework for analysing shifts in the focus of accounting. Our case analysis on changing accounting practices, on shifting pe…