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Influence of Surface Chemistry on Ibuprofen Adsorption and Confinement in Mesoporous Silicon Microparticles
No full textThe effect of adsorption and confinement on ibuprofen was studied by immersion loading the molecules into porous silicon (PSi) microparticles. The PSi micro particles were modified into thermally oxidized PSi (TOPSi) and thermally hydrocarbonized PSi (THCPSi) to evaluate the effects of the loading solvent and the surface chemistry on the obtainable drug payloads. The payloads, location, and the molecular state of the adsorbed drug were evaluated using thermal analysis. The results showed that after the adsorption of similar to 800 mg/cm(3) (w(drug)/v(pores)) of drug into the mesopores, depending on the solvent used in the immersion, the drug began to rapidly recrystallize on the external surface of the particles. Moderate concentrations, however, enabled payloads of 800-850 mg/cm(3) without excessive surface crystallization, and thus, there was no need for rinsing the samples to remove the externally crystallized portion. The results showed that the confined ibuprofen forms nanocrystals inside of the mesopores after approximately 200 mg/cm(3) payloads were obtained, accounting for half of the adsorbed drug amount. The presence of both crystalline and noncrystalline phases was further characterized using variable temperature solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The interactions between the drug molecules and the pore walls of TOPSi and THCPSi were observed using Fourier transform infrared and H-1 NMR spectroscopies, and the hydrogen bonding between the silanol groups of TOPSi and the adsorbed ibuprofen was confirmed, but having only limited effect on the overall state of the confined drug. In vitro drug permeation studies in Caco-2 and Caco-2/HT29 cocultures showed that the adsorption onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic PSi microparticles had no significant effects on the ibuprofen permeation, whether the drug was partially nanocrystalline or completely in a liquidlike state
Predictors of cigarette smoking frequency among European adolescents aged 13–15: the critical role of parental smoking and age of initiation
No full textThis cross-sectional study investigated predictors of cigarette smoking frequency among European adolescents aged 13–15, focusing on parental smoking, age of initiation, and socioeconomic factors. Data were derived from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2020–2023) in eight European countries. Smoking frequency was classified as infrequent ( 5/day). Individual variables (age, pocket money, age at initiation, tobacco experimentation), familial factors (parental smoking, parental education), and country-level factors (PPP-adjusted cigarette prices, income inequality) were analyzed using sex-stratified multilevel ordinal logistic regression models, accounting for clustering at the country and school levels. Notable country- and gender-specific variations in smoking prevalence were observed. Notably, Bulgaria and Albania exhibited the highest prevalence of heavy smoking (> 5 cigarettes/day). Overall, girls were more likely to be smokers, while boys tended to be heavy smokers. Older age, early initiation (</p
Toward Diabetes Device Development That Is Mindful to the Needs of Young People Living With Type 1 Diabetes: A Data- and Theory-Driven Qualitative Study
No full textBackground: An important strategy to understand young people’s needs regarding technologies for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management is to examine their day-to-day experiences with these technologies.Objective: This study aimed to examine young people’s and their caregivers’ experiences with diabetes technologies in an exploratory way and relate the findings to the existing technology acceptance and technology design theories. On the basis of this procedure, we aimed to develop device characteristics that meet young people’s needs.Methods: Overall, 16 in-person and web-based face-to-face interviews were conducted with 7 female and 9 male young people with T1DM (aged between 12 and 17 years) and their parents between December 2019 and July 2020. The participants were recruited through a pediatric diabetes clinic based at Canberra Hospital. Data-driven thematic analysis was performed before theory-driven analysis to incorporate empirical data results into the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and value-sensitive design (VSD). We used the COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist for reporting our research procedure and findings. In this paper, we summarize the key device characteristics that meet young people’s needs.Results: Summarized interview themes from the data-driven analysis included aspects of self-management, device use, technological characteristics, and feelings associated with device types. In the subsequent theory-driven analysis, the interview themes aligned with all UTAUT and VSD factors except for one (privacy). Privacy concerns or related aspects were not reported throughout the interviews, and none of the participants made any mention of data privacy. Discussions around ideal device characteristics focused on reliability, flexibility, and automated closed loop systems that enable young people with T1DM to lead an independent life and alleviate parental anxiety. However, in line with a previous systematic review by Brew-Sam et al, the analysis showed that reality deviated from these expectations, with inaccuracy problems reported in continuous glucose monitoring devices and technical failures occurring in both continuous glucose monitoring devices and insulin pumps.Conclusions: Our research highlights the benefits of the transdisciplinary use of exploratory and theory-informed methods for designing improved technologies. Technologies for diabetes self-management require continual advancement to meet the needs and expectations of young people with T1DM and their caregivers. The UTAUT and VSD approaches were found useful as a combined foundation for structuring the findings of our study.</p
Living, Learning, and Dying by Water: Materialist Jamaican Environment in A Tall History of Sugar by Curdella Forbes
No full textWater is a crucial element in A Tall History of Sugar by Curdella Forbes (Citation2019), which spans Jamaica’s recent history from its independence in 1962 to the present day. The novel highlights the importance of the sea and Caribbean and Atlantic waterways in articulating notions of living, learning and dying by water, where all these main events in the story occur. The essay argues that water as a materialist force shapes the narrative and helps tell the story of Moshe and Arrienne, two childhood friends growing up in rural Jamaica, who later marry and build a life together in the middle-class hillside of Kingston, Jamaica. Water in the novel serves a function, like helping Arrienne learn the predatory sexuality of an intrusive teacher on a biology lesson. Ultimately, water helps build a reparative stance on death, tying together environmentally and politically conscious African-Jamaican storytelling with the agentic quality of water.</p
Root biomass and cumulative yield increase with mowing height in Festuca pratensis irrespective of Epichloë symbiosis
No full textIncreasing agricultural soil carbon sequestration without compromising the productivity of the land is a key challenge in global climate change mitigation. The carbon mitigation potential of grass-based agriculture is particularly high because grasslands represent 70% of the world's agricultural area. The root systems of grasses transfer large amounts of carbon to below-ground storage, and the carbon allocation to the roots is dependent on the grasses' photosynthesizing shoot biomass. In a common-garden experiment, Festuca pratensis was used as a model species to study how mowing and weed control practices of perennial cool-season fodder grasses affect total yield and root biomass. Additionally, grass-associated Epichloë endophytes and soil residual glyphosate were tested for their effect on the total yield and root biomass alone or in interaction with mowing. The results demonstrate that elevating the cutting height increases both cumulative yield and root biomass in F. pratensis. Endophyte symbiosis increased the total yield, while glyphosate-based herbicide residues in the soil decreased the root biomass, which indicates a reduction of soil bound carbon sequestration. The findings demonstrate that carbon sequestration and yield quantities on farmed grasslands may significantly be improved by optimizing strategies for the use of plant protection products and adjustment of mowing intensity
Historiaton analyysi koulukokeilusta
No full textKirja-arvostelu teoksesta Jari Leskinen: Kohti sosialismia! Pirkkalan peruskoulun marxilainen kokeilu 1973–75. Siltala 2016.</p
Voice of the Psychonauts: Coping, Life Purpose, and Spirituality in Psychedelic Drug Users
No full textPsychoactive drug use shows great diversity, but due to a disproportionate focus on problematic drug use, predominant nonproblematic drug use remains an understudied phenomenon. Historic and anecdotal evidence shows that natural sources of "psychedelic" drugs (e.g., mescaline and psilocybin) have been used in religious and spiritual settings for centuries, as well as for psychological self-enhancement purposes. Our study assessed a total of 667 psychedelic drug users, other drug users, and drug nonusers by online questionnaires. Coping, life purpose, and spirituality were measured with the Psychological Immune Competence Inventory, the Purpose in Life test, and the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale, respectively. Results indicate that the use of psychedelic drugs with a purpose to enhance self-knowledge is less associated with problems, and correlates positively with coping and spirituality. Albeit the meaning of "spirituality" may be ambiguous, it seems that a spiritually-inclined attitude in drug use may act as a protective factor against drug-related problems. The autognostic use of psychedelic drugs may be thus hypothesized as a "training situation" that promotes self-enhancement by rehearsing personal coping strategies and by gaining self-knowledge. However, to assess the actual efficiency and the speculated long-term benefits of these deliberately provoked exceptional experiences, further qualitative investigations are needed
Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2024: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 10B: Structures and Dynamics — Fatigue, Fracture, and Life Prediction; Probabilistic Methods; Rotordynamics; Structural Mechanics and Vibration
No full textCampbell diagram is plotted from calculation results to identify a rotating object's critical speeds. The Campbell diagram is formed by calculating the supported natural frequencies in a defined operation speed range. It is an important step when designing rotating machines, e.g., an integrated high-speed electric motor that can be sensitive to the rotor's dynamical behavior. Currently, minimizing unnecessary calculation points is important for rapid design iterations and utilization of physics-based models with artificial intelligence. In cases where large variants of rotor geometry or using high-fidelity models, the calculation burden becomes high. In the research, a methodology based on a minimum number of calculation points and a second-order fitting equation is proposed, i.e., instead of using a high number of fixed calculation intervals, a three-point calculation methodology is proposed. The proposed methodology can be applied with neural network-based methods or implemented with high-fidelity models such as solid element models where the physics-based models can be used to create sensitivity to model parameters and study their influence with the traditional rotordynamics Campbell diagram tool. In the results, a comparison of two case studies is shown, and the computational cost is compared
Self-reported competence level of occupational health care professionals in work ability risk management and analysis
No full textBackground: The management and analysis of work ability risks is important to support well-being at work and requires multidimensional competence. Competence evaluation in Occupational Health Care professionals' (OHCP) practice is essential for their professional development and promotion of quality of care.Objective: To describe OHCPs' self-reported competence level to manage and analyze work ability risks.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was applied. The data were collected electronically from May to June 2018 using the Comp-WARMA instrument (scale 1 = poor - 4 = excellent) from Occupational Health Care professionals working in Finnish private medical centers (n = 169, response rate of 10%). The data were analyzed statistically.Results: The levels of knowledge and skills of OHCP in work ability risk management and analysis were mainly at good level (3.22 on average), but some deficient were still identified. The knowledge and skills of the work ability risk management and analysis were associated with the number of customer organizations they worked with, their attendance of supplementary training regarding work ability risk management and analysis, their amount of work experience, their type of employment, age, and gender.Conclusion: OHCP self-reported competence levels in work ability risk management and analysis was at good level. There is a need for development in all areas of work ability risk management and analysis. OHCP could benefit from in-service education on work ability risk management and analysis. Further validation of the Comp-WARMA instrument in larger sample is needed.Keywords: Occupational health services; professional competence; survey</p
Is digitalization a source of innovation? Exploring the role of digital diffusion in SME innovation performance
No full textDrawing on strategic management theory, this study examines the relationship between digitalization and innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We hypothesize that SMEs with higher levels of digital diffusion have higher innovation performance, and that absorptive capacity moderates this relationship. To test this relationship, we use a sample of 1100 German SMEs from the Mannheim Innovation Panel of the Centre for European Economic Research. The results of the multinomial and multivariate probit estimations show that digital diffusion is a significant positive trigger of innovation in SMEs. We also find that absorptive capacity moderates the relationship between digital diffusion and innovation only in the case of product innovation and not for any other type of innovation. Finally, we discuss the implications of our study for research and practice.</p