The Relationship of Self-Determination and Self-Construal on College Adjustment

This study investigated the interplay between self-construal (individualistic vs. collectivistic), basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), and college adjustment among a diverse student population. Contrary to expectations, self-construal did not directly predict overall adjustment. However, horizontal individualism (valuing personal achievement over group success) was negatively associated with adjustment. Supporting self-determination theory (SDT), all three basic psychological needs were positively correlated with all three domains of college adjustment (academic, social, and psychological). The strongest correlations were between relatedness and social functioning, and competence and social functioning. Racial differences in adjustment could not be examined due to sample limitations. Interaction effects between self-construal and basic needs on adjustment were partially supported, suggesting complex interplay. This study highlights the importance of basic psychological needs and the need for further research to understand how self-construal interacts with environmental factors (e.g., university climate) to influence college adjustment

IRIS observational approach to the oscillatory and damping nature of network and internetwork chromosphere small-scale brightening (SSBs) and their unusual dynamical and morphological differences in different regions on the solar disk

One of the most exciting benefits of solar small-scale brightening is their oscillations, this study investigated the properties of small-scale brightening (SSBs) in different regions of the Sun and found that there are differences and similarities in the properties of oscillated and non-oscillated SSBs in different regions of the Sun, including quiet Sun (QS), the adjacent to active regions (AAR), and coronal hole (CH). The damping per period (Q-factor) and maximum Doppler velocity of SSBs varied depending on the region, with the less bright internetwork SSBs in QS having lower damping time (120 seconds) and higher maximum Doppler velocities (47 km/s) compared to the brighter network SSBs (with 216 seconds & 37 km/s, respectively), while in AAR, internetwork SSBs tend to have higher damping time (about of 220 seconds) and wider maximum Doppler velocity (10 to 140 km/s) ranges compared to network SSBs (130 seconds & 10 to 85 km/s). In CH, both types of SSBs show similar damping time (120 seconds), but internetwork SSBs tend to have higher maximum Doppler velocities (100 km/s) compared to network SSBs (85 km/s). Also, it was pointed out that the majority of network SSBs in AARs are in the overdamping mode, while in QS, internetwork SSBs demonstrate overdamping behavior and oscillated network SSBs exhibit critical damping behavior. It is important to bear in mind, however, that the physical mechanisms underlying the damping of SSBs may vary depending on the local plasma conditions and magnetic environment.Comment: 36 pages and 10 figs., accepted in solar physics journa

Estimation of lithium-ion battery state-of-charge using an extended kalman filter

The main goal of a battery management system (BMS) is to estimate parameters descriptive of the battery pack operating conditions in real-time. One of the most critical aspects of BMS systems is estimating the battery's state of charge (SOC). However, in the case of a lithium-ion battery, it is not easy to provide an accurate estimate of the state of charge. In the present paper we propose a mechanism based on an extended kalman filter (EKF) to improve the state-of-charge estimation accuracy on lithium-ion cells. The paper covers the cell modeling and the system parameters identification requirements, the experimental tests, and results analysis. We first established a mathematical model representing the dynamics of a cell. We adopted a model that comprehends terms that describe the dynamic parameters like SOC, open-circuit voltage, transfer resistance, ohmic loss, diffusion capacitance, and resistance. Then, we performed the appropriate battery discharge tests to identify the parameters of the model. Finally, the EKF filter applied to the cell test data has shown high precision in SOC estimation, even in a noisy system

Electrochemical Performance of WS2-CNT Core–Shell Heterostructures for the Detection of Vitamin B2 †

In this study, a novel electrochemical sensor was developed for the quantitative determination of riboflavin. The tungsten disulfide (WS2) layer was deposited on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by atomic layer deposition (ALD), forming a CNTs-WS2 core–shell heterostructure. This material was used to modify the commercial screen-printed carbon electrode in order to enhance its electrocatalytic activity toward the detection of vitamin B2. Cyclic voltammetry was performed as a preliminary test in the presence of riboflavin. In addition to this, an extensive electrochemical study was performed using differential pulse voltammetry, demonstrating that modified the CNTs-WS2/SPCE sensor display superior electrochemical performance compared with bare SPCE. The sensor exhibits a linear response in the concentration range from 0 µM to 45 µM, with remarkably enhanced sensitivity (9 μAμM−1cm−2) compared with the bare electrode, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.24 µM. This enhancement is attributed to the conformal growth of the WS2 flakes on the CNTs and the high surface area offered by these flakes.Peer Reviewe

Da (i)legitimidade democrática do STF para atuar na omissão do poder legislativo

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso apresentado ao Departamento Acadêmico de Direito da Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, campus Professor Francisco Gonçalves Quiles, para obtenção do título de Bacharel em Direito. Orientadora Prof.ª Ma. Daeane Zulian DorstO trabalho em questão apresenta uma análise a respeito da (i)legitimidade democrática do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) para atuar na omissão do Poder Legislativo. Inicialmente, expõe-se os poderes previstos na Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988 (CR) bem como o instituto da separação dos poderes, fazendo inclusive, uma análise histórica, possibilitando demonstrar a evolução do direito perante a evolução da sociedade, finalizando dando ênfase ao Poder em evidência no presente trabalho, qual seja, o Poder Judiciário, especificamente o STF. Sob outro aspecto, para superar a problemática aduzida, faz-se estudo a respeito dos institutos da legalidade e da legitimidade, visto que, embora estejam vinculados muitas vezes, ambos não se confundem. Após a definição de legitimidade, aborda-se a evolução história do regime democrático de direito instaurado no Brasil na atualidade, identificando a legitimidade democrática, pela qual o povo legitima os seus representantes por meio do voto, conforme determina a Constituição da República. Finalmente, para possibilitar o desfecho da presente pesquisa, desenvolvem-se os temas a respeito da omissão legislativa versus atuação do Poder Judiciário; são analisados alguns precedentes importantes do STF, verificando sua legitimidade democrática para proferi-los, contrapondo as ideias de renomados constitucionalistas, evidenciando as posições divergentes acerca do tema e a necessidade de que em cada caso seja analisada a (i)legitimidade democrática do STF. Para a realização do presente trabalho foi utilizado o método hipotético dedutivo e o procedimento técnico aplicado foi de pesquisa bibliográfica

Essential oil and hydrophilic antibiotic co-encapsulation in multiple lipid nanoparticles: proof of concept and in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Producción CientíficaIn the worldwide context of an impending emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, this research combined the advantages of multiple lipid nanoparticles (MLNs) and the promising therapeutic use of essential oils (EOs) as a strategy to fight the antibiotic resistance of three Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with different cefepime (FEP) resistance profiles. MLNs were prepared by ultrasonication using glyceryl trioleate (GTO) and glyceryl tristearate (GTS) as a liquid and a solid lipid, respectively. Rosemary EO (REO) was selected as the model EO. REO/FEP-loaded MLNs were characterized by their small size (~110 nm), important encapsulation efficiency, and high physical stability over time (60 days). An assessment of the antimicrobial activity was performed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing assays against selected P. aeruginosa strains. The assays showed a considerable increase in the antibacterial property of REO-loaded MLNs compared with the effect of crude EO, especially against P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027, in which the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value decreased from 80 to 0.6 mg/mL upon encapsulation. Furthermore, the incorporation of FEP in MLNs stabilized the drug without affecting its antipseudomonal activity. Thus, the ability to co-encapsulate an essential oil and a hydrophilic antibiotic into MLN has been successfully proved, opening new possibilities for the treatment of serious antimicrobial infections.Tunisian Ministry of HEducation and Scientific Research and by the Fundación General de la Universidad de Valladolid (PIP 063/147181)Fondo de Innovación, Tecnología y Economía Circular (FITEC) e iNOVA4Health (UIDB/04462/2020

Competition between transients in the rate of approach to a fixed point

Dynamical systems studies of differential equations often focus on the behavior of solutions near critical points and on invariant manifolds, to elucidate the organization of the associated flow. In addition, effective methods, such as the use of Poincare maps and phase resetting curves, have been developed for the study of periodic orbits. However, the analysis of transient dynamics associated with solutions on their way to an attracting fixed point has not received much rigorous attention. This paper introduces methods for the study of such transient dynamics. In particular, we focus on the analysis of whether one component of a solution to a system of differential equations can overtake the corresponding component of a reference solution, given that both solutions approach the same stable node. We call this phenomenon tolerance, which derives from a certain biological effect. Here, we establish certain general conditions, based on the initial conditions associated with the two solutions and the properties of the vector field, that guarantee that tolerance does or does not occur in two-dimensional systems. We illustrate these conditions in particular examples, and we derive and demonstrate additional techniques that can be used on a case by case basis to check for tolerance. Finally, we give a full rigorous analysis of tolerance in two-dimensional linear systems.Comment: Resolution on the figures of the paper has been reduced to conserve file space. Animation files are viewable at: http://people.mbi.ohio-state.edu/jday/Tol_Animations.htm

Immune cells and oxidative stress in the endotoxin tolerance mouse model

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that can lead to tissue damage and death. In order to increase our understanding of sepsis, experimental models are needed that produce relevant immune and inflammatory responses during a septic event. We describe a lipopolysaccharide tolerance mouse model to characterize the cellular and molecular alterations of immune cells during sepsis. The model presents a typical lipopolysaccharide tolerance pattern in which tolerance is related to decreased production and secretion of cytokines after a subsequent exposure to a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide. The initial lipopolysaccharide exposure also altered the expression patterns of cytokines and was followed by an 8- and a 1.5-fold increase in the T helper 1 and 2 cell subpopulations. Behavioral data indicate a decrease in spontaneous activity and an increase in body temperature following exposure to lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, tolerant animals maintained production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide when terminally challenged by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Survival study after CLP showed protection in tolerant compared to naive animals. Spleen mass increased in tolerant animals followed by increases of B lymphocytes and subpopulation Th1 cells. An increase in the number of stem cells was found in spleen and bone marrow. We also showed that administration of spleen or bone marrow cells from tolerant to naive animals transfers the acquired resistance status. In conclusion, lipopolysaccharide tolerance is a natural reprogramming of the immune system that increases the number of immune cells, particularly T helper 1 cells, and does not reduce oxidative stress.FAPESPCNP

Strategic Partnerships in e-Health in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries in Africa

Strategic partnerships are very important for the successful deployment of e-health as they play a crucial role in achieving common goals and creating an added value for the involved partners. In this paper, we will provide relevant information about strategic partnerships in e-health deployment in four African countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, and Tunisia. A Partnership Assessment Tool is developed to analyze different aspects of partnerships and classify them. According to the analysis, 11 partnerships were strategic amongst the 15 identified. Findings analysis also shows that certain aspects, mainly sustainability, have to be enhanced to guarantee the impact of partnerships after the ending of its actions. Increased governmental support is required in addition to international funding resources to the successful deployment of e-health in the participating countries.publishedVersio