Frailty assessment has been identified as critical approach in chronic respiratory diseases with substantial impact in the health status and functionality in later life. Aging modifies the immune ...response leading to a chronic pro-inflammatory state and increased susceptibility to airway infections. Since epigenetic changes, airway epithelium dysfunction and inflammatory cytokine activity seem to be more pronounced in the immunosenescence, elderly asthmatics are at higher risk of poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, we hypothesize that frailty would be associated with the degree of asthma control in elderly patients with moderate to severe asthma. The aims of this study are to investigate association between frailty and asthma control in patients over 60 years old to estimate the prevalence of frailty in this study population. We plan to conduct a cross-sectional study with at least 120 patients above 60 years old with diagnostic of moderate to severe asthma according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, treated at a referral outpatient clinic. We defined asthma control by the six-domain Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6) and frailty phenotype in accordance with Fried scale and visual scale of frailty (VS-Frailty). We hope to analyze the multidimensional relationships between frailty and asthma and contribute to innovative therapeutic plans in geriatric asthma.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Scholars conceptualize entrepreneurial behavior (EB) as the actions taken for new venture creation, which are said to manifest from an individual’s intention to become an entrepreneur (EI). Though ...theoretically supported, predicting EB through EI faces many operationalization challenges, is rarely empirically reported, and presents methodological inconsistencies. Addressing these issues will improve our ability to identify emerging and successful new business venturers and facilitate further entrepreneurial stimulation of populations. Using both a cross-sectional and a 5-year longitudinal research design, we study the applicability of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) in explaining EI and EB for a sample of 1,149 Portuguese college students. The cross-sectional results support SCCT’s ability to explain students’ intentions in this large student population. Furthermore, with a smaller subsample, longitudinal analysis confirms intentions, as predictive of nascent EB, towards successful new business creation. In contrast to the theory’s propositions, we find that entrepreneurial self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations do not add to EI’s ability to predict EB. This study contributes to the currently scarce empirical support for SCCT as an appropriate model explaining EI and is the first to apply this theory’s core model to test the EI-EB link longitudinally. This study may be relevant to educators and policymakers who want to promote and assist college students in creating their own new businesses.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Purpose Entrepreneurial motivations are considered key determinants of the direction, intensity and duration of entrepreneurial processes and outcomes. To measure attitudes and outcome expectations ...related to an entrepreneurial career, researchers often use a set of predetermined behavioral beliefs or motivators. However, motivators can be numerous, context-specific and there is a lack of evidence regarding their stability over time. This study addresses this gap, while also providing a rich description of how Portuguese college students perceive entrepreneurship and how these perceptions relate to levels of entrepreneurial intentions (EI).Design/methodology/approach Using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data over a 5-year period, this study seeks to confirm existing evidence on entrepreneurship motivators' diversity and heterogeneity and to explore differences in motivators' temporal stability. Using an initial sample of 851 Portuguese college students and 3 different survey waves, this study first aggregates the most frequently cited motivators for EI to compile a series of meaningful motivational factors. Subsequently, it extensively analyzes the robustness of these factors by examining their validity against EI and stability over time.Findings Based on their superior association with EI and greater temporal stability, the findings suggest that entrepreneurship-intrinsic motivational factors are more relevant for college students' EI models. Prominently, being motivated to create one's own new business due to a particular occupational interest is the most consistently stable individual motivation.Practical implications The results may interest those studying entrepreneurial motivations and EI longitudinally and who invest in promoting entrepreneurial behavior of college students.Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyze entrepreneurship motivators/reasons' temporal stability, which is relevant for assessing their value for longitudinal entrepreneurship research and education. It is also the most complete assessment of Portuguese college students' perceptions of entrepreneurship.
Two‐ and three‐dimensional computations have been performed to study incompressible laminar flow of viscous fluids in symmetric channels with gradual expansions. The divergent form advective and ...viscous terms of Navier–Stokes equations are discretized by means of the UNIFAES scheme, which has been showing unpaired accuracy. Explicit time‐wise integration allows continuity to be imposed via the Poisson equation for the pressure, solved iteratively with several iterations per velocity step in order to ensure mass conservation throughout the transient regime. The proposed finite volume approach uses the semi‐staggered mesh structure, in which pressure is put at the center of the continuity cell and the velocity components at the cell vertexes. Comparative studies have shown this mesh to be highlighted by accuracy, in relation to the traditional, staggered and collocated meshes. Furthermore, it was observed that the semi‐staggered mesh allowed to treat a plane diverging channel in entirely regular fashion without losing accuracy, by appropriate choice of the aspect ratio of the numerical cell, providing geometrical flexibility that does not exist in more common meshes, such as staggered and collocated structures. The present proposal explored the geometric flexibility of the semi‐staggered mesh to solve with simplicity a relevant problem of a channel with gradual expansion. Overall, good agreement was observed against experimental and numerical results in the literature, therefore, it illustrates the capability of the semi‐staggered approach to easily handle flat surfaces nonparallel to the coordinates axes.
The semi‐staggered approach allows a flat surface non‐parallel to the axes can be adjusted in a regular way to the Cartesian mesh, providing geometrical flexibility that does not exist in more common meshes, such as staggered and collocated structures. A non‐homogeneous exponential scheme, UNIFAES, is presented for discretization of the advective and viscous terms of the Navier‐Stokes equations. This paper also provides further information which adds to knowledge of the two‐ and three‐dimensional flow structure in channels with gradual expansions.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•Mining tailings can be used in the production of an alternative sodium silicate.•Eco-friendly and low-cost activators can be produced from SiO2-rich waste materials.•New activators boost geopolymer ...competitiveness over conventional cements.
Mine tailings disposal is an increasingly important issue for mining companies. Two recent tailing dam failures in Brazil have caused unmeasurable environmental, social and economic damages. This study evaluated the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as a source of silica (SiO2) to produce an alternative form of sodium silicate (SS) for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders. The novel SS was produced in a mechano-thermo-chemical process for mixing IOT with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The materials were characterised by mineral composition, mineral phase, chemical groups and morphology. One-part geopolymer binders were synthesised with commercial SS and SS produced from tailings to compare their reactivity. Compressive strength tests showed that geopolymers produced with tailings SS and commercial SS achieved maximum mechanical resistance values of approximately 32 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to regular Portland cement.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Severe asthma is a multifactorial disorder with marked phenotypic heterogeneity and complex interactions between genetics and environmental risk factors, which could, at least in part, explain why ...during standard pharmacologic treatment, many patients remain poorly controlled and at an increased risk of airway remodeling and disease progression. The concept of "precision medicine" to better suit individual unique needs is an emerging trend in the management of chronic respiratory diseases. Over the past few years, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have revealed novel pharmacogenetic variants related to responses to inhaled corticosteroids and the clinical efficacy of bronchodilators. Optimal clinical response to treatment may vary between racial/ethnic groups or individuals due to genetic differences. It is also plausible to assume that epigenetic factors play a key role in the modulation of gene expression patterns and inflammatory cytokines. Remarkably, specific genetic variants related to treatment effectiveness may indicate promising pathways for novel therapies in severe asthma. In this review, we provide a concise update of genetic determinants of poor response to treatment in severe asthma and future directions in the field.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Entrepreneurial intention (EI) has been studied prolifically, as a precursor to entrepreneurial action, and a desired outcome of entrepreneurship education. Yet, the paucity of extant studies ...that analyze its temporal stability has been noted. This paper aims to address this gap by studying the temporal stability of EI, investigating its persistence as an attitudinal state over time.
Design/methodology/approach
A series of intraindividual and group-level longitudinal analyses were undertaken, over an 11-year period, using a student sample from Portugal. The authors highlight the magnitude of EI change over time, where item-structure, relative and absolute stability and group and individual-level EI changes are all considered.
Findings
Results indicate an initially strong to moderate EI item-structure stability and relative stability over the first five years, with moderate signs of deterioration. This deterioration becomes even more pronounced across the full 11-year period. Regarding EI absolute stability, while college students (as a group) did not display a general tendency to develop higher or lower EI during the first five years, a small deterioration was found over the 11-year period. At the individual level, EI instability was detected, and this increased with time. Finally, the exploratory results suggest that entrepreneurship education may buffer the deterioration of EI.
Practical implications
The findings provide a more nuanced reasoning for dampened EI–entrepreneurial behavior associations and highlight key determinants of EI change, which can inform educational experts and policymakers.
Originality/value
The legitimacy of the EI field lays heavily on the existence of a stable EI construct and a strong relationship between intentions and behavior. The methodology provides a new and more complete picture of EI’s temporal stability.
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•Browse and vegetation cover increased breeding success in lesser mouse deer.•Enrichment, water ponds and vegetation cover promoted activity in lesser mouse deer.•Close proximity in ...lesser mouse deer pairs negatively affected breeding success.•Vegetation cover decreased close proximity in lesser mouse deer pairs.•First known ethogram and behavioural description for Philippine mouse deer.
Mouse deer are primitive, forest ungulates found in Asia and Africa. Both the lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) and the Philippine mouse deer (T. nigricans) are managed in European zoos, but inconsistent breeding success between institutions, high neonatal mortality and a general lack of research on their husbandry and behaviour were identified by the coordinators of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and the European Studbook (ESB) for each species, respectively. This study is the first to provide a behavioural description for the Philippine mouse deer and to compile a detailed behavioural repertoire for both species. Our aim was to identify the effects of current husbandry and management practices on the reproduction, behaviour and welfare of zoo-housed mouse deer. Questionnaires on husbandry and management practices were sent to all institutions in the EEP and ESB for the lesser and Philippine mouse deer, respectively, and behavioural data were collected in 15 of these zoos. For the lesser mouse deer, results show a positive effect of vegetation cover on breeding success, foraging and moving behaviours. The provision of enrichment and presence of water ponds also positively affected these behaviours. The time that pairs spent in close proximity had a negative effect on breeding success, but animals in more vegetated enclosures spent less time in close proximity to each other. Results could be partially explained by the natural habitat of this usually solitary species being tropical forest, which provides local water sources and undergrowth for cover from predators. For the Philippine mouse deer there were differences in activity measures recorded between zoos, but the sample size was small with differences in training, enrichment and vegetation cover likely to have been important. In conclusion, since mouse deer inhabit overlapping male and female territories, the usual practice of housing breeding pairs together may be appropriate, but we suggest that they should be provided with opportunities to avoid each other in complex enclosures with ample vegetation cover to maximise their natural behavioural repertoire and breeding success.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Nutrient enrichment is increasingly affecting many tropical ecosystems, but there is no information on how this affects tree biodiversity. To examine dynamics in vegetation structure and tree species ...biomass and diversity, we annually remeasured tree species before and for six years after repeated additions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in permanent plots of abandoned pasture in Amazonia. Nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, phosphorus addition shifted growth among woody species. Nitrogen stimulated growth of two common pioneer tree species and one common tree species adaptable to both high- and low-light environments, while P stimulated growth only of the dominant pioneer tree
Rollinia exsucca
(Annonaceae). Overall, N or P addition reduced tree assemblage evenness and delayed tree species accrual over time, likely due to competitive monopolization of other resources by the few tree species responding to nutrient enrichment with enhanced establishment and/or growth rates. Absolute tree growth rates were elevated for two years after nutrient addition. However, nutrient-induced shifts in relative tree species growth and reduced assemblage evenness persisted for more than three years after nutrient addition, favoring two nutrient-responsive pioneers and one early-secondary tree species. Surprisingly, N + P effects on tree biomass and species diversity were consistently weaker than N-only and P-only effects, because grass biomass increased dramatically in response to N + P addition. The resulting intensified competition probably prevented an expected positive N + P synergy in the tree assemblage. Thus, N or P enrichment may favor unknown tree functional response types, reduce the diversity of coexisting species, and delay species accrual during structurally and functionally complex tropical rainforest secondary succession.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, INZLJ, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Background and aim
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, for which the first cases were reported in China, by December 2019. The spectrum of clinical ...presentations is wide, ranging from asymptomatic cases to a severe acute respiratory syndrome, sometimes with multiple systems involvement. Viral infections, including those related to respiratory virus, may cause hearing loss and, by extent, considering its pathophysiology, tinnitus. A systematic review on inner ear related symptoms in patients with COVID-19 reported 4.5% occurrence rate of tinnitus, with high variance of prevalence between the studies. Our aim is to further explore the relationship between COVID-19 and tinnitus. For this purpose we analyzed a sample of people who had suffered from a COVID-19 infection in the city of Volta Redonda, Brazil. In detail, we compared those with new onset tinnitus during or after the COVID-19 infection with those without tinnitus and those with tinnitus onset before the COVID-19 infection.
Methods
Fifty-seven patients over 18 years old and previously diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed by a RT-PCR test were included. Patients were subdivided in three groups: no tinnitus (NT), tinnitus that already existed before COVID-19 (chronic tinnitus, CT) and tinnitus that arose during or after COVID-19 (post-COVID-19 tinnitus, PCT). Data concerning COVID-19 symptoms, drugs prescribed for COVID-19, tinnitus characteristics, comorbidities and other otological symptoms were collected. For all the patients, tonal audiometry and otoacoustic emissions were performed. Tinnitus patients fulfilled the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and visual-analog scales (VAS) for loudness and distress. Patients with CT answered a simple question about the worsening of their tinnitus after COVID-19.
Results
PCT was reported by 19.3% of the patients, while 22.8% reported CT. No statistical difference was found between CT and PCT concerning hearing function, tinnitus characteristics and tinnitus distress. There was also no statistically significant difference between PCT and NT with respect to COVID-19 symptoms and pharmacological COVID-19 treatment. Patients with CT reported worsening of their tinnitus after COVID-19.
Conclusion
As with other viral infections, inner ear symptoms may be associated with COVID-19. In our sample patients with tinnitus onset before COVID-19 and those with tinnitus onset during or after COVID-19 did not differ significantly in their clinical characteristics and their hearing function, suggesting that tinnitus occurring in the context of a COVID-19 infection is not related to a unique pathophysiological mechanism. The comparison of COVID-19 patients, who developed tinnitus with those who did not develop tinnitus did not reveal any differences in COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19 treatment. Thus, there was no hint, that a specific expression of COVID-19 is closely related to post COVID-19 tinnitus onset. Although some drugs used to treat tinnitus are known to damage the inner ear cells (especially hydroxychloroquine), we did not see any relationship between the intake of these drugs and tinnitus onset, eventually due to the short prescription time and low doses. Among those patients who had tinnitus before COVID-19 30,8% reported worsening after COVID-19. Overall, tinnitus emerging in the context of a COVID-19 infection seems not to differ from tinnitus unrelated to COVID-19. For further exploring the relationship of tinnitus and COVID-19, large population based studies are warranted.
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