showing 36 of ~574560 from 574555 documents
High performance for refractive index sensors via symmetry-protected guided mode resonance.
2021
The symmetry breaking in a typical dielectric GMR-grating structure allows the coupling of the incident wave with the so-called Symmetry-Protected Modes (SPM). In this present work, the excitation conditions of such particular modes are investigated. A parametric study including the grating dimensions is carried out to exploit them for a blood refractive index sensing with higher Sensitivity (S) and Figure Of Merit (FOM). To our knowledge, the performances obtained by FDTD calculations (Q = 2.1 × 104, S = 657 nm/RIU and FOM ≃ ~9 112 RIU−1) and FMM calculations (Q = 3 × 106, S = 656 nm/RIU and FOM ≃ ~1.64 × 106 RIU−1) are the highest level reached.
Unveiling the K1(1270) double-pole structure in the B¯→J/ψρK¯ and B¯→J/ψK¯*π decays
2021
By looking at the pseudoscalar-vector meson spectra in the $\overline{B}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\rho}\overline{K}$ and $\overline{B}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}{\overline{K}}^{*}\ensuremath{\pi}$ weak decays, we theoretically investigate the double-pole structure of the ${K}_{1}(1270)$ resonance by using the chiral unitary approach to account for the final-state interactions between the pseudoscalar ($P$) and vector ($V$) mesons. The ${K}_{1}(1270)$ resonance is dynamically generated through these interactions in coupled channels and influences the shape of the invariant mass distributions under consideration. We show how these shapes are affect…
Scurvy as an alarm bell of autistic spectrum disorder in the first world: A case report of a 3-year-old girl
2021
Patient: Female, 3-year-old Final Diagnosis: Scurvy and autistic spectrum disorder Symptoms: Bleeding gums • pain • petechia Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Haematochemical blood examinations • radiographic study Specialty: Endocrinology and Metabolic Objective: Rare disease Background: Scurvy secondary to deficiency of vitamin C is a rare condition in children. The polymorphism of clinical signs and symptoms makes scurvy diagnosis a challenge for the pediatrician. Case Report: A 3-year-old girl came to our observation because she refused to walk and to stand, she showed petechiae, follicular hyperkeratosis on the limbs, and bleeding gums. After a physical exam, laboratory tests, and X-ra…
To Achieve the Same as the Others? Policy Preconditions for Successful Higher Education Governance
2021
Higher Education (HE) Institutions in different European countries have been steered towards an increased level of quality and performance through a comparable market governance approach. Despite t...
4BED
2021
Evaluation of Anti-SARS-Cov-2 S-RBD IgG Antibodies after COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 Vaccine
2021
(1) Background: The evaluation of anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) antibodies represents a useful tool to estimate the individual protection against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection
false
2021
Maximum latewood density (MXD) measurements from long-lived Black pines (Pinus nigra spp. laricio) growing at the upper treeline in Corsica are one of the few archives to reconstruct southern European summer temperatures at annual resolution back into medieval times. Here, we present a compilation of five MXD chronologies from Corsican pines that contain high-to-low frequency variability between 1168 and 2016 CE and correlate significantly (p < 0.01) with the instrumental April–July and September–October mean temperatures from 1901 to 1980 CE (r = 0.52−0.64). The growth–climate correlations, however, dropped to −0.13 to 0.02 afterward, and scaling the MXD data resulted in a divergence of…
Predictors of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults: the role of socio-demographic variables and COVID-19 anxiety
2021
The objective of this study was to evaluate factors related to the mental health of Peruvian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study had a cross-sectional and observational design. A total of 274 older adults in Lima, Peru (Mage = 67.86) filled out a sociodemographic survey, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Mental Health Inventory-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was estimated to test an a priori model that relates the sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 Anxiety, psychological well-being, anxiety and depression. The model fit indices indicated a good fit to the data. The socio-demographic variables …
Multidisciplinary Peer-Mentoring Groups Supporting Knowledge Sharing in Doctoral Education
2021
Obtaining a doctoral degree requires acquisition of different types of skills and knowledge. The aim of this article is to explore multidisciplinary peer-mentoring groups (PMGs) facilitated by senior academics as a knowledge sharing practice in doctoral education. Drawing from interviews with participants of PMGs at a Finnish university, we found that the participants perceived that cultures and practices of doctoral education in departments and faculties, as well as limited support from supervisors might hinder knowledge sharing. They highlighted that a flat hierarchy and confidential atmosphere supported by the multidisciplinary group composition promoted knowledge sharing and emotional s…
Giant enhancement to spin battery effect in superconductor/ferromagnetic insulator systems
2021
We develop a theory of the spin battery effect in superconductor/ferromagnetic insulator (SC/FI) systems taking into account the magnetic proximity effect. We demonstrate that the spin-energy mixing enabled by the superconductivity leads to the enhancement of spin accumulation by several orders of magnitude relative to the normal state. This finding can explain the recently observed giant inverse spin Hall effect generated by thermal magnons in the SC/FI system. We suggest a nonlocal electrical detection scheme which can directly probe the spin accumulation driven by the magnetization dynamics. We predict a giant Seebeck effect converting the magnon temperature bias into the nonlocal voltag…
Clinical Simulation in pediatrics and neonatology using EDISON: an educational innovation project
2021
Introduction: Clinical simulation is a tool that allows creating controlled and safe spaces that mimic reality, where students can acquire skills and abilities prior to facing real situations. Methodology: This is a study with two phases. The first quasi-experimental phase where 3 questionnaires were used; two of them to assess knowledge (pretest - posttest) and the other one to assess the satisfaction of the training action. And the second phase was analytical, where the effectiveness of a training intervention in a confinement context based on the use of audiovisual materials created through EDISON was evaluated. Results: In 2019 the average satisfaction of the students was 9.22 (SD 0.72)…
The Winding Road to Accessing the Voices of One Thousand Schoolchildren : A Nexus Analysis of Collecting Data for a Survey
2021
This article describes a nexus analysis of the lengthy, complex process of negotiating access to schools for a research project surveying 1,002 children (aged 9–12 years) about their digital and language practices. The analysis distinguished layers of adult-centered gatekeeping, each of which needed to be tackled in sequence. Bottlenecks particularly arose at the gatekeeping stage, in which superintendents of schools decided whether to grant research access to schools. Factors facilitating the research process included the hybrid data collection design, the procedures for obtaining parental consent, and the active collaboration with the children themselves. A significant discourse emerged a…
Nusinersen in adult patients with 5q spinal muscular atrophy: a multicenter observational cohorts’ study
2021
ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess safety and efficacy of nusinersen in adult 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients.MethodsPatients older than 15 years and followed at least for 6 months with one motor scale (Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded, HFMSE; Revised Upper Limb module, RULM) in five referral centers were included. Clinical and patients’ global impression of change (CGI-C and PGI-C) were recorded in treated patients at the last visit. Functional scales (Egen Klassification, EK2; Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, ALSFRS-R) and the percent-predicted forced vital capacity were collected when available.ResultsSeventy-nine SMA patients (39 treated with n…
Healthcare-associated infections over an eight year period in a large university hospital in Sicily (Italy, 2011–2018)
2021
Background: Up to 7% of hospitalised patients acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). The aim of the present study was to quantify the burden of HAIs in an Italian hospital, identifying involved risk factors. Methods: Prevalence point study carried out from 2011 to 2018. For each recruited patient, a data entry form was compiled including information on demographics, hospital admission, risk factors, antimicrobial treatment, and infection if present. Results: A total of 2844 patients were included and 218 (7.03%) reported an infection. HAI prevalence rates showed a significant increase (average annual per cent change (AAPC) +33.9%; p=0.018) from 2011 to 2014 whereas from…
À la recherche des aires de production des épées de l'âge du Bronze : où sont les moules ?
2021
No large-scale study of Bronze Age swords moulds currently exists. This is yet a key element in order to be able to discuss the potential production areas locations, question often tackled since more than a half century in the archaeological literature dedicated to these weapons. Regional studies will first allow us to produce an inventory of these moulds in Europe. This is an essential condition to a further discussion on the swords production techniques through the study of the most direct witnesses of their fabrication. Distribution maps then enable a study of the potential regions these swords were produced in. We notice this way that a huge contrast exists between the very few moulds i…
A Comprehensive Spectroscopic Analysis of the Ibuprofen Binding with Human Serum Albumin, Part II
2021
Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant human plasma protein. HSA plays a crucial role in many binding endos- and exogenous substances, which affects their pharmacological effect. The innovative aspect of the study is not only the interaction of fatted (HSA) and defatted (dHSA) human serum albumin with ibuprofen (IBU), but the analysis of the influence of temperature on the structural modifications of albumin and the interaction between the drug and proteins from the temperature characteristic of near hypothermia (308 K) to the temperature reflecting inflammation in the body (312 K and 314 K). Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. IBU is used to relieve acute pain, inf…
Views from the boundaries: Music streaming revisited
2021
This article explores how Norwegian record label managers understand their current positions and future possibilities in a market that is increasingly driven by on-demand subscription-based streaming. It adds to a growing body of research by adopting a qualitative approach, seeking to describe issues at a personal or company level, and provide nuance and dynamics in a discourse that is often described in dichotomies and on aggregate levels. The article argues that stakeholders have more varied attitudes than simply being for or against the innovation, the new economic models and their eff ects on their own business, and the market in general. It also demonstrates that perceptions change as …
An Algorithm Combining Patient Performance Status, Second Hit Analysis, PROVEAN and Dann Prediction Tools Could Foretell Sensitization to PARP Inhibi…
2021
Simple Summary PARP inhibitors, a family of targeted cancer therapeutics, have been shown to be efficient in patients with some deficiencies in the homologous recombination machinery. However, a quick and reliable identification of patients who would benefit from such therapies remains a challenge. In particular, patients with tumors carrying variants of unknown significance (VUS) in homologous recombination genes do not currently benefit from PARP inhibitor treatments. In this study, we present an algorithm that may allow classification of these variants with regard to their impact on tumor responsiveness to PARP inhibitors. If validated on a larger patient sample, our algorithm would allo…
7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21)
2021
Information and communication technologies together with new teaching paradigms are reshaping the learning environment.The International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd) aims to become a forum for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, experiences,opinions and research results relating to the preparation of students and the organization of educational systems.
The Importance of Lifestyle Factors for Work Ability among Physical Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Study
2021
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, sedentarism, low physical activity levels, and overweight are associated with poor health, and they can potentially influence work ability. However, it remains unknown which lifestyle habits are associated with work ability among physical therapists (PTs). The aim of this study was to examine the associations between smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, sitting time, and physical activity levels with work ability among PTs utilizing a nationwide questionnaire. Associations were modeled using logistic regression controlled for various confounders. Overweight, sitting >
Impact of decision horizon on post-prognostics maintenance and missions scheduling: a railways case study
2021
International audience; In this paper, we propose a study of the decision horizon duration for rolling stock mission assignment and maintenance planning in a prognostics and health management (PHM) context. The aim is to determine the best decision horizon duration that allows the con- struction of a suitable schedule that assigns railway vehicles to missions and integrates required maintenance operations accord- ing to the current and future health of the vehicles. A genetic algorithm is used to minimize the overall cost of the joint schedule as a function of the decision horizon. The results are compared to three proposed heuristics to study the influence of the resolution method on the d…
On the Dimension of Kakeya Sets in the First Heisenberg Group
2021
We define Kakeya sets in the Heisenberg group and show that the Heisenberg Hausdorff dimension of Kakeya sets in the first Heisenberg group is at least 3. This lower bound is sharp since, under our definition, the $\{xoy\}$-plane is a Kakeya set with Heisenberg Hausdorff dimension 3.
Reduced Temperature Sensitivity of Maximum Latewood Density Formation in High-Elevation Corsican Pines under Recent Warming
2021
Maximum latewood density (MXD) measurements from long-lived Black pines (Pinus nigra spp. laricio) growing at the upper treeline in Corsica are one of the few archives to reconstruct southern European summer temperatures at annual resolution back into medieval times. Here, we present a compilation of five MXD chronologies from Corsican pines that contain high-to-low frequency variability between 1168 and 2016 CE and correlate significantly (p <
Do proctored online University exams in Covid-19 era affect final grades respect face-to-face exams?
2021
The Covid-19 pandemic forced universities to convert their traditional face-to-face exams to online exams with doubts as to whether student cheating or technical difficulties would affect their final grades. After taking three of these exams online, we considered comparing their grades with those of previous years on traditional exams. The average mark of the traditional exams before the pandemic was 6.95 over 10, while the average mark of the three exams carried out in the Covid-19 era is 6.64. The student's t test indicated that there are no significant differences between the two types of exams in the mean (p = 0.408), the median (p = 0.378), the range (p = 0.307), the minimum (p = 0.410…
Water Vapor Sensors Based on the Swelling of Relief Gelatin Gratings: Recent Advances and Development
2021
We report on a novel device to measure relative humidity. Materials used in the measurement of relative humidity are of different kinds. The sensor is based on surface diffraction gratings made of gelatin. This material swells and shrinks according to the content of water vapor in air. By sending a light beam to the grating, diffracted orders appear. Due to the gelatin swelling or shrinking, first order intensity changes according to the relative humidity. Calibration curves relating intensity versus relative humidity have been found. The fabrication process of diffraction gratings and the testing of the prototype sensing devices are described.
1H NMR methodologies applied in the thermodynamic and structural characterization of organic supramolecular complexes
2021
Orientador: Anita Jocelyne Marsaioli Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química Resumo: Nesta tese consiste no estudo de interações supramoleculares utilizando diferentes metodologias de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de hidrogênio (RMN de 1H), tais como ROESY 1D, RMN-DOSY e RMN-STD. Os sistemas supramoleculares foram abordados em dois casos de estudo diferentes. O Capítulo I tem como objeto de estudo interações do fármaco Dapsona com diferentes carreadores de fármacos (ß-CD, SBE-ß-CD e lipossoma de EPC), com a finalidade de encontrar formulações nas quais a Dapsona seja mais solúvel. Os complexos binários e ternário formados foram determinadas por medidas de …
Modéliser la réponse des espèces marines antarctiques aux changements environnementaux. Méthodes, applications et limites.
2021
Among tools that are used to fill knowledge gaps on natural systems, ecological modelling has been widely applied during the last two decades. Ecological models are simple representations of a complex reality. They allow to highlight environmental drivers of species ecological niche and better understand species responses to environmental changes. However, applying models to Southern Ocean benthic organisms raises several methodological challenges. Species presence datasets are often aggregated in time and space nearby research stations or along main sailing routes. Data are often limited in number to correctly describe species occupied space and physiology. Finally, environmental datasets …
Development of a Sensitive Detection Method for Alphaviruses and Its Use as a Virus Neutralization Assay
2021
Alphaviruses have a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome that contains two open reading frames encoding either the non-structural or the structural genes. Upon infection, the genomic RNA is translated into the non-structural proteins (nsPs). NsPs are required for viral RNA replication and transcription driven from the subgenomic promoter (sgP). Transfection of an RNA encoding the luciferase gene under the control of the sgP into cells enabled the detection of replication-competent chikungunya virus (CHIKV) or Mayaro virus (MAYV) with high sensitivity as a function of the induced luciferase activity. This assay principle was additionally used to analyze virus-neutralizing antibodies in…
Evolutionary plasticity of SH3 domain binding by Nef proteins of the HIV-1/SIVcpz lentiviral lineage
2021
ABSTRACTThe accessory protein Nef of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) is an important pathogenicity factor known to interact with cellular protein kinases and other signaling proteins. A canonical SH3 domain binding motif in Nef is required for most of these interactions. For example, HIV-1 Nef activates the tyrosine kinase Hck by tightly binding to its SH3 domain. An archetypal contact between a negatively charged SH3 residue and a highly conserved arginine in Nef (Arg77) plays a key role here. Combining structural analyses with functional assays, we here show that Nef proteins have also developed a distinct structural strategy - termed the “R-clamp” - that favors th…
Olive oil consumption is associated with lower frailty risk: a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults
2021
Abstract Background There is no evidence on the specific beneficial association of the main types of olive oil consumption with frailty. Objective The aim was to assess the relationship between olive oil consumption and incident frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Participants were recruited in 2008–10 and follow-up through 2013. Subjects In total, 1,896 older adults aged 60+. Methods At baseline, olive oil and other food consumption was collected using a validated dietary history. Incident frailty was defined as having at least three of the following five Fried-based criteria: low physical activity, fatigue, slow walking, muscle weakness and unint…
ω-Alkenylallylboronates: Design, Synthesis, and Application to the Asymmetric Allylation/RCM Tandem Sequence
2021
P. B. thanks the Spanish MINECO for a Ramón y Cajal contract (RyC-2016-20951). M.N.G. thanks the University of Bath for financial support.
Front Cover: Electrosynthetic Screening and Modern Optimization Strategies for Electrosynthesis of Highly Value‐added Products (ChemElectroChem 14/20…
2021
Comparison between whole blood viscosity measured and calculated in subjects with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and in patients …
2021
BACKGROUND: in this study, with a re-evaluation of the hemorheological determinants previously described in MGUS subjects and in MM patients, we have detected the calculated whole blood viscosity, according whether to the hematocrit and total plasma protein concentration (de Simone formula) or to the haematocrit and plasma fibrinogen level (Merrill formula), and a marker of the erythrocyte aggregation (albumin/fibrinogen level). METHODS: data were expressed as means±standard deviation. Student’s t test for unpaired data was used to compare MGUS subjects and MM patients. The correlation coefficient between mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA) and hematocrit (Ht) was evaluated in MGUS, MM and M…
Physical Activity Level Following Resistance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Receiving Home Care: Results from a Cluster-Randomized Contr…
2021
Older adults’ physical activity (PA) is low. We examined whether eight months of resistance training increased PA level in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. A two-armed cluster-randomized trial using parallel groups was conducted. The included participants were >