Russia’s cultural policy abroad as a projection of the “Russian World”

2023

The policy review discusses the recent developments in Russian cultural policy. These developments incorporate Russian culture into its geo-political ambitions. Obviously, the war in Ukraine makes these developments relevant. However, this review piece also seeks to explain the place of cultural policy in the Russian political system and the scope of its geopolitical ambitions. nonPeerReviewed

Crotofolane Diterpenoids and Other Constituents Isolated from Croton kilwae

2023

Six new crotofolane diterpenoids (1-6) and 13 known compounds (7-19) were isolated from the MeOH- CH2Cl2 (1:1, v/v) extracts of the leaves and stem bark of Croton kilwae. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The structure of crotokilwaepoxide A (1) was confirmed by single -crystal X-ray diffraction, allowing for the determination of its absolute configuration. The crude extracts and the isolated compounds were investigated for antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human rhinovirus type-2 (HRV-2) in HEp-2 and HeLa cells, respectively, for antibacterial activity against the Gram-posit…

Wrapping up Metal-Organic Framework Crystals with Carbon Nanotubes

2023

The presence of tetrazine units in the organic nodes of UiO- 68-TZCD controls the formation of ultrathin coatings of single wall nanotubes that decorate the surface of the crystal. These crystal hybrids can be prepared straightforwardly in one step and are extraordinarily respectful with the properties of the framework for combination of mesoporosity and surface areas near 4.000 m·g-1 ,with excellent stability in water, and conductivities at room temperature of 4·10-2 S·cm-1 even at very low carbon weight contents (2.3 wt%).

Liver involvement in patients with COVID-19 infection: A comprehensive overview of diagnostic imaging features

2023

During the first wave of the pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been considered mainly as a pulmonary infection. However, different clinical and radiological manifestations were observed over time, including involvement of abdominal organs. Nowadays, the liver is considered one of the main affected abdominal organs. Hepatic involvement may be caused by either a direct damage by the virus or an indirect damage related to COVID-19 induced thrombosis or to the use of different drugs. After clinical assessment, radiology plays a key role in the evaluation of liver involvement. Ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be use…

Paikka, materia ja maskuliinisuus syrjäseudulla aikuistuvien poikien elämässä

2023

Associations of serum 25(OH)D levels with physical performance and anabolic hormones in young men

2023

Purpose: The present study examined the association of vitamin D measured by serum 25(OH)D with physical performance outcomes and serum levels of anabolic hormones in young men.Methods: 412 young men (age 19 ± 1 year) entering their compulsory military service volunteered to participate in the study. The study consisted of two groups from two different military bases: Group A was studied in January and group B in July. The groups were first compared with each other and due to statistically significant (p < 0.001 analyzed with independent samples t-test) differences in physical condition (sit-up, push-up, and standing long jump-tests and testosterone levels) between the groups, groups…

Match Load Physical Demands in U-19 Professional Soccer Players Assessed by a Wearable Inertial Sensor

2023

Background: Wearable inertial sensors are poorly used in soccer to monitor external load (EL) indicators. However, these devices could be useful for improving sports performance and potentially reducing the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the EL indicators (i.e., cinematic, mechanical, and metabolic) differences between playing positions (i.e., central backs, external strikers, fullbacks, midfielders, and wide midfielder) during the first half time of four official matches (OMs). Methods: 13 young professional soccer players (Under-19; age: 18.5 ± 0.4 years; height: 177 ± 6 cm; weight: 67 ± 4.8 kg) were monitored through a wearable inertial sens…

Longitudinal associations of movement behaviours with body composition and physical fitness from 4 to 9 years of age: structural equation and mediati…

2023

Background The associations of movement behaviours (physical activity [PA], sedentary behaviour [SB], and sleep) with body composition and physical fitness from pre-school to childhood, as well as the direction of the associations, could provide important information for healthy lifestyle promotion in children. This study investigated the longitudinal and bidirectional associations of movement behaviours with body composition and physical fitness measured at 4 and 9 years of age. Methods This longitudinal study included baseline (n = 315, 4.5 [SD = 0.1] years) and follow-up data (n = 231, 9.6 [SD = 0.1] years) from the MINISTOP study. Movement behaviours were measured for 7 days using wrist…

Rheological Behaviors of Waste Polyethylene Modified Asphalt Binder: Statistical Analysis of Interlaboratory Testing Results

2023

This article investigated the effect of waste polyethylene (PE) on the modified asphalt binders' rheological behavior from a statistical point of view. The interlaboratory testing results from the RILEM Technical Committee 279 Valorization of Waste and Secondary Materials for Roads Task Group 1 were used for this purpose. First, an unaged 70/100 penetration graded neat binder was selected as the reference material. Next, a single 5 % content of waste PE additives (PE-pellets and PE-shreds) was mixed with a 95 % neat binder to prepare two PE modified binders. Then, dynamic shear rheometer-based temperature-frequency sweep tests were performed over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies…

Microchimerism in multiple sclerosis: The association between sex of offspring and MRI features in women with multiple sclerosis

2023

AimsDuring pregnancy, fetal cells can migrate to the mother via blood circulation. A percentage of these cells survive in maternal tissues for decades generating a population of fetal microchimeric cells (fMCs), whose biological role is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the sex of offspring, an indirect marker of fMCs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in women with multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsWe recruited 26 nulliparous MS patients (NPp), 20 patients with at least one male son (XYp), and 8 patients with only daughters (XXp). Each patient underwent brain MR scan to acquire 3D-T2w FLAIR FatSat and 3D-T1w FSPGR/TFE. Lesion Segmentation To…

The effectiveness of the HIPPA intervention in the sociocultural environment of ECEC physical activity

2023

Studies have shown that, on average, children’s physical activity (PA) levels in early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments are low, thus opening up the possibility of interventions. We examined the effect of the teacher-implemented one-year long ‘home-and-childcare-based intervention to promote physical activity’ (HIPPA) study on children’s PA in ECEC settings in Finland. Participating four-year-old children (N = 128) were cluster-randomised into two groups, intervention (seven childcare centres) and control (seven childcare centres), in autumn 2011. The children were observed directly during their ECEC times. Multilevel linear analysis was used to test the PA differences betwe…

Are customer star ratings and sentiments aligned? A deep learning study of the customer service experience in tourism destinations

2023

AbstractThis study explores the consistency between star ratings and sentiments expressed in online reviews and how they relate to the different components of the customer experience. We combine deep learning applied to natural language processing, machine learning and artificial neural networks to identify how the positive and negative components of 20,954 online reviews posted on TripAdvisor about tourism attractions in Venice impact on their overall polarity and star ratings. Our findings showed that sentiment valence is aligned with star ratings. A cancel-out effect operates between the positive and negative sentiments linked to the service experience dimensions in mixed-neutral reviews.

Participatory budgeting for young people as democratic socialisation : An approach to the case of Spain

2023

This article analyses participatory budgets for young people (children and adolescents) held in Spanish municipalities during the period 2015-2021. A questionnaire was made and 35 valid responses were obtained after it was distributed by UNICEF Spain during July-September 2021. The data were processed using MAXQDA 2022 software, and the study characterised the language, strategy, objectives, phases and participants. From these last three variables, a document map was made to generate clusters and find affinities between cases. The main findings reveal the importance of the role of municipal officials and politicians, as well as the existence of three participatory budget models.

Analysis of Operational Parameters in Acid and Base Production Using an Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes Pilot Plant

2023

In agreement with the Water Framework Directive, Circular Economy and European Union (EU) Green Deal packages, the EU-funded WATER-MINING project aims to validate next-generation water resource solutions at the pre-commercial demonstration scale in order to provide water management and recovery of valuable materials from alternative sources. In the framework of the WATER-MINING project, desalination brines from the Lampedusa (Italy) seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant will be used to produce freshwater and recover valuable salts by integrating different technologies. In particular, electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM) will be used to produce chemicals (NaOH and HCl). A novel EDBM…

Associations between adolescents’ energy drink consumption frequency and several negative health indicators

2023

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to identify how various negative health indicators are associated with energy drink consumption frequency among 13- and 15-year-old Finnish adolescents. Methods Data (N = 2429) from the nationally representative international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (2018) were analyzed via descriptive analysis and logistic regression analyses, with control for salient covariates. Relative risks (RR) were derived from the adjusted odds ratios. Results Even infrequent energy drink consumption was associated with various negative health indicators. Moreover, as compared to non-users, frequent energy drink consumers were more likely to re…

Time-based Chern number in periodically driven systems in the adiabatic limit

2023

To define the topology of driven systems, recent works have proposed synthetic dimensions as a way to uncover the underlying parameter space of topological invariants. Using time as a synthetic dimension, together with a momentum dimension, gives access to a synthetic two-dimensional (2D) Chern number. It is, however, still unclear how the synthetic 2D Chern number is related to the Chern number that is defined from a parametric variable that evolves with time. Here we show that in periodically driven systems in the adiabatic limit, the synthetic 2D Chern number is a multiple of the Chern number defined from the parametric variable. The synthetic 2D Chern number can thus be engineered via h…

On the effects of suitably designed space microstructures in the propagation of waves in time modulated composites

2023

In the one-dimensional case, the amplitude of a pulse that propagates in a homogeneous material whose properties are instantaneously changed in time will undergo an exponential increase due to the interference between the reflected and transmitted pulses generated at each sudden switch. Here, we resolve the issue by designing suitable reciprocal PT-symmetric space-time microstructures so that the interference between the scattered waves is such that the overall amplitude of the wave will be constant in time in each constituent material. Remarkably, for the geometries proposed here, a pulse will propagate with constant amplitude regardless of the impedance between the constituent materials,…

Physical play - How do we inspire and motivate young children to be physically active through play? An international analysis of twelve countries’ na…

2023

Lifelong movement and physical activity (PA) patterns develop during early childhood. Therefore, educators (teachers and practitioners) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) should provide opportunities to support children’s play, PA, and movement development. The World Health Organization (2019) offers new recommendations for PA, for children under five years. The guidelines do not specify the ways ECEC staff can support PA through play. Therefore, this paper investigates, how physical play (PP) is enacted globally. An international policy and practice analysis of twelve countries, (Australia [Victoria], Belgium [Flanders], Canada [Alberta], China, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal,…

A georeferenced dataset of Italian occurrence records of the phylum Rotifera

2023

We report a dataset of known and published occurrence records of Italian taxa from species (and subspecies) to family rank of the phylum Rotifera; we considered only Bdelloidea, Monogononta, and Seisonacea, and did not include Acanthocephala. The dataset in-cludes 15,525 records (12,015 of which with georeferenced coordinates) of 584 valid species and subspecies names and other taxa at family level, gathered from 332 published papers. The published literature spans the period from 1838 to 2022, with the lowest number of papers published during the first half of the twentieth century, followed by an increasing number of papers, from 20 to more than 60 in each decade. The Italian regions with…

Perceptions of physical education in early childhood teacher education courses

2023

The engagement in movement skills in early childhood education care is a key component of promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, the literature shows that early childhood teachers' insufficient training and lack of policies to support physical education (PE) negatively impact children's education on movement activities in their early years (Sharma et al., 2014). The aim of this case study was to describe teacher educators’ (TE) perceptions from three different countries regarding the purpose of PE in early childhood teacher education (ECTE) program. One TE from each of Brazil, Finland, and the USA was invited were the participants of this study. Data were collected through interviews and P…

Bounded weak solutions to superlinear Dirichlet double phase problems

2023

AbstractIn this paper we study a Dirichlet double phase problem with a parametric superlinear right-hand side that has subcritical growth. Under very general assumptions on the data, we prove the existence of at least two nontrivial bounded weak solutions to such problem by using variational methods and critical point theory. In contrast to other works we do not need to suppose the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition.

Solid‐state NMR Spectroscopy of Iodine(I) Complexes

2023

Solid-state NMR has been applied to a series of Barluenga-type iodine(I) [L-I-L]PF6 (L=pyridine, 4-ethylpyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, isoquinoline) complexes as their hexafluorophosphate salts, as well as their respective non-liquid ligands (L), their precursor silver(I) complexes, and the respective N-methylated pyridinium and quinolinium hexafluorophoshate salts. These results are compared and contrasted to the corresponding solution studies and single-crystal X-ray structures. As the first study of its kind on the solid-state NMR behavior of halogen(I) complexes, practical considerations are also discussed to encourage wider utilization of this technique in the future. peerReviewed

CT Radiomic Features and Clinical Biomarkers for Predicting Coronary Artery Disease

2023

AbstractThis study was aimed to investigate the predictive value of the radiomics features extracted from pericoronaric adipose tissue — around the anterior interventricular artery (IVA) — to assess the condition of coronary arteries compared with the use of clinical characteristics alone (i.e., risk factors). Clinical and radiomic data of 118 patients were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 93 radiomics features were extracted for each ROI around the IVA, and 13 clinical features were used to build different machine learning models finalized to predict the impairment (or otherwise) of coronary arteries. Pericoronaric radiomic features improved prediction above the use of risk factors alon…

Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Voltage-Controlled Split-Pi Converter Interfacing a High-Voltage ESS with a DC Microgrid

2023

The Split-pi converter can suitably interface an energy storage system (ESS) with a DC microgrid when galvanic isolation is not needed. Usually, the ESS voltage is lower than the grid-side voltage. However, limitations in terms of the ESS current make the use of a high-voltage ESS unavoidable when high power levels are required. In such cases, the ESS voltage can be higher than the microgrid voltage, especially with low microgrid voltages such as 48 V. Despite its bidirectionality and symmetry, the Split-pi exhibits a completely different dynamic behavior if its input and output ports are exchanged. Thus, the present work aims to model the Split-pi converter operating with an ESS voltage hi…

Measuring Rainfall Kinetic Power in Two Sicilian Experimental Areas by Drop-Size Distribution Data

2023

The rainfall kinetic energy, which affects soil erosion processes, can be calculated by the drop-size distribution (DSD) and falling velocity. This study presents the outcomes derived by the DSDs recorded with the same optical disdrometer in two experimental areas, located in Sicily (southern Italy). Specifically, the DSDs were recorded from March 2017 to December 2019 at Sparacia and from June 2006 to April 2014 at Palermo. The aims of this paper are both to compare the DSDs for the two sites and to evaluate the applicability of Gamma theoretical distribution. Moreover, the relations of rainfall kinetic power vs. rainfall intensity are assessed. Differences in DSDs, especially for rainfall…

MRONJ in breast cancer patients under bone modifying agents for cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL): a multi-hospital-based case series

2023

Abstract Background Cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL) is the most common adverse event experienced by patients affected by breast cancer (BC) patients, without bone metastases. Bone modifying agents (BMAs) therapy is prescribed for the prevention of CTIBL, but it exposes patients to the risk of MRONJ. Methods This multicentre hospital-based retrospective study included consecutive non-metastatic BC patients affected by MRONJ related to exposure to low-dose BMAs for CTIBL prevention. Patients’ data were retrospectively collected from the clinical charts of seven recruiting Italian centres. Results MRONJ lesions were found in fifteen females (mean age 67.5 years), mainly in the mandi…

Mapping Seasonal Variability of Buildings Electricity Demand profiles in Mediterranean Small Islands

2023

In communities with a high tourist influx and warm climate, such as Mediterranean small islands, the energy demands for space cooling and domestic hot water are expected to significantly increase during summer. Considering the current energy context, for succeeding energy transition and reducing the dependency on not endogenous fossil fuels, it is paramount to increase the deployment of renewable sources of energy, especially wind and solar which, however, are aleatory and unpredictable. Hence, to reduce the high costs for energy supply in these contexts, the analysis of the variation of energy consumption is fundamental. Moreover, mapping the spatial distribution of energy profiles can be …

Opportunities for Fundamental Physics Research with Radioactive Molecules

2023

Molecules containing short-lived, radioactive nuclei are uniquely positioned to enable a wide range of scientific discoveries in the areas of fundamental symmetries, astrophysics, nuclear structure, and chemistry. Recent advances in the ability to create, cool, and control complex molecules down to the quantum level, along with recent and upcoming advances in radioactive species production at several facilities around the world, create a compelling opportunity to coordinate and combine these efforts to bring precision measurement and control to molecules containing extreme nuclei. In this manuscript, we review the scientific case for studying radioactive molecules, discuss recent atomic, mo…

A married couple of mathematicians from Vienna remembers Sigmund Freud (1953)

2023

Argument The paper is based on a hitherto unexplored document (audiotape of an interview accompanied by a German transcript) from 1953, located in the Freud Papers at the Library of Congress. It contributes to a better understanding of the impact of Freud and of Psychoanalysis on personalities from the exact sciences, here represented by the noted applied mathematicians Richard von Mises and Hilda Geiringer from Vienna. The detailed discussion of the interview sheds some new light on the different roles of Kraus and Freud in the Vienna culture, on the Vienna Jugendkulturbewegung (youth culture movement) during WWI in which Geiringer was involved, on Freud’s and Siegfried Bernfeld’s standing…

Advances in experimental characterization and modelling of FRCM composites for structural retrofitting

2023

Questa tesi presenta i risultati di una campagna sperimentale incentrata sulla caratterizzazione della trazione dei basalt e glass FRCM e della caratterizzazione del legame di aderenza composito-Calcarenite. Il lavoro sperimentale è completato dalla proposta di due modelli numerici sia per prove di trazione che per quelle di aderenza. L'indagine sperimentale è stata condotta considerando l'influenza di diversi rinforzi, matrici e metodi di prova. I risultati sperimentali consentono di valutare l'effetto della malta sulle curve sforzo-deformazione, la resistenza, la duttilità e le modalità di crisi. Inoltre, la tesi fornisce un importante contributo per valutare l'influenza di diversi metodi…

Monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a reliable biomarker for urosepsis

2023

Long- and short-term stability of all polarization-maintaining thulium doped passively mode-locked fiber lasers with emission wavelengths at 1.95 µm …

2023

In this work, we compare the operation of a passively modelocked polarization-maintaining emission in two thulium-doped fiber lasers pumped at 1561 nm, with emission at wavelengths of 1.951 μm in one case and 2.07 μm in the other. We obtained a sequence of light pulses at 15.6 MHz, whose temporal width was 81 ps at 1.95 μm, and a sequence of light pulses at 13.1 MHz, whose temporal width was 94 ps at 2.07 μm. Finally, we also measured the long-term stability of this setup during a 24-h operation, as well as the short-term stability in a simulated harsh environment. The results confirm the superior performance of fiber laser systems with a fully polarization-maintaining design.

Molecular states of D*D*K¯* nature

2023

“L’arte dei muri a secco”, confronti tra esperienze per la conservazione del patrimonio culturale dei paesaggi rurali

2023

The European rural landscape has been designed for centuries by the art of the construction of dry stone walls and by the arrangement of terraced bands, becoming a cultural expression of identity common also to rural contexts geographically distant from each other. In 2018, eight European countries obtained the transnational recognition of the “Art of dry stone walls” in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The contribution questions, on the basis of some case studies, how UNESCO recognition can concretely favor the start of that necessary support for studies and conservation of the knowledge preserved in the experience of the workers, who often lack professional recognition and re…

The role of overlayered nitride electro-materials for N2 reduction to ammonia

2023

Following our previous report on N2 reduction reaction (NRR) on the surface of nitrides, we investigated the influence of incorporation of titanium nitride as a stable and inactive-NRR material into the structure of DFT-predicted NRR-active surfaces of chromium, vanadium, niobium, and zirconium nitrides. The outcome of our density functional theory (DFT) based analyses suggests that combination of titanium nitride with vanadium nitride can enhance the potential-determining step of the reaction with up to 20% compared to pure vanadium nitride while maintaining similar number of proton-electron transfer steps for formation of two ammonia molecules. The influence of titanium nitride on chromiu…

Dalla porta, verso la libertà

2023

There is a cat meowing at the door: it wants to go out for a walk. The owner of the office where that door is located gets very nervous: he spends his time opening and opening and closing it because the animal is constantly coming and going and he, who is in poor health, does not tolerate draughts. The cat would like the door always open. He always closed. Hence these constant meows, on the one hand, and these constant opening and closing, on the other hand, with the associated angry and collective shrieking. What a stress.