Large Area Deposition by Radio Frequency Sputtering of Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 Buffer Layers in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Structural, Morphological and Electro…

2021

We investigate the influence of position, under large circular sputtering targets, on the final electrochemical performance of 35 mm diameter button solid oxide fuel cells with sputter-deposited Gadolinium doped Ceria barrier layers, positioned in order to almost cover the entirety of the area associated with a 120 × 80 mm2 industrial cell. We compare the results obtained via structural and morphological analysis to the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements performed on the button cells, disentangling the role of different parameters. The Atomic Force Microscopy analysis makes it possible to observe a decrease in the roughness values from the peripheral to the central zo…

Frequency-specific network activity predicts bradykinesia severity in Parkinson’s disease

2021

Highlights • Parallel subnetworks are affected in bradykinesia. • The primary motor and the premotor cortex are common nodes with task-specificity. • Beta activity decreases, gamma activity increases with improvement of bradykinesia. • Subthalamic stimulation reduces beta, increases gamma power in ipsilateral cortex. • Subnetworks act with frequency-specific oscillations.

Bilateral De-Jure Exchange Rate Regimes and Foreign Direct Investment: A Gravity Analysis

2021

Abstract This paper introduces a novel dataset on bilateral de-jure exchange rate regimes. The new dataset accounts for the fact that officially pegging to one currency is uninformative about the exchange rate regime prevailing vis-a-vis other currencies, and it allows characterizing bilateral exchange rate regimes based on countries’ ex-ante announcements rather than ex-post observations. We use this data to estimate the effect of expected exchange rate volatility on foreign direct investment (FDI). Starting from a simple model that suggests that announced exchange rate stability enhances bilateral FDI flows, we provide empirical evidence that lends support to this claim: countries that ar…

Indoor Air Quality including Respiratory Viruses

2021

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments is a cause of increasing concern. In this study, three sampling methodologies have been used in order to collect SARS-CoV-2 and 17 other respiratory viruses in indoor air, combined with a new analytical process to analyze respiratory viruses. Different areas of an ophthalmological hospital were investigated for the presence of these airborne viruses. Moreover, indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters (carbon dioxide, CO2; carbon monoxide, CO; nitrogen dioxide, NO2; volatile organic compounds, VOCs; formaldehyde, HCHO; and particulate matter, PM) have been examined to study the relationship between IAQ and airborne viruses. All indoor air and sur…

Defining gut mycobiota for wild animals: a need for caution in assigning authentic resident fungal taxa

2021

Animal gut mycobiota, the community of fungi that reside within the gastrointestinal tract, make an important contribution to host health. Accordingly, there is an emerging interest to quantify the gut mycobiota of wild animals. However, many studies of wild animal gut mycobiota do not distinguish between the fungi that likely can reside within animal gastrointestinal tracts from the fungal taxa that are non-residents, such as macrofungi, lichens or plant symbionts/pathogens that can be ingested as part of the host’s diet. Confounding the non-resident and resident gut fungi may obscure attempts to identify processes associated with the authentic, resident gut mycobiota per se. To redress th…

Effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on myokine levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

2021

Background and aims: To evaluate the change in circulating serum irisin and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after 6 and 12 months of GLP-1 treatment. Methods and results: Eighty-five patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with insulin or other hypoglycaemic drugs were added to dulaglutide (N° = 44) and liraglutide (N° = 41) treatment. After 6 months of GLP-1 analogues a significant decrease in BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.003), triglycerides (p = 0.017), IL-6 (p = 0.045) and a significant increase in s…

L’impatto dell’emergenza Covid-19 sui processi di integrazione nel sistema di accoglienza

2021

La pandemia Covid-19 ha messo a dura prova l’umanità per gli impatti devastanti e destabilizzanti che ha determinato su tutti gli individui e su tutti gli aspetti della quotidianità. Le restrizioni negli ingressi adottate dai singoli Stati al fine di contenere e contrastare la diffusione del virus, hanno avuto un impatto sia sui flussi regolari in entrata per motivi familiari, economici, di studio, sia sugli arrivi di quanti, affidandosi ai trafficanti, sono in attesa, ad esempio, sulle coste libiche, e avrebbero fatto richiesta di asilo e di protezione internazionale, sia sul mercato del lavoro, determinando, in quest’ultimo caso, il venir meno di manodopera stagionale in alcuni dei settor…

Constant Time Garbage Collection in SSDs

2021

Evolutionary transitions in broad tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) revealed by mitogenome and nuclear ribosomal operon phylogenetics

2021

Abstract Broad tapeworms (Diphyllobothriidea) are parasites whose adults are capable of infecting a wide range of freshwater, marine and terrestrial tetrapods including humans. Previous works examining the evolution of habitat and host use in this group have been hampered by the lack of a well-resolved phylogeny. In order to produce a robust phylogenetic framework for diphyllobothriideans, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of 13 representatives, carefully chosen to cover the major clades, and two outgroup species representing the Spathebothriidea and Haplobothriidea. In addition, complementary data from the nuclear ribosomal operon was sequenced for 10 representative taxa. Mito…

Do teachers’ professional vision and teaching experience always go hand in hand? Examining knowledge-based reasoning of Finnish Grade 1 teachers

2021

This mixed-method study explored 54 Finnish Grade 1 teachers' professional vision and teaching experience. Teachers' retrospective think-aloud interviews, conducted while watching their eye-tracking recordings of classroom actions, were analysed according to the domains of knowledge-based reasoning. Negative associations between teaching experience and amount of knowledge-based reasoning were found. The qualitative examination of three teachers with different amounts of teaching experience provided concrete examples and broadened the findings. We suggest that teachers’ knowledge-based reasoning should be seen not only as an ability that increases with experience but also as an ability that …

Guidelines for the management of women with severe pre-eclampsia

2021

Abstract Objective To provide national guidelines for the management of women with severe pre-eclampsia. Design A consensus committee of 26 experts was formed. A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guidelines process was conducted independently of any industrial funding. The authors were advised to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) system to guide assessment of quality of evidence. The potential drawbacks of making strong recommendations in the presence of low-quality evidence were emphasised. Methods The last SFAR and CNGOF guidelines on t…

Dendrimers as Non-Viral Vectors in Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy.

2021

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been intensively studied as a promising new strategy of prodrug delivery, with its main advantages being represented by an enhanced efficacy and a reduced off-target toxicity of the active drug. In recent years, numerous therapeutic systems based on GDEPT strategy have entered clinical trials. In order to deliver the desired gene at a specific site of action, this therapeutic approach uses vectors divided in two major categories, viral vectors and non-viral vectors, with the latter being represented by chemical delivery agents. There is considerable interest in the development of non-viral vectors due to their decreased immunogenicity, higher…

Cardiac magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of the unusually detected acute myocarditis in the young people: a case report

2021

Myocarditis is among the causes of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes, with viral infection being the most common cause worldwide. Myocarditis recently has been reported as one of the cardiac complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in athletes. Here we present a case of a 20-year-old male recreational soccer player with an episode of loss of consciousness in the context of respiratory infection. The patient reports having woken up with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, and after playing a soccer match, he developed dizziness and a headache. He then suffered vasovagal syncope without loss of sphincter control. Physical examination, heart ausc…

Determination of albendazole and ivermectin residues in cattle and poultry-derived samples from India by micellar liquid chromatography

2021

We have developed a method, based on micellar liquid chromatography, to determine albendazole and ivermectin in dairy products and biological waste from bovine, as well as edible tissues from poultry. Anthelmitics were resolved in less than 10 min using a C18 column and a mobile phase of 0.15 mol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate – 6% 1-pentanol at buffered at pH 7 with a 0.01 M phosphate salt, running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min. Detection was by absorbance at 292 nm. Method was successfully validated following official validation guidelines, in terms of: selectivity, sensitivity, calibration range (0.0125−0.5 mg/kg to 25−50 mg/kg), linearity (r2 > 9990), trueness (86.3–105.6%), precision (<12…

Development of Numeracy and Literacy Skills in Early Childhood—A Longitudinal Study on the Roles of Home Environment and Familial Risk for Reading an…

2021

This study examines the direct and indirect effects of home numeracy and literacy environment, and parental factors (parental reading and math difficulties, and parental education) on the development of several early numeracy and literacy skills. The 265 participating Finnish children were assessed four times between ages 2.5 and 6.5. Children’s skills in counting objects, number production, number sequence knowledge, number symbol knowledge, number naming, vocabulary, print knowledge, and letter knowledge were assessed individually. Parents (N = 202) reported on their education level, learning difficulties in math and reading (familial risk, FR), and home learning environment separately fo…

A multi-perspective knowledge-driven approach for analysis of the demand side of the Open Government Data portal

2021

Abstract Open data are freely available and can be used by every stakeholder for its own purposes. However, the practice demonstrates that it is important to ensure that the source from which they are available is usable and facilitates the re-use of data to the widest possible range of stakeholders. This task is carried out by open government data (OGD) portals. Therefore, this study proposes a multi-perspective approach where an OGD portal is analyzed from (1) citizens' perspective, (2) users' perspective, (3) experts' perspective, and (4) state of the art. By considering these perspectives, we can define how to improve the portal in question by focusing on its demand side. In view of the…

Primary hypercholesterolemia and development of cardiovascular disorders: Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in low-grade systemic inflammati…

2021

Primary hypercholesterolemia, a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated circulating levels of cholesterol products, mainly low-density lipoproteins, is associated with arteriosclerosis development. Cardiovascular disease, predominantly myocardial infarction and stroke, remains the main cause of death worldwide, with atherosclerosis considered to be the most common underlying pathology. In addition to elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoproteins, low-grade systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction seem to be the main drivers of premature atherosclerosis. Here we review current knowledge related to cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in low-grade systemic inflammatio…

Genetic variants associated with human eye size are distinct from those conferring susceptibility to myopia

2021

Purpose: Emmetropization requires coordinated scaling of the major ocular components, corneal curvature and axial length. This coordination is achieved in part through a shared set of genetic variants that regulate eye size. Poorly coordinated scaling of corneal curvature and axial length results in refractive error. We tested the hypothesis that genetic variants regulating eye size in emmetropic eyes are distinct from those conferring susceptibility to refractive error.Methods: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for corneal curvature in 22,180 adult emmetropic individuals was performed as a proxy for a GWAS for eye size. A polygenic score created using lead GWAS variants was tested for…

Variation in parasite resistance of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, between and within sympatric morphs

2021

Abstract Genetic variation in resistance against parasite infections is a predominant feature in host–parasite systems. However, mechanisms maintaining genetic polymorphism in resistance in natural host populations are generally poorly known. We explored whether differences in natural infection pressure between resource‐based morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) have resulted in differentiation in resistance profiles. We experimentally exposed offspring of two morphs from Lake Þingvallavatn (Iceland), the pelagic planktivorous charr (“murta”) and the large benthivorous charr (“kuðungableikja”), to their common parasite, eye fluke Diplostomum baeri, infecting the eye humor. We found t…

Xu Zhimo Gioia di fiocchi di neve

2021

Descrive l'attività poetica del poeta cinese moderno Xu Zhimo e comprende la traduzione in italiano delle sue poesie "Vicolo Tigre di pietra, n. 7", "Coprire con fogli di carta cerata", "La lotta del prugno e della neve per la primavera", "Nel mezzo della notte, in un vicolo, un pipa", "Per caso", "Gioia di fiocchi di neve", "Sayonara", "Non so il vento in quale direzione soffi", "Ancora una volta congedarsi da Cambridge" e "Vagare".

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the COVID-19 era: The importance to fight against fear

2021

Second-line administration of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in immune thrombocytopenia: Italian Delphi-based consensus recommendations

2021

Introduction: In patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a short course of steroids is routinely given as first-line therapy. However, the response is often transient and additional therapy is usually needed. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are frequently used as second-line therapy, although there is little clinical guidance on the timing of their administration and on tapering/discontinuation of the drug. To provide clinical recommendations, we used the Delphi technique to obtain consensus for statements regarding administration and on tapering/discontinuation of second-line TPO-RAs among a group of Italian clinicians with expertise in management of ITP. Methods: T…

Methods and Strategies for Reconditioning Motor Output and Postural Balance in Frail Older Subjects Prone to Falls

2021

In frail older subjects, the motor output of the antigravity muscles is fundamental in resisting falls. These muscles undergo accelerated involutions when they are inactive and the risk of falling increases during leisure and domestic physical activity. In order to reduce their risk of falling, frail older subjects limit their physical activities/exercises. The problem is that the less they exercise, the less they are able to exercise and the greater the risk in exercising. Hence, a vicious circle sets up and the antigravity muscles inevitably continue to deteriorate. This vicious circle must be broken by starting a reconditioning program based on developing the strength of antigravity musc…

Sennacherib’s Campaign Against Judah: A Source Analysis of Isaiah 36–37. By Dan’el Kahn

2021

TIME MANAGEMENT: THE BASIC CONCERN IN THE ORGANIZATION

2021

The concept of time management defines a set of principles, practices, skills, tools and systems that together help a person in an organization to assess what is left at their disposal in order to improve their quality of life. The most important aspect that should be mentioned is that time management does not require a person to learn to do as many things as possible in a short period of time, but it rather ensures that the person does what needs to be done, dealing with the things that really need to be addressed. The ability to manage your time effectively is important. Good time management leads to improved efficiency and productivity, less stress, and more success in life.

Ni alloy nanowires as high efficiency electrode materials for alkaline electrolysers

2021

Abstract The fabrication and characterization of nickel-alloy electrodes for alkaline electrolysers is reported. Three different alloys (Ni–Co, Ni–Zn and Ni–W) at different composition were studied in order to determine the optimum condition. Nanostructured electrodes were obtained by template electrodeposition into a nanoporous membrane, starting from aqueous solution containing the two elements of the alloy at different concentrations. Composition of alloys can be tuned by electrolyte composition and also depends on the difference of the redox potential of elements and on the presence of complexing agents in deposition bath. Electrochemical and electrocatalytic tests, aimed at establishin…

Quality of Life in Healthy Children in Latvia

2021

Abstract In Latvia, no studies on the quality of life (QoL) of healthy children have been conducted. Determining the quality of life of children is an essential part of evaluating the health status of children. The subjective assessment of the individuals about their quality of life provides an opportunity to evaluate the quality of life of the population in the public health sector. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the quality of life of healthy children and adolescents in Latvia in the age group from 8 to 18, as well as to compare the answers between children and their parents living in Latvia. This study also gave an opportunity to compare the results of children and…

Prognostic Value of Sarcopenia in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Trifluridine/Tipiracil

2021

Sarcopenia is common in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), increases the risk of treatment-related toxicity and reduces survival. Trifluridine/tipiracil (TT) chemotherapy significantly improved survival in refractory mCRC patients, but the prognostic and predictive role of pretherapeutic sarcopenia and variation in the skeletal muscle index (SMI) during this treatment has not been investigated so far. In this retrospective, observational study, clinical data on mCRC patients treated with TT at six cancer centres in Poland were collected. Computed tomography (CT) scans acquired at the time of initiation of TT (CT1) and on the first restaging (CT2), were evaluated. SMI was assessed based on…

Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping on Rectus Abdominis Diastasis in Postpartum Women-Preliminary Report.

2021

Background: Rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) is an excessive divarication of the rectus abdominis muscle with concurrent stretching and thinning of the linea alba, which occurs due to mechanical and functional disturbances in the anterior abdominal wall and the whole body. The primary objective of this study is a palpation assessment of RAD in postpartum women before and after the application of KT tapes and a subsequent comparison of the results with those from a sham intervention group. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Physical Therapy Department at Wroclaw Medical University. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the KT group (intervention…

Sequential leaching of silicified Archaean carbonates: A Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and Pb-Pb isotopic contribution to their tectonic-thermal history (Kaapvaal Cra…

2021

Abstract Sequential leaching was completed by successive interactions of ultra-pure H2O, HAc, HCl and HNO3 with silicified/carbonated Archaean whole rocks from Barberton Greenstone belt of South Africa. The purpose of this experiment was an identification of the minerals interacting with each reagent and, therefore, a detailed succession of isotopically dated tectonic-thermal episodes recorded in these minerals. The contents of the major, trace and rare-earth elemental, together with the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of untreated, leachate and residue triplets allowed identification and analysis of various types of carbonates and sulfates mixed with insoluble silicates. The samples yi…

Diabetes Mellitus and Its Impact on Patient-Profile and In-Hospital Outcomes in Peripheral Artery Disease

2021

Background: In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on patient-profile and adverse in-hospital events is not well investigated. Methods: The German nationwide inpatient sample 2005–2019 was used for this analysis. Hospitalized PAD patients were stratified for DM and the influence of DM on patient-profile and adverse in-hospital events was investigated. Results: Our study comprised 2,654,871 hospitalizations (54.3% aged ≥70 years, 36.7% females) of patients with PAD in Germany 2005–2019. Among these, 864,691 (32.6%) patients had DM and 76,716 (2.9%) died during hospitalization. Diabetic PAD patients revealed an aggravated cardiovascular profile …

La fabrication du jouet par l’enfant chez Nicolas Bartram : entre création et travail manuel

2021

International audience

Homologous recombination as a mechanism of genetic changes in bovine parainfluenza-3 virus

2021

Bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (BPIV-3) is one of the main viruses associated with bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) worldwide. BPIV-3 infect the bovine respiratory tract causing from subclinical infections to severe pneumonia with significant economic losses in the cattle industry. BPIV-3 is a RNA virus with high genetic variability, nevertheless, the contribution of recombination events to its variability has not been assessed so far. In this study the 25 complete genome sequences (CGS) reported so far and 215 partial sequences of different viral genes of BPIV-3 were analyzed to determine their genotypes and subgenotypes, distribution, and the existence of potential recombination ev…

The quality of higher education studies and the labour market in 9 European countries

2021

International audience

The Mediating Role of Orthorexia in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Fear of COVID-19 among University Students in Poland

2021

Previous research showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the wellbeing and lifestyle of populations worldwide, including eating and physical activity (PA) patterns. The present study aims to examine the mediating effect of orthorexia on the relationship between PA and fear of COVID-19. A sample of 473 university students from Poland of a mean age of 22 years (M = 22.04, SD = 2.90, 47% of women) participated in the cross-sectional online survey study. Continuous variables were measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17), while categorical variables divided participants into the physically active and inactive group reg…

Branding territorial en Saône et Loire. Le Country Break

2021

International audience