Magnetostructural correlations in BiFeO3-based multiferroics

This work was supported by funds from FEDER (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade COMPETE) and from FCT-Fundaça˜o para a Cieˆncia e a Tecnologia under the project UID/FIS/04564/2016. V. A. K. is grateful to Fundaça˜o para a Cieˆncia e a Tecnologia for financial support through the FCT Investigator Programme (project IF/00819/2014). D. V. K. is grateful to BRFFR (grant F16R-066). Access to the TAIL-UC facility funded under QREN-Mais Centro project ICT_2009_02_012_1890 is gratefully acknowledged

Effectiveness of unsupervised physical activity interventions in people with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

No abstract available.publishe

Unsupervised physical activity interventions for people with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction and objectives Unsupervised PA interventions might have a role in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but their effectiveness is largely unknown. Thus, we aimed to identify and synthesise data on the effects of unsupervised PA interventions in people with COPD. Material and methods Databases were systematically searched in April 2020, with weekly updates until September 2021. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies comparing unsupervised PA with usual care, were included. Primary outcomes were dyspnoea, exercise capacity and physical activity. The effect direction plot was performed to synthesise results. Meta-analysis with forest plots were conducted for the Chronic Respiratory Disease questionnaire – dyspnoea domain (CRQ-D), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWD). Results Eleven studies with 900 participants with COPD (68±10 years; 58.8% male, FEV1 63.7±15.8% predicted) were included. All interventions were conducted at home, most with daily sessions, for 8-12 weeks. Walking was the most common component. The effect direction plot showed that unsupervised PA interventions improved emotional function, fatigue, health-related quality of life, muscle strength and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meta-analysis showed statistical, but not clinical, significant improvements in dyspnoea (CRQ-D, MD=0.12, 95% CI 0.09-0.15) and exercise capacity, measured with 6MWD (MD=13.70, 95% CI 3.58-23.83). Statistical and clinical significant improvements were observed in exercise capacity, measured with ISWD (MD=58.59, 95% CI 5.79-111.39). None to minor adverse events and a high adherence rate were found. Conclusions Unsupervised PA interventions benefits dyspnoea and exercise capacity of people with COPD, are safe and present a high adherence rate. Unsupervised PA interventions should be considered for people with COPD who cannot or do not want to engage in supervised PA interventions or as a maintenance strategy of PA levels.publishe

Unsupervised physical activity interventions for people with COPD: a systematic review

Effects of supervised physical activity (PA) are well-established in COPD however, the evidence about the effectiveness of unsupervised PA interventions in this population is still scarce. Thus, we aimed to identify and synthesise the effects of unsupervised PA interventions in people with COPD. A systematic search was conducted on Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of science and EBSCOhost databases, in April 2020. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies comparing unsupervised PA with daily life, were included. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of evidence using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Effect sizes were calculated via Cohen’s d. 7 studies were included, 3 of moderate and 4 of weak quality. Most studies were conducted in a homebased setting (6/7), with the interventions lasting between 8-12 weeks (5/7). Frequencies of the interventions ranged from daily-2x/week (7/7). The components of interventions were: mobility (2/7), aerobic (2/7), strength (2/7), endurance (1/7) and lifestyle PA (2/7). Very small to huge effects [0.14 to 5.26] were found for exercise capacity (4/7) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [-2.25 to 0.19] (2/7). Very small to small effects were found for symptoms [-0.03 to 0.28] (2/7). Unsupervised PA interventions seem to be effective in increasing exercise capacity and HRQoL in people with COPD. Nevertheless, its application is still limited and highly heterogeneous thus, further studies, with robust methodologies, are needed to confirm our results and establish recommendations.publishe

Zygosaccharomyces bailii strain talf1 inulinases: a versatile tool for bioprocesses

Fructans are one of the most abundant non-structural polysaccharides found in a wide range of plants. Inulin is a polydisperse fructan polymer composed by linear chains of b-2, 1-linked D-fructofuranose molecules terminated by a glucose residue through a sucrose-type linkage at the reducing end. Inulin or inulin-rich materials can be actively hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars (glucose and fructose) using inulinases and then further used within bioprocesses

Behind the Intents: An In-depth Empirical Study on Software Refactoring in Modern Code Review

Code refactorings are of pivotal importance in modern code review. Developers may preserve, revisit, add or undo refactorings through changes’ revisions. Their goal is to certify that the driving intent of a code change is properly achieved. Developers’ intents behind refactorings may vary from pure structural improvement to facilitating feature additions and bug fixes. However, there is little understanding of the refactoring practices performed by developers during the code review process. It is also unclear whether the developers’ intents influence the selection, composition, and evolution of refactorings during the review of a code change. Through mining 1,780 reviewed code changes from 6 systems pertaining to two large open-source communities, we report the first in-depth empirical study on software refactoring during code review. We inspected and classified the developers’ intents behind each code change into 7 distinct categories. By analyzing data generated during the complete reviewing process, we observe: (i) how refactorings are selected, composed and evolved throughout each code change, and (ii) how developers’ intents are related to these decisions. For instance, our analysis shows developers regularly apply non-trivial sequences of refactorings that crosscut multiple code elements (i.e., widely scattered in the program) to support a single feature addition. Moreover, we observed that new developers’ intents commonly emerge during the code review process, influencing how developers select and compose their refactorings to achieve the new and adapted goals. Finally, we provide an enriched dataset that allows researchers to investigate the context and motivations behind refactoring operations during the code review process

Triple-q octupolar ordering in NpO_2

We report the results of resonant X-ray scattering experiments performed at the Np M_4,5 edges in NpO_2. Below T_0 = 25 K, the development of long-range order of Np electric quadrupoles is revealed by the growth of superlattice Bragg peaks. The electronic transition is not accompanied by any measurable crystallographic distortion, either internal or external, so the symmetry of the system remains cubic. The polarization and azimuthal dependence of the intensity of the resonant peaks is well reproduced assuming Templeton scattering from a triple-q longitudinal antiferroquadrupolar structure. Electric quadrupole order in NpO_2 could be driven by the ordering at T_0 of magnetic octupoles of Gamma_5 symmetry, splitting the Np ground state quartet and leading to a singlet ground state with zero dipole magnetic moment.Comment: 4 Pages, 3 Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. v2: resubmitted after referee report

a case study from Portugal

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Resonant X-Ray Scattering on the M-Edge Spectra from Triple-k Structure Phase in U_{0.75}Np_{0.25}O_{2} and UO_{2}

We derive an expression for the scattering amplitude of resonant x-ray scattering under the assumption that the Hamiltonian describing the intermediate state preserves spherical symmetry. On the basis of this expression, we demonstrate that the energy profile of the RXS spectra expected near U and Np M_4 edges from the triple-k antiferromagnetic ordering phase in UO_{2} and U_{0.75}Np_{0.25}O_{2} agree well with those from the experiments. We demonstrate that the spectra in the \sigma-\sigma' and \sigma-\pi' channels exhibit quadrupole and dipole natures, respectively.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Supp

Ethyl 7-Acetyl-8a-methyl-3-(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,4,4a,5,6,8a-hexahydro-7H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyridazine-1-carboxylate

The Diels–Alder reaction of ethyl 3-(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl-1,2-diaza-1,3-butadiene-1-carboxylate with 2-acetyl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran (methyl vinyl ketone dimer) regioselectively afforded the corresponding 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)-hexahydro-7H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyridazine in quantitative yield. An X-ray crystal structure of this cycloadduct is reported.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio