Search

ABSTRACTIn this study we aimed to test if acute strength exercise would induce cognitive improvements. Secondarily, we examined the relationship between exercise-induced changes in cognitive function and postural dual-task control. Thirty-seven cognitively intact, non-faller older adults (≥60 years) were nonrandomly allocated to strength exercise or control. Strength exercise consisted of Smith machine squats (one session, 3 × 3reps at 90%, 95%, and 100% one-repetition maximum). Control participants held seated rest for 45 min. Cognitive functions, recognition (memory search), working memory (mathematical processing), processing speed (2-choice reaction time), and postural dual-task control were tested before and immediately after exercise or control using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics-4 (ANAM4) battery and a mathematical counting task while maintaining a tandem Romberg stance with eyes open on a force plate. Outcome measures were response time and performance index (100 × [accuracy/response time]) on the ANAM4 tests and sway activity and entropy during the postural dual-task. We found a non-significant improvement with moderate effect size in performance index on the mathematical processing task of experimental participants compared to control participants (p = 0.145, $\eta _p^2$ηp2 = 0.060). Improvements in the mathematical processing task over time in the control group were associated with increased sway activity during the postural dual-task. No significant associations were found between changes in cognitive function and changes in postural control in the experimental group. Ultimately, our results may direct researchers and healthcare professionals in designing the optimal exercise treatment to improve cognitive function and postural control in older adults.

Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CFmMIMO) is a paradigm that can improve users’ spectral efficiency (SE) far beyond traditional cellular networks. Increased spatial diversity in CFmMIMO is achieved by spreading the antennas into small access points (APs), which cooperate to serve the users. Sequential fronthaul topologies in CFmMIMO, such as the daisy chain and multi-branch tree topology, have gained considerable attention recently. In such a processing architecture, each AP must store its received signal vector in the memory until it receives the relevant information from the previous AP in the sequence to refine the estimate of the users’ signal vector in the uplink. In this paper, we adopt vector-wise and element-wise compression on the raw or pre-processed received signal vectors to store them in the memory. We investigate the impact of the limited memory capacity in the APs on the optimal number of APs. We show that with no memory constraint, having single-antenna APs is optimal, especially as the number of users grows. However, a limited memory at the APs restricts the depth of the sequential processing pipeline. Furthermore, we investigate the relation between the memory capacity at the APs and the rate of the fronthaul link.

Graphical Abstract

AbstractEvidence-based pedagogies to improve student success in STEM disciplines are now recognized, but their successful incorporation can be hampered by faculty wariness of novel pedagogical research. To support these pedagogies’ effective implementation, a research team at a southeastern Historically Black College and University (HBCU) provided its faculty with long-term (2013–2020), incentivized professional development (PD) in STEM subjects, focused on faculty teaching development (TD). Over 6 years, PD/TD experts provided faculty participants with theoretical underpinnings and student outcome data, demonstrated hands-on strategies for under-prepared and differential learners, and addressed concerns that novel pedagogies could erode STEM-subject standards. Participants reflected on their teaching and learning foundations, examined their approaches and assumptions, and implemented new strategies. Interview and survey findings showed long-term, multidisciplinary STEM PD can help change faculty teaching views, even among those initially resistant. Although beyond our study window, ICFAIM collaborations yielded two DOE-funded faculty-developed interventions and team cohesiveness during the pandemic’s shift to online instruction. ICFAIM evidence supports PD/TD that is: 1) designed to build on shared standards and knowledge; 2) provided incrementally over time; 3) focused on topics of concern to faculty alongside new ones; and 4) fairly incentivized.

Electrospray ionization (ESI) of serine (Ser) solution generates Ser8H+as an abundant magic number cluster. ESI clustering of most other solutes yields nonspecific stoichiometries. It is unclear why Ser8H+dominates in the case of Ser, and how Ser8H+forms during ESI. Even the location of Ser8H+formation is contentious (in solution, in ESI droplets, or elsewhere). Here we unravel key aspects of the l-Ser8H+formation pathway. Harsh ion sampling conditions promote the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of regular ESI analytes. Unexpectedly, Ser8H+was seemingly resistant against CID during ion sampling, despite its extremely low tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) stability. This unusual behavior reveals that Ser8H+forms during ion sampling. We propose the following pathway: (1) Nonspecific Ser clusters are released when ESI droplets evaporate to dryness. These initial clusters cover a wide size range, from a few Ser to hundreds or thousands of monomers. (2) The clusters undergo dissociation during ion sampling, mostly via successive loss of neutral monomers. For any source activation voltage, there is a subpopulation of clusters for which this CID cascade tends to terminate at the octamer level, culminating in Ser8H+-dominated product distributions. Mobile proton molecular dynamics simulations were used to model the entire pathway. Ser8H+structures formed in these simulations were consistent with ion mobility experiments. The most compact structures resembled the model of [Scutelnic, V.J. Am. Chem. Soc.2018, 140, 7554–7560], with numerous intermolecular salt bridges and H-bonds. Our findings illustrate how the interplay of association and dissociation reactions across phase boundaries can culminate in magic number clusters.

In the 21st century a new chapter in materials science has been opened with the appearance of high-entropy alloys (HEA). These alloys differ from conventional alloys, they contain five or more elements in roughly equal amounts which are often based on a single main element (base metal) to which one or more other elements are added in small amounts to achieve the desired properties. High entropy alloys exhibit simple crystal structures due to high entropy, such as lattices that are body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC). In conventional alloys, diffusion inhibition is often achieved by using small amounts of alloying elements to increase the number of lattice defects or by creating secondary phases that block atomic motion. In high-entropy alloys, the large number of different elements results in high entropy, which can lead to slower diffusion due to the disorder of the atomic arrangement. This property can be beneficial in terms of corrosion resistance and suitability for use at high temperatures.. High-entropy alloys possess exceptional mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature behavior, making them promising alternatives to conventional alloys in fields such as aerospace and aviation, where materials must perform under extreme environmental conditions. However, the economic production and processing of HEAs remains a challenge, which limits their widespread application. Additional research and development are required to fully realize the potential of HEAs and to replace conventional alloys on a larger scale.

•Dalbavancin is used to treat acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.•Dalbavancin is used due to its convenience as a single-dose regimen.•Dalbavancin use is associated with high microbiological/clinical cure rates.•Dalbavancin use is associated with an excellent safety profile.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a new and rapidly developing area of materials science, characterized by their high entropy content. High-entropy alloys have received considerable attention in recent years because of their properties, such as high tensile strength, corrosion resistance and excellent heat resistance. These materials have the potential to broaden material utilization in aerospace, automotive, energy, and other industries. There are three main manufacturing technology group to produce high entropy alloys. These groups are melting and casting, powder metallurgy, and deposition techniques. The manufacturing processes is essential to optimize the properties of the final product and meet the requirements of the application. The paper summarizes the four core effects and the production methods for high-entropy alloys.

Pedagogical work, especially with preschool children, is one of the most stressful professions, and the incidence of stress-related illnesses among preschool teachers is higher than in the general population. The aim of this cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2018 and April 2019, was to examine the prevalence of the burnout syndrome in a representative sample of 482 preschool teachers in Serbia and the factors associated with it. For this purpose, the participants completed a questionnaire composed of six sections: the socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics, health and lifestyle characteristics, workplace and employment characteristics; Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The frequency of the total burnout was 27.1 %. The frequency of burnout on the CBI was 25.4 % for personal burnout, 27.0 % for work-related burnout, and 23.4 % for client-related burnout. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with total burnout as an outcome variable showed that being single (OR: 0.18; 95 % CI: 0.05–0.58), having poor (OR: 6.05; 95 % CI: 1.05–34.91), or average (OR: 3.60; 95 % CI: 1.57–8.25) self-rated health, not having didactic/play tools (OR: 2.71; 95 % CI: 1.21–6.04), having a higher score on the BDI (OR: 1.19; 95 % CI: 1.09–1.29) or SAS (OR: 1.10; 95 % CI: 1.03–1.18) was significantly associated with the total burnout among our participants. Our study shows the worryingly high prevalence of the burnout syndrome among preschool teachers in Serbia and points to its association with mental health issues, depression, and anxiety.

Due to the increased number of forest fires, a detailed examination and knowledge of the effects of the microclimatic conditions of forests is currently significant. The study carried out in Arboretum Borova hora (Slovak Republik), investigates the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature, relative humidity), the value of the Angström index, and the danger class of the Angström index on the moisture content of fine fuel at the edge of a beech forest stand, but also in its interior. We tested three working hypotheses: a) meteorological conditions differ significantly between the edge and the interior of the beech forest, b) the moisture content of fine fuel is higher in the beech forest interior than at the forest edge, c) the Angström index fire danger class is higher at the edge of the beech forest than in its interior. We created a calibration curve that was also used to measure the humidity of beech leaves with the help of the ME 2000 hygrometer. Our results show that edge beech stands are significantly more susceptible to fires, lower air humidity and fine fuel moisture content, and higher air temperatures than forest interiors. From our point of view, the microclimate is considered the main factor that explains the difference between the vegetation structure of the forest edge and the forest interior.

Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have dramatically improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaics (OPV) in recent years; however, their device stability currently remains a bottleneck for further technological progress. Photocatalytic decomposition of nonfullerene acceptor molecules at metal oxide electron transport layer (ETL) interfaces has in several recent reports been demonstrated as one of the main degradation mechanisms for these high-performing OPV devices. While some routes for mitigating such degradation effects have been proposed, e.g., through a second layer integrated on the ETL surface, no clear strategy that complies with device scale-up and application requirements has been presented to date. In this work, it is demonstrated that the development of sputtered titanium oxide layers as ETLs in nonfullerene acceptor based OPV can lead to significantly enhanced device lifetimes. This is achieved by tuning the concentration of defect states at the oxide surface, via the reactive sputtering process, to mitigate the photocatalytic decomposition of NFA molecules at the metal oxide interlayers. Reduced defect state formation at the oxide surface is confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies, while the reduced photocatalytic decomposition of nonfullerene acceptor molecules is confirmed via optical spectroscopy investigations. The PBDB-T:ITIC organic solar cells show power conversion efficiencies of around 10% and significantly enhanced photostability. This is achieved through a reactive sputtering process that is fully scalable and industry compatible.

In the United States, “some college” is attained more frequently than a 4-year college degree. However, attainments below 4-year college vary considerably in terms of credentials and years of higher education, and gender differences in health disparities remain overlooked. Additionally, high school experiences may confound any estimated health gains. We draw on national longitudinal data (Add Health; Waves IV and V) to estimate associations between subbaccalaureate education and general health during young adulthood and again at early midlife. Relative to attaining no education past high school, women’s greater self-rated health with all levels of postsecondary attainment is robust to high school experiences, with the exception of vocational/technical training without a degree, in young adulthood and in early midlife. Greater health gains are linked to associate degrees compared to some college without a degree. For men, health benefits are found only among 4-year degree holders. For both genders, depressive symptom buffering linked to subbaccalaureate education is inconsistent and sometimes not robust to high school experiences. Overall, these findings offer a compelling case for recasting college health gains in terms of distinct postsecondary endpoints by gender.

La COVID-19 ha demostrado ser especialmente agresiva con los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC). La menor tasa de respuesta inmunológica y la mayor facilidad para la progresión a formas graves de enfermedad ha propiciado este hecho, que se ha mantenido en la era posvacunal de la pandemia. Paradójicamente, la ERC ha sido excluida de la mayoría de los ensayos clínicos de las principales herramientas terapéuticas desarrolladas frente a SARS-CoV-2. Sin embargo, se ha ido reuniendo experiencia de uso de estos fármacos en distintos estadios de la ERC que avala su uso con garantías de eficacia y seguridad.

We report an 85-year-old male patient with a medical history significant for psoriasis who presented with a thigh wound that expanded slowly over the course of 9 months. The patient was previously treated with amputation of hand digits for osteomyelitis. Histologic examination of the tissue sample revealed a broad ulceration with large areas of necrosis extending into the subcutis. The edge of the specimen also revealed a nodular lymphoid infiltrate in the subcutaneous adipose tissue composed of atypical cells. These cells were only positive for CD3, CD4, and T-cell receptor (TCR) delta stains . The Ki-67 proliferation index of tumor cells was about 70%. The tumor cells were negative for CD30, CD8, CD56, TCR BF1, granzyme, TIA1, CD123, and Epstein-Barr encoding region (EBER)-ish stains. A diagnosis of gamma–delta T-cell lymphoma was made. Further imaging showed regional lymphadenopathy. The patient was started on mini-CHOP and filgrastim; however, the patient died within 1 month after the diagnosis. This is an interesting case of gamma–delta T-cell lymphoma that was incidentally diagnosed on a chronic wound. In addition, it showed a CD4+, CD8−phenotype that is exceedingly rare for T-cell lymphomas with gamma–delta phenotype.

Background: COVID-19 has caused a high health burden worldwide and increased the need to identify factors affecting its risk. Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet and immune system function. This study investigated the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and COVID-19 incidence in a large sample of Iranian adults.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data from 9189 participants of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd (TAMIZ) study aged 20 to 70 years. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that higher intake of total fruit (OR: 0.42, CI: 0.20–0.83, P-trend =0.05), fresh fruit (OR: 0.46, CI: 0.23– 0.92, P-trend =0.04), green leafy vegetables (OR: 0.48, CI: 0.24–0.96, P-trend =0.08), and vitamin C (OR: 0.38, CI: 0.17– 0.81, P-trend =0.02) were associated with lower odds of COVID-19. No significant associations were observed for fruit juice, dried fruit, fruit compote, cruciferous vegetables, yellow vegetables, total vegetables and dietary fiber intake.Conclusion: Our study suggests that higher consumption of fresh fruit, total fruit, green leafy vegetables, and dietary vitamin C may reduce the risk of COVID-19. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and provide evidence-based nutritional recommendations. Furthermore, the current study's findings could be important for similar pandemics.

Thirty winter and spring durum wheat varieties and breeding lines were evaluated between 2020 and 2022 under low-input, conventional and organic management. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant effects for the year, management, genotype and their interactions for heading, lodging, grain yield, grain width and length, test weight and thousand grain weight. In the case of ground cover, the genotype × management and the genotype × management × year interactions were not significant. In 2020 and 2022, the latest heading variety ‘Mv Makaróni’ headed on 20th and 21st of May, respectively, whilst in 2021, due to the rainy and cold spring weather, 73% of the varieties started to head only after this date. Lodging was observed only on the conventional sites in two years. The average yield of the experiment was 5.94 t ha−1. For grain yield ‘Mv Vékadur’ and ‘NS Dur’ in the low-input and conventional trials, and genotypes ‘Sambadur’, ‘NS Žad’ and line MVTD12-23 in the organic trials were found as highly stable and best performing genotypes. Significant positive correlations were found between grain width and grain weight. Early ground coverage was measured in all three managements across two years and resulted in significant positive correlation with grain yield.

Disruptive events may be critical to supply chains as they may not be viable enough to sustain the challenges. Public support is often offered in order to increase the viability of supply chains. This is particularly important in the context of agri-food supply chains that are crucial for food security. This article proposes a novel framework for the assessment of agri-food products’ supply chain viability during various disruptive external effects. A proposed method is built on the complex and sophisticated expert evaluation processing technique refined by Monte Carlo simulation. The practical applicability of the proposed framework lies in the fact that the viability of all stages of agri-food supply chains is being assessed separately. Thus, it can be applied to both short and long supply chains. The method was tested by evaluating the effects of COVID-19 and the Ukraine war on the viability of Lithuanian agri-food supply chains. The results show that most of the negative factors arise from increased energy consumption in the agri-food sector. Positive effects were also observed indicating slightly increased production outputs, which should not be directly associated with the disruptive effects of COVID-19 or the Ukraine war, but rather with the ability of Lithuanian agri-food producers to maintain production activities uninterrupted.