Is there an orbital control on the pacing of anoxia across the Aptian-Albian boundary (~113 Ma)?

2022

<p>The stratigraphic interval spanning the Aptian-Albian transition is marked by a cluster of short-lived marine anoxic episodes referred to as Oceanic Anoxic Event 1b (OAE 1b). These short-lived episodes are, from the oldest to the youngest, the Jacob, Kilian, Paquier and Leenhardt events. We here aim at testing the impact of the long Milankovitch cycles (1.2-Myr and 2.4-Myr) on the recurrence of these oxygen-deficiency episodes by establishing a precise astrochronology of the OAE 1b interval from the Col de Pré-Guittard section (Albian GSSP, Vocontian Basin, SE France). The section belongs to the “Marnes Bleues Formation”, which is a …

Validation of a Portuguese version of the Groningen radiotherapy-induced xerostomia questionnaire

2022

The aim of this study was to validate and determine at pretest level the reliability of the Portuguese version of the Groningen radiotherapy-induced xerostomia questionnaire. This study employed 37 head and neck cancer patients. Each patient signed an informed consent and responded to the Portuguese version of the questionnaire in the form of an interview. This was repeated again after 2 weeks. A standard single question provided a validity check. Data were analyzed using Cronbach?s ? to test its reliability and total and interitem correlation, and intraclass correlation to determine its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Construct validity supported by objective measurements…

The ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and biological properties of Nigella damascena – A review

2022

This review is a systematic scientific work on medicinal and traditional use, on the chemical composition of specialized metabolites, volatile and non-volatile, on aspects related to toxicology and phytotherapy of Nigella damascena L. The genus Nigella (Ranunculaceae) is distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin, extending to northern India, and has been divided into three sections. Nigella damanscena L. is traditionally used as an ingredient in food, for example, as flavouring agents in bread and cheese, but is also known in folk medicine, used to regulate menstruation; for catarrhal affections and amenorrhea; as a diuretic and sternutatory; as an analgesic, anti-oedematous, and antip…

Evolución de la comunicación política digital (2011-2019): ocaso de los blogs, declive de Facebook, generalización de Twitter y popularización de Ins…

2022

Este trabajo estudia la utilización electoral de la blogosfera, Facebook, Twitter e Instagram por parte de la clase política española durante la última década. El objetivo es describir la evolución de su presencia en dichos canales, tanto de manera individual como multiplataforma, así como de su actividad y notoriedad en cada uno de ellos. La investigación aplica un análisis cuantitativo longitudinal a un corpus formado por los blogs y las cuentas en redes sociales de los líderes de las candidaturas al Congreso de los Diputados presentadas en todas las circunscripciones por los partidos con mayor expectativa de voto en las Elecciones Generales de noviembre de 2011 (PP y PSOE), diciembre de …

Monte Carlo simulation of the energy released by neutrons on organic compounds for EPR dosimetry

2022

In this work we report the analyses of the energy released per unit mass in organic compounds used for EPR dosimetry exposed to neutron beams in order to predict the increase in dose achievable by addition of gadolinium (Gd) inside the pellets. In particular, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were carried out for alanine, ammonium tartrate and phenolic compounds irradiated with neutron beams with different energy spectra at various depths inside a water phantom. The addition of gadolinium increases sensitivity of these dosimeters to neutrons thanks to the high gadolinium cross section for neutron capture and to the large number of secondary particles (mainly Auger and internal conversion electro…

In Silico Finite Element Modeling of Stress Distribution in Osteosynthesis after Pertrochanteric Fractures

2022

A stabilization method of pertrochanteric femur fractures is a contentious issue. Here, we assess the feasibility of rapid in silico 2D finite element modeling (FEM) to predict the distribution of stresses arising during the two most often used stabilization methods: gamma nail fixation (GNF) and dynamic hip screw (DHS). The modeling was based on standard pre-surgery radiographs of hip joints of 15 patients with pertrochanteric fractures of type A1, A2, and A3 according to the AO/OTA classification. The FEM showed that the stresses were similar for both GNF and DHS, with the medians ranging between 53–60 MPa and consistently lower for A1 than A3 fractures. Stresses also appeared in the fixa…

Exergoeconomics as a Cost-Accounting Method in Thermal Grids with the Presence of Renewable Energy Producers

2022

Thermal grids are efficient, reliable, and sustainable technologies for satisfying the thermal demands of buildings. The capability to operate at a low temperature allows not only for the integration of heat produced by renewable energy sources but also for the storage of surplus electricity from the grid via “power to heat” technologies. Besides, in the future, heat consumers are expected to behave increasingly as “prosumers”, supplying in some periods heat produced by renewable energy plants on site. In this scenario, it is important to propose a method for the cost allocation among producers connected to the grid. In this regard, this paper proposes Exergoeconomic…

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and blood pressure with arterial stiffness in adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged w…

2022

AbstractFew studies have investigated whether higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or favourable body composition are related to lower arterial stiffness in women. We therefore investigated the associations of CRF, body fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass index (FFMI), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) with arterial stiffness in 146 women aged 16–58 years. CRF was assessed by a maximal exercise test with respiratory gas analysis either on a cycle ergometer or a treadmill. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), augmentation index (AIx%), and MAP were assessed by a non-invasive oscillometric device and BF% and FFMI by a bioelectrical impedance or DXA device. CRF was inversely associated with PW…

Linear dynamics induced by odometers

2022

Weighted shifts are an important concrete class of operators in linear dynamics. In particular, they are an essential tool in distinguishing variety dynamical properties. Recently, a systematic study of dynamical properties of composition operators on $L^p$ spaces has been initiated. This class of operators includes weighted shifts and also allows flexibility in construction of other concrete examples. In this article, we study one such concrete class of operators, namely composition operators induced by measures on odometers. In particular, we study measures on odometers which induce mixing and transitive linear operators on $L^p$ spaces.

Hafnium-neodymium isotope evidence for enhanced weathering and tectonic-climate interactions during the Late Cretaceous

2022

<p>Over million-year timescale the carbon cycle evolution is driven by mantle CO<sub>2</sub> degassing (source) and by continental weathering that drawdowns atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> through silicate weathering reactions (sink). Based on a novel geochemical proxy of chemical weathering intensity (i.e. using measurements of Hf and Nd isotope ratios in clay-size fractions of sediments) and clay mineralogy, we discuss the links between tectonic, continental weathering and climate evolution during the late Cretaceous. That period records the very first step of the last greenhouse to icehouse transition and is concomitant to …

Effects of Social Hierarchy Establishment on Stress Response and Cell Phagocytosis in Gilt-Head Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

2022

Social stress can affect the ability of fish to respond to various stressors, such as pathogens or environmental variations. In this paper, the effects of social stress on gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) were investigated. To study the effects of physiological stress, we evaluated biochemical and cellular parameters, such as cortisol, glucose, lactate, osmolarity, and phagocytosis, 24 h after the establishment of social hierarchy in a group of three fish. Social hierarchy was determined and characterized by behavioral observation (aggressive acts and feeding order) of the specimens (dominant: “α”; subordinate: “β” and “γ”). After the esta…

Systematic education has a positive impact on nurses' evidence-based practice: Intervention study results

2022

Aims To evaluate how an education program on evidence-based practice (EBP) affected nurses´ knowledge, practices, and attitudes related to EBPs in patient care. Methods Nurses of one Finnish university hospital participated in two separate EBP education programs in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. Data was collected by a questionnaire given before and after each program. Reliable instruments for measuring EBP were used: The Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (24 items) and the Attitudes to Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (17 items). Means and frequencies were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U test and linear regression. Results Nurses reported that their EBP practice, skills and the Work b…

Expert Q-learning: Deep Reinforcement Learning with Coarse State Values from Offline Expert Examples

2022

In this article, we propose a novel algorithm for deep reinforcement learning named Expert Q-learning. Expert Q-learning is inspired by Dueling Q-learning and aims at incorporating semi-supervised learning into reinforcement learning through splitting Q-values into state values and action advantages. We require that an offline expert assesses the value of a state in a coarse manner using three discrete values. An expert network is designed in addition to the Q-network, which updates each time following the regular offline minibatch update whenever the expert example buffer is not empty. Using the board game Othello, we compare our algorithm with the baseline Q-learning algorithm, which is a…

The importance of dead seagrass (Posidonia oceanica)matte as a biogeochemical sink

2022

We assessed the potential of dead seagrass Posidonia oceanica matte to act as a biogeochemical sink and provide a coherent archive of environmental change in a degraded area of the Mediterranean Sea (Augusta Bay, Italy). Change in sediment properties (dry bulk density, grain size), concentration of elements (Corg, Cinorg, N, Hg) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ 15N) with sediment depth were measured in dead P. oceanica matte and unvegetated (bare) sediments in the polluted area, and an adjacent P. oceanica meadow. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a clear clustering by habitat, which explained 72% of variability in our samples and was driven mainly by the accumulation of N and H…

Collating evidence on the restoration efforts of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: current knowledge and gaps

2022

Seagrass meadows are important shallow coastal ecosystems due to their contribution to enhancing biodiversity, nu-trient cycling, carbon burial, and sediment stabilisation, but the maintenance of their integrity has been threatened by several anthropogenic disturbances. Active restoration is considered a reliable strategy to enhance recovery of seagrass ecosystems, and decision making for correct seagrass restoration management requires relying on valuable informa-tion regarding the effectiveness of past restoration actions and experimental efforts.Previous experimental efforts and human-mediated active restoration actions of the slow growing seagrass Posidonia oceanica have been collated h…

"Writing biochips": high-resolution droplet-to-droplet manufacturing of analytical platforms.

2022

The development of high-resolution molecular printing allows the engineering of analytical platforms enabling applications at the interface between chemistry and biology, i.e. in biosensing, electronics, single-cell biology, and point-of-care diagnostics. Their successful implementation stems from the combination of large area printing at resolutions from sub-100 nm up to macroscale, whilst controlling the composition and the volume of the ink, and reconfiguring the deposition features in due course. Similarly to handwriting pens, the engineering of continuous writing systems tackles the issue of the tedious ink replenishment between different printing steps. To this aim, this review articl…

Is χc1(3872) generated from string breaking?

2022

University Students’ Approaches to Making the Most of Their Study Time

2022

This article explores university students’ approaches to and positions with regard to making the most of their study time. The article discusses how various normative societal expectations around students’ use and management of time feature in their talk about how they organise their everyday lives. The research is based on thematic interviews (n = 28) that focused in detail on students’ day-to-day activities that were generated with students from two sets of generalist study fields in three regional Finnish universities. The results of a discursive analysis of students’ positionings reveal three discursive positions that represent of a variety in students’ approaches to make sense of the t…

The role of finance in the literature of entrepreneurial ecosystems

2022

Financial access is considered a crucial element of entrepreneurship. Much of the literature focuses on how individual actors demand or supply finance, but rarely within the context of systemic entrepreneurship. The current entrepreneurial finance literature is fragmented and rooted in various traditions. However, the entrepreneur’s perceived role in aggregated wealth creation is currently being strengthened, most recently by the emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective. This calls for exploring the role of finance in systemic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems. By conducting a systematic literature review of financial determinants, sources and effects, the study synthesi…

Forecasting Aquaponic Systems Behaviour With Recurrent Neural Networks Models

2022

Aquaponic systems provide a reliable solution to grow vegetables while cultivating fish (or other aquatic organisms) in a controlled environment. The main advantage of these systems compared with traditional soil-based agriculture and aquaculture installations is the ability to produce fish and vegetables with low water consumption. Aquaponics requires a robust control system capable of optimizing fish and plant growth while ensuring a safe operation. To support the control system, this work explores the design process of Deep Learning models based on Recurrent Neural Networks to forecast one hour of pH values in small-scale industrial Aquaponics. This implementation guides us through the m…

The Role of 3D-Printed Custom-Made Vertebral Body Implants in the Treatment of Spinal Tumors: A Systematic Review

2022

In spinal surgery, 3D prothesis represents a useful instrument for spinal reconstruction after the removal of spinal tumors that require an “en bloc” resection. This represents a complex and demanding procedure, aiming to restore spinal length, alignment and weight-bearing capacity and to provide immediate stability. Thus, in this systematic review the authors searched the literature to investigate and discuss the advantages and limitations of using 3D-printed custom-made vertebral bodies in the treatment of spinal tumors. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, with no limits in terms …

Stable isotope analysis reveals trophic segregation between the invasive zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the native duck mussel Anodonta anatin…

2022

AbstractNon-indigenous freshwater bivalves negatively affect invaded ecosystems through different mechanisms, including inter-specific competition for trophic resources. Here, we investigated in Lake Trasimeno (Central Italy) the diet of the invasive Dreissena polymorpha and the native Anodonta anatina. δ15N and δ13C stable isotopes were measured in winter and summer in bivalves, phytoplankton, and sedimentary organic matter (SOM); the relative dietary contributions of the two resources were determined using Bayesian mixing models. To elucidate the different carbon and nitrogen pools characterizing the study site, isotopic analyses were extended to zooplankton and to representatives of the …

Dosimetric characterization of an ultra-high dose rate beam for FLASH radiotherapy through alanine EPR dosimetry

2022

Experimental evidence is growing, supporting the evidence of a considerable normal tissue sparing effect when treatments are delivered with dose rates much larger with respect to the conventional ones [1]. In particular, an increasing of the therapeutic window has been demonstrated for dose rates over 50 Gy/s, over a large variety of in-vivo experiments [2]. If confirmed, the ‘FLASH effect’ has the potential to re-shape the future of radiation treatments, with a significant impact on many oncology patients [3]. Ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) beams for FLASH radiotherapy present significant dosimetric challenges [4]. Ionization chambers are affected by ion recombination effects, although novel …

Conclusions and discussion

2022

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book attempts to go beyond existing research on young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), addressing some of the important limitations that had remained largely unexplored to date. It attempts to tease out the heterogeneity in life-course patterns, individual and institutional correlates, and later consequences of prolonged NEET statuses. In the Netherlands, women were more likely than men to experience Long-term and Late NEET patterns than men. Women with children were not more likely to be Long-term NEET but were more likely to become Late NEET, …

Coulomb excitation of the vertical bar T-z vertical bar=1/2, A=23 mirror pair

2022

AGILE 3+ Score for the Diagnosis of Advanced Fibrosis and for Predicting Liver-related Events in NAFLD.

2022

Background & aims: We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of AGILE 3+, a recently developed score based on the combination of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio, platelet count, diabetes status, sex, age, and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography, when compared with Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and LSM, for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis and for the prediction of liver-related events (LREs) occurrence in patients with NAFLD. Methods: A total of 614 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD or clinical diagnosis of NAFLD-related compensated cirrhosis were enrolled. LREs were recorded during follow-up. FIB-4, LSM by transient elastography (Fi…

isotracer: An R package for the analysis of tracer addition experiments

2022

Tracer addition experiments, particularly using isotopic tracers, are becoming increasingly important in a variety of studies aiming at characterizing the flows of molecules or nutrients at different levels of biological organization, from the cellular and tissue levels, to the organismal and ecosystem levels. However, performing rigorous statistical analyses to gain reliable quantitative insights from these experiments often remains challenging. We present an approach based on Hidden Markov Models (HMM) to estimate nutrient flow parameters across a network, and its implementation in the R package isotracer. The isotracer package is capable of handling a variety of tracer study designs, inc…

SGLT2 Inhibitors as the Most Promising Influencers on the Outcome of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most frequent liver disease in the Western world, is a common hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS). A specific cure has not yet been identified, and its treatment is currently based on risk factor therapy. Given that the initial accumulation of triglycerides in the liver parenchyma, in the presence of inflammatory processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, lipotoxicity, glucotoxicity, and oxidative stress, can evolve into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The main goal is to identify the factors contributing to this evolution because, once established, untreated NASH can progress through fibrosis to cirrhosis and, ultimately, be co…

Double blind randomized clinical trial comparing minimally- invasive envelope flap and conventional envelope flap on impacted lower third molar surge…

2022

The latest trend in surgery is to look for minimally invasive procedures, with fewer complications and a shorter recovery time. This study aims to compare the minimally- invasive envelope flap, with smaller incision and fewer dissection and the conventional envelope flap, with a 20mm incision, on impacted mandibular third molar surgery, focusing on the hypothesis that there were no differences in postoperative outcomes. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was designed to compare both incisions, focused on determining the approach with minor postoperative side-effects and minor impact on quality-of-life. A total of 60 patients were enrolled for the study if their presented impacted mand…

Chemical composition, cytotoxic effects, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.) L. growing wild in the province of …

2022

Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.) L. is a perennial shrubby plant growing along the coastal strips of the Mediterranean region. It is used in traditional medicine. Its essential oil and solvent extracts exhibit a very interesting chemotherapeutic potential, which makes this plant useful in maintaining human health. The goal of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition of the petroleum ether and methanol extracts, as well as to evaluate anticancer activities and antimicrobial and biofilm formation reduction. Thirty-nine phytochemical compounds in negative ion mode, and 25 in positive ion mode were identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. All four extracts reduced the viability of human M…

Perfectionism and performance-related psychobiosocial states: The mediating role of competition appraisals.

2022

Using the multi-states (MuSt) theory as a framework, the present study focused on the individual (personality) antecedents of psychobiosocial states. Psychobiosocial states comprise emotional subjective experiences and their correlates (cognitive, motivational, volitional, bodily, motor-behavioural, operational, and communicative), that can be functional for performance (helpful) or dysfunctional (harmful). Specifically, we examined the relationships between two perfectionism dimensions (perfectionistic strivings and concerns) and functional and dysfunctional psychobiosocial states. The hypothesised mediational role of competitive appraisals was also tested. Participants (N = 271, 138 femal…

Susceptibility analysis for seismically-induced landslides: application to the 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador (C.A.)

2022

<p>The geodynamic context in which El Salvador is located, made of a convergent structure characterized by the interaction among six different plates, together with the lithological characteristics of the outcropping rocks and soils (mainly corresponding to deeply weathered acid pyroclastites, basic effusive rocks and volcanic ashes), are responsible for the very high seismically-induced landslide susceptibility of the country. These predisposing factors were decisive on the occurrence of thousands of seismically-induced landslides caused by two huge earthquakes on 13<sup>th</sup> January and 13<sup>th</sup> February 2001…

Phytochemical-rich extracts of Helianthemum lippii possess antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-biofilm activities

2022

Helianthemum lippii is a perennial shrubby plant growing in the sandy environments of Italy, Mediterranean countries of North Africa and Middle East. H. lippii is used in traditional medicine but there are very few reports referring to the phytochemical characterization, the ethnopharmacology, and the biological activity of H. lippii. The goal of this study was todetermine the phytochemical composition of different H. lippii extracts, cold (CME) and hot (HME) methanol, cold (CPEE) and hot (HPEE) petroleum ether, as well as to evaluate their anticancer and antimicrobial activities and biofilm formation reduction. Fifty-fours phytocompounds have been determined by HPLC-UV-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis…

The Lr-Variational Integral

2022

AbstractWe define the $$L^r$$ L r -variational integral and we prove that it is equivalent to the $$HK_r$$ H K r -integral defined in 2004 by P. Musial and Y. Sagher in the Studia Mathematica paper The$$L^{r}$$ L r -Henstock–Kurzweil integral. We prove also the continuity of $$L^r$$ L r -variation function.

Supplementary material 1 from: Milardi M, Green AJ, Mancini M, Trotti P, Kiljunen M, Torniainen J, Castaldelli G (2022) Invasive catfish in northern …

2022

Figures and Tables

Diversity and Distribution of the Inland Water Decapods of Sicily (Crustacea, Malacostraca)

2022

The current knowledge of Sicilian inland water decapod malacostracans is scarce and an updated synopsis on species distribution is lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the checklist and recent distribution of Sicilian inland water decapods based on published and unpublished records and novel observations with the aim of providing an exhaustive repository, also to be used as a sound baseline for future surveys. Overall, five native decapod species occur in the study area, i.e., the atyid shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii, the palaemonid shrimps Palaemon adspersus, P. antennarius, and P. elegans, and the freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile, and their current local distributions are described. In additi…