$^{113}$Cd $\beta$-decay spectrum and $g_{\rm A}$ quenching using spectral moments

2023

We present an alternative analysis of the $^{113}$Cd $\beta$-decay electron energy spectrum in terms of spectral moments $\mu_n$, corresponding to the averaged values of $n^{\rm th}$ powers of the $\beta$ particle energy. The zeroth moment $\mu_0$ is related to the decay rate, while higher moments $\mu_n$ are related to the spectrum shape. The here advocated spectral-moment method (SMM) allows for a complementary understanding of previous results, obtained using the so-called spectrum-shape method (SSM) and its revised version, in terms of two free parameters: $r=g_{\rm A}/g_{\rm V}$ (the ratio of axial-vector to vector couplings) and $s$ (the small vector-like relativistic nuclear matrix e…

Mapping CAP-A satellite DNAs by FISH in Sapajus cay paraguay and S. macrocephalus (Platyrrhini, Primates)

2023

Satellite DNAs such as Cap-A sequences are potentially informative taxonomic and phylogenetic markers useful for characterizing primate genomes. They have also been used as cytogenetic markers facilitating species identification in many taxa. The aim of this work is to map Cap-A sequences by FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) on two Platyrrhini (Primates) species genomes, Sapajus cay paraguay and S. macrocephalus, in order to study their distribution pattern on chromosomes. The Cap-A probes showed bright signals with almost the same interstitial pattern of distribution in correspondence with C and CMA3 rich regions on six pairs of chromosomes in both Sapajus species. An additional pai…

Multiplexed vortex beam-based optical tweezers

2023

The design and implementation of a multiplexed spiral phase mask in an experimental optical tweezer setup are presented. This diffractive optical element allows the generation of multiple concentric vortex beams with independent topological charges. The generalization of the phase mask for multiple concentric vortices is also shown. The design for a phase mask of two multiplexed vortices with different topological charges is developed. We experimentally show the transfer of angular momentum to the optically trapped microparticles by enabling orbiting dynamics around the optical axis independently within each vortex. The angular velocity of the confined particles versus the optical power in …

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.

2023

Background and ObjectivesCOVID-19–related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.MethodsThis was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. With a doubly robust model combining propensity score weighting and multivariate regress…

Topological transition in Pb1-xSnxSe using Meta-GGA

2023

We calculate the mirror Chern number (MCN) and the band gap for the alloy Pb1-xSnxSe as a function of the concentration x by using virtual crystalline approximation. We use the electronic structure from the relativistic density functional theory calculations in the Generalized-Gradient- Approximation (GGA) and meta-GGA approximation. Using the modified Becke-Johnson meta- GGA functional, our results are comparable with the available experimental data for the MCN as well as for the band gap. We advise to use modified Becke-Johnson approximation with the parameter c=1.10 to describe the transition from trivial to topological phase for this class of compounds.

Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection II: experimental study

2023

Abstract In our previous paper we have modelled a dielectrophoretic force (DEP) and cell particle behavior in a microfluidic channel (Weber MU et al 2023 Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection I: theoretical basis of electrode design Nanotechnology this issue). Here we test and confirm the results of our modeling work by experimentally validating the theoretical design constraints of the ring electrode architecture. We have compared and tested the geometry and particle capture and separation performance of the two separate electrode designs (the ring and dot electrode structures) by investigating bacterial motion in response to the applied electric field. We …

Glucosylsphingosine (Lyso-Gb1) as a reliable biomarker in Gaucher disease: a narrative review

2023

Abstract Background Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare, inherited, autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, acid β-glucosidase. Its diagnosis is achieved via measurements of acid β-glucosidase activity in either fresh peripheral blood leukocytes or dried blood spots, and confirmed by identifying characteristic mutations in the GBA1 gene. Currently, several biomarkers are available for disease monitoring. Chitotriosidase has been used over the last 20 years to assess the severity of GD, but lacks specificity in GD patients. Conversely, the deacylated form of glucosylceramide, glucosylsphingosine (also known as lyso-Gb1), represents a more reliable biomarker ch…

Exercise as therapy for neurodevelopmental and cognitive dysfunction in people with a Fontan circulation: A narrative review

2023

People with a Fontan circulation are at risk of neurodevelopmental delay and disability, and cognitive dysfunction, that has significant implications for academic and occupational attainment, psychosocial functioning, and overall quality of life. Interventions for improving these outcomes are lacking. This review article discusses current intervention practices and explores the evidence supporting exercise as a potential intervention for improving cognitive functioning in people living with a Fontan circulation. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning these associations are discussed in the context of Fontan physiology and avenues for future research are recommended.

A Biodegradable, Bio-Based Polymer for the Production of Tools for Aquaculture: Processing, Properties and Biodegradation in Sea Water

2023

Bio-based, biodegradable polymers can dramatically reduce the carbon dioxide released into the environment by substituting fossil-derived polymers in some applications. In this work, prototypes of trays for aquaculture applications were produced via injection molding by using a biodegradable polymer, Mater-Bi®. A characterization carried out via calorimetric, rheological and mechanical tests revealed that the polymer employed shows properties suitable for the production of tools to be used in aquaculture applications. Moreover, the samples were subjected to a biodegradation test in conditions that simulate the marine environment. The as-treated samples were characterized from gravimetrical,…

Lifestyles and Quality of Life of People with Mental Illness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the quality of life (QoL), daily lifestyle, and mental health of people suffering from a mental disorder. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the prolongation of the COVID-19 emergency on QoL and lifestyles in a sample of 100 outpatients at the Psychiatry Unit in Palermo University Hospital, Italy. QoL was measured through the 12-item Short Form Survey and the COV19-Impact on Quality of Life. Lifestyle changes during the pandemic were measured through the lifestyle change questionnaire. The majority of participants reported a great impact of COVID-19 on the QoL, and almost half reported worsened lifestyles. Worsened li…

The The Land Cadastre in Italy and some fiscal implications: a case study

2023

The Land Cadastre, as an inventory of all relevant real estate in a territory, and most importantly, as a national tax system is, or at least should be, the protago-nist of fiscal, social and civil implications affecting the Italian context. According to unitary farmland incomes, the last revision dates back to 1978-1979, a period that no longer reflects the country’s current socioeconomic situation and does not consider the changes the land market has undergone over the years. Through the analysis of 183 purchases and sales of agricultural land in two districts in western Sicily, this research aims at verifying the adequacy or inadequacy of the current cadastral tariffs. Based on the price…

Editorial: Congenital and perinatal infections: How to prevent sequelaes in neonates and children

2023

The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has overwhelmingly absorbed attention and health resources for 2 years, allowing us to reflect that infections are a permanent health and social problem, causing morbidity and mortality. They require organization, important prevention measures, and containment. This is particularly true in the neonatal age, where infections remain a complex problem with serious consequences.

Zero-frequency chiral magnonic edge states protected by non-equilibrium topology

2023

Topological bosonic excitations must, in contrast to their fermionic counterparts, appear at finite energies. This is a key challenge for magnons, as it prevents straightforward excitation and detection of topologically-protected magnonic edge states and their use in magnonic devices. In this work, we show that in a non-equilibrium state, in which the magnetization is pointing against the external magnetic field, the topologically-protected chiral edge states in a magnon Chern insulator can be lowered to zero frequency, making them directly accessible by existing experimental techniques. We discuss the spin-transfer torque required to stabilize this non-equilibrium state, and show explicitl…

Measurement of Prosocial Tendencies: Meta-Analysis of the Generalization of the Reliability of the Instrument

2023

The Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM) and its revised version (PTM-R) are used internationally to measure prosocial behaviors in different life situations. To obtain accumulated evidence of the report and the reliability of its scores, a meta-analysis of the reliability of internal consistency was performed. The databases of Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus were reviewed and all the studies that applied it from 2002 to 2021 were selected. Results: Only 47.9% of the studies presented the index of reliability of PTM and PTM-R. The meta-analytic results of the reliability report of the subscales that the PTM and the PTM-R have in common were: Public 0.78 (95% CI: 0.76–0.80), Anonymous 0.80 (95…

The Feasibility of a Text-Messaging Intervention Promoting Physical Activity in Shift Workers : A Process Evaluation

2023

Workplace health promotion programs (WHPPs) can improve shift workers’ physical activity. The purpose of this paper is to present the process evaluation of a text messaging health promotion intervention for mining shift workers during a 24-day shift cycle. Data collected from intervention participants with a logbook (n = 25) throughout the intervention, exit interviews (n = 7) and online surveys (n = 17) examined the WHPP using the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) framework. The program reached 66% of workers across three departments, with 15% of participants dropping out. The program showed the potential to be adopted if the recruitment strategies are impr…

Synthesis and Characterizations of Novel Isatin-s-Triazine Hydrazone Derivatives : X-ray Structure, Hirshfeld Analysis and DFT Calculations

2023

A novel series of isatin-s-triazine hydrazone derivatives has been synthesized and reported herein. The synthetic methodology involved the reaction of s-triazine hydrazine precursors with isatin derivatives in the presence of CH3COOH as a catalyst and EtOH as solvent to afford the corresponding target products 6a-e in high yields and purities. The characterization data obtained from elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR (1H- and 13C-) were in full agreement with the expected structures. Furthermore, an X-ray single crystal diffraction study of one of the target s-triazine hydrazone derivatives, 6c confirmed the structure of the desired compounds. It crystallized in the triclinic crystal system and…

Józefa Brągiel, Beata Górnicka (red.), Rodzicielstwo – wybrane aspekty funkcjonowania, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, Opole 2021

2023

Maximum mass and stability of differentially rotating neutrons stars

2023

We present our study of stability of differentially rotating, axisymmetric neutron stars described by a polytropic equation of state with $\Gamma = 2$. We focus on quasi-toroidal solutions with a degree of differential rotation $\widetilde A=1$. Our results show that for a wide range of parameters hypermassive, quasi-toroidal neutron stars are dynamically stable against quasi-radial perturbations, which may have implications for newly born neutron stars and binary neutron stars mergers.

Discovery of the 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazine-Based Library as Selective PDK1 Inhibitors with Therapeutic Potential in Highly Aggressive Pancreatic Ductal …

2023

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs) are serine/threonine kinases, that are directly involved in altered cancer cell metabolism, resulting in cancer aggressiveness and resistance. Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is the first PDK inhibitor that has entered phase II clinical; however, several side effects associated with weak anticancer activity and excessive drug dose (100 mg/kg) have led to its limitation in clinical application. Building upon a molecular hybridization approach, a small library of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazine derivatives has been designed, synthesized, and characterized for their PDK inhibitory activity using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays. Biochemical screenings showed that …

A Register Study Suggesting Homotypic and Heterotypic Comorbidity Among Individuals With Learning Disabilities

2023

The present study examined whether learning disabilities (LD) in reading and/or math (i.e., reading disability [RD], math disability [MD], and RD+MD) co-occur with other diagnoses. The data comprised a clinical sample (n= 430) with LD identified in childhood and a sample of matched controls (n= 2,140). Their medical diagnoses (according to the International Classification of Diseases nosology) until adulthood (20–39 years) were analyzed. The co-occurrence of LD with neurodevelopmental disorders was considered a homotypic comorbidity, and co-occurrence with disorders or diseases from the other diagnostic categories (i.e., mental and behavioral disorders, diseases of the nervous system, injur…

A Feasible Framework for Maintenance Digitalization

2023

The entire industry is changing as a result of new developments in digital technology, and maintenance management is a crucial procedure that may take advantage of the opportunities brought about by industrial digitalization. To support digital innovation in maintenance management, this study intends to meet the cutting-edge necessity of addressing a transformation strategy in industrial contexts. Setting up a customized pathway with adequate methodologies, digitalization tools, and collaboration between the several stakeholders involved in the maintenance environment is the first step in this process. The results of a previous conference contribution, which revealed important digitalizatio…

The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

2023

Funder: Amazon Web Services (AWS) Imagine Grant

Subduction initiation triggered the Caribbean large igneous province

2023

AbstractSubduction provides the primary driving force for plate tectonics. However, the mechanisms leading to the formation of new subduction zones remain debated. An example is the Lesser Antilles Arc in the Atlantic. Previous initiation mechanisms have implied the transmission of subduction from the Pacific Ocean or the impact of a plume head. Here, we use geodynamic models to simulate the evolution of the Caribbean region during the Cretaceous, where the eastern Pacific subduction triggered the formation of a new subduction zone in the Atlantic. The simulations show how the collision of the old Caribbean plateau with the Central America margin lead to the formation of a new Atlantic subd…

Useful Evidence by Post-Mortem CT and Stereomicroscopy in Bone Injury: A Case Series from Forensic Practice

2023

The investigation of bone injuries is an essential topic in forensics. We sometimes have to deal with charred or dismembered human remains that have lost soft tissue, making it difficult to diagnose the mechanisms of injury that led to death. Our contribution aims to share with the scientific community how we approached two cases of very different bone injuries and the techniques used to differentiate relevant pathology findings of bone fragments. Two cases are analyzed from the case history of the forensic medicine institute of Palermo. PMCT made it possible to differentiate heat bone lesions from traumatic lesions. The stereomicroscope was superior to PMCT in being able to better characte…

Adding Transitivity and Counting to the Fluted Fragment

2023

We study the impact of adding both counting quantifiers and a single transitive relation to the fluted fragment - a fragment of first-order logic originating in the work of W.V.O. Quine. The resulting formalism can be viewed as a multi-variable, non-guarded extension of certain systems of description logic featuring number restrictions and transitive roles, but lacking role-inverses. We establish the finite model property for our logic, and show that the satisfiability problem for its k-variable sub-fragment is in (k+1)-NExpTime. We also derive ExpSpace-hardness of the satisfiability problem for the two-variable, fluted fragment with one transitive relation (but without counting quantifiers…

Organizational Performance Dynamics : a preliminary model

2023

The main objective of this model (an Interactive Learning Environment) is to help the reader understand how employees' motivational dynamics influence organizational performance. The model will allow you, through an iterative learning process, to understand: - the feedback structure of dynamic organizational performance system - the main motivational variables that influence the organizational performance - the organizational levers able to affect the employees' motivational dynamics The model will allow the reader to figure out the complex relationship between employee motivation and organizational performance through an "experimental" approach, using the simulation features provided by th…

The chemical composition of the aerial parts essential oil of Ferulago nodosa (L.) Boiss. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Crete (Greece)

2023

Ferulago nodosa (L.) Boiss. (Apiaceae) is a species occurring in the Balkan-Tyrrhenian area being present in Crete, Greece, Albania, and probably in Macedonia. Although the western disjointed population of Sicily has been classified as an endemic sub-species, F. nodosa subsp. geniculata (Guss.) Troia & Raimondo, its official acceptance is quite controversial. In order to verify the existence of two different sub-species, we investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil of F. nodosa, collected in Crete (Greece), not previously reported, and we compared it with the previously oil compositions reported in literature. Main constituents of the Cretan accessions of F. nodosa were…

"GONE WITH THE WIND": The Transitory Effects of COVID-19 on the Gynecological System

2023

The coronavirus disease no longer seems to represent an insurmountable global problem. This is thanks to the advent of coronavirus vaccines, which have alleviated the most serious symptoms associated with this disease. On the other hand, there are still many extrapulmonary symptoms of COVID-19, and among these also those of a gynecological nature. At the moment, there are several questions in this field, one above all concerns the causal link between COVID-19, vaccines and gynecological alterations. Furthermore, another important aspect is represented by the clinical impact of post-COVID-19 gynecological alterations on the female population which, to date, would seem to be mainly due to the…

Street art as a transforming agent of public space in Arab World. Case study of two artistic groups in Tunisia.

2023

The public space in the Arab World has historically been controlled and seized by political authorities. This appropriation has created a deep rift between citizens and public places. Nevertheless, since the beginning of the Arab revolutions, new youth art forms have emerged liberating the arts from traditional formalism and these have been transferred to open spaces making them accessible to the people. This research seeks to explore the youth street art that emerged during the Tunisian revolution, not only as an innovative artistic trend, but also as a social movement that claims a new kind of citizenship. It aims to analyze the philosophical and aesthetic purposes of street art and its r…

PL Holdings case: The Investor Ordered to Pay the Expropriating State's Costs, a New Consequence of Achmea

2023

European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2022 7(3), 1131-1139

Epidemiology and outcomes of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in intensive care unit patients: the EUROBACT-2 international cohort study.

2023

Purpose: In the critically ill, hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSI) are associated with significant mortality. Granular data are required for optimizing management, and developing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: We carried out a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with HA-BSI treated in intensive care units (ICUs) between June 2019 and February 2021. Results: 2600 patients from 333 ICUs in 52 countries were included. 78% HA-BSI were ICU-acquired. Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 8 [IQR 5; 11] at HA-BSI diagnosis. Most frequent sources of infection included pneumonia (26.7%) and intravascular catheters…

Age and Cytokine Gene Variants Modulate the Immunogenicity and Protective Effect of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based Vaccination

2023

The introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in late 2020 substantially changed the pandemic picture, inducing effective protection in the population. However, individual variability was observed with different levels of cellular response and neutralizing antibodies. We report data on the impact of age, gender, and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers measured 31 and 105 days after administration of the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine to 122 healthy subjects from the health care staff of the Palermo University Hospital, Italy. The higher titers at 31 days were measured in the younger subjects and in subjects bearing T-positive genotyp…

La disclosure ambientale in Europa: evidenze dalle aziende quotate dell’Indice Euro Stoxx50

2023

The present study aims to detect the main internal and external determinants that influence corporate environmental disclosure practices. The empirical methodology consists of the development and use of an environmental disclosure dictionary specifically designed to examine corporate annual reports, in a fixed effect panel data econometric model, and in a difference-in-differences analysis. The sample analyzed includes those firms belonging to the Euro Stoxx 50 index, whose annual reports have been examined over the 2010 – 2019 time period. The main results show the existence of a non-linear relationship between firm size and environmental disclosure, whilst other firm-specific variables do…

Relationship between occupational and leisure-time physical activity and the need for recovery after work

2023

Abstract Background Health benefits of physical activity are very well acknowledged but the role of both occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in recovery after work is not thoroughly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between accelerometer-measured OPA and LTPA and the need for recovery after work (NFR) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals. Methods The study participants were 217 female ECEC professionals aged 17–64. Physical activity was recorded with a three-axis accelerometer (ActiGraph GT9X Link, ActiGraph, USA) for seven consecutive days. Separate analyses were conducted for both OPA a…

Loss framing effect on reducing excessive red and processed meat consumption: Evidence from Italy

2023

A reduction of meat consumption is crucial for addressing public health problems, especially in industrialized countries. Among low-cost interventions, emotionally provocative health-information strategies could be effective options in fostering meat reduction. Through an online experimental survey, administrated to a quota-based national sample (N = 1142), this study analysed the profile of Italians consuming red/processed meat above World Health Organization (WHO) recommended amounts. Via a between-subjects design, the research tested whether two health frame-nudges (societal impact and individual impact of over consumption) persuaded these individuals to reduce future meat consumption. R…

Inverse problems for semilinear elliptic PDE with measurements at a single point

2023

We consider the inverse problem of determining a potential in a semilinear elliptic equation from the knowledge of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map. For bounded Euclidean domains we prove that the potential is uniquely determined by the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map measured at a single boundary point, or integrated against a fixed measure. This result is valid even when the Dirichlet data is only given on a small subset of the boundary. We also give related uniqueness results on Riemannian manifolds.