| 1. |
- Barack, Leor, et al.
(författare)
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Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics : a roadmap
- 2019
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Ingår i: Classical and quantum gravity. - : IOP Publishing. - 0264-9381 .- 1361-6382. ; 36:14
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions. The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature. The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics'.
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| 3. |
- Cano, Vitor, et al.
(författare)
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Novel bioelectrochemical processes focused on nitrogen in wastewater : Energy generation and resource recovery
- 2023. - 1
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Ingår i: Water Management and Circular Economy. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 9780323952804 - 9780323952811 ; , s. 233-272
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The discharge of nitrogen into nature results in environmental degradation and public health problems. Conventional processes applied in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for nitrogen removal have high energy demand and chemical consumption. Hence, this chapter addresses the recent research development about more sustainable approaches involving bioelectrochemical systems (BES) focused on nitrogen. Among the content are novel and meaningful insights towards the main factors controlling nitrogen oxidation, reduction, and separation/recovery; potential applications in WWTP; limiting factors; and contributions towards the circular economy principles. Despite there are limiting factors such as costly materials, lack of knowledge on microbial ecology, and low removal rates, the current generated in autotrophic nitrifying and denitrifying BES ranges from 1.2 to 1175 mA/m2 and 14 to 371 A/m3, respectively. This can potentially increase WWTPs self-sufficiency in terms of energy and external carbon. Alternatively, nitrogen can be recovered in BES (struvite, NH4HCO3 crystals or NH4OH), but improvements in ammonia separation across ion exchange membranes are necessary. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Ferreira, Letícia Tiburcio, et al.
(författare)
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Computational Chemogenomics Drug Repositioning Strategy Enables the Discovery of Epirubicin as a New Repurposed Hit for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. - 1098-6596. ; 64:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Widespread resistance against antimalarial drugs thwarts current efforts for controlling the disease and urges the discovery of new effective treatments. Drug repositioning is increasingly becoming an attractive strategy since it can reduce costs, risks, and time-to-market. Herein, we have used this strategy to identify novel antimalarial hits. We used a comparative in silico chemogenomics approach to select Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax proteins as potential drug targets and analyzed them using a computer-assisted drug repositioning pipeline to identify approved drugs with potential antimalarial activity. Among the seven drugs identified as promising antimalarial candidates, the anthracycline epirubicin was selected for further experimental validation. Epirubicin was shown to be potent in vitro against sensitive and multidrug-resistant P. falciparum strains and P. vivax field isolates in the nanomolar range, as well as being effective against an in vivo murine model of Plasmodium yoelii Transmission-blocking activity was observed for epirubicin in vitro and in vivo Finally, using yeast-based haploinsufficiency chemical genomic profiling, we aimed to get insights into the mechanism of action of epirubicin. Beyond the target predicted in silico (a DNA gyrase in the apicoplast), functional assays suggested a GlcNac-1-P-transferase (GPT) enzyme as a potential target. Docking calculations predicted the binding mode of epirubicin with DNA gyrase and GPT proteins. Epirubicin is originally an antitumoral agent and presents associated toxicity. However, its antiplasmodial activity against not only P. falciparum but also P. vivax in different stages of the parasite life cycle supports the use of this drug as a scaffold for hit-to-lead optimization in malaria drug discovery.
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| 7. |
- Malbet, F., et al.
(författare)
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Faint objects in motion: the new frontier of high precision astrometry
- 2021
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Ingår i: Experimental Astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 51:3, s. 845-886
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sky survey telescopes and powerful targeted telescopes play complementary roles in astronomy. In order to investigate the nature and characteristics of the motions of very faint objects, a flexibly-pointed instrument capable of high astrometric accuracy is an ideal complement to current astrometric surveys and a unique tool for precision astrophysics. Such a space-based mission will push the frontier of precision astrometry from evidence of Earth-mass habitable worlds around the nearest stars, to distant Milky Way objects, and out to the Local Group of galaxies. As we enter the era of the James Webb Space Telescope and the new ground-based, adaptive-optics-enabled giant telescopes, by obtaining these high precision measurements on key objects that Gaia could not reach, a mission that focuses on high precision astrometry science can consolidate our theoretical understanding of the local Universe, enable extrapolation of physical processes to remote redshifts, and derive a much more consistent picture of cosmological evolution and the likely fate of our cosmos. Already several missions have been proposed to address the science case of faint objects in motion using high precision astrometry missions: NEAT proposed for the ESA M3 opportunity, micro-NEAT for the S1 opportunity, and Theia for the M4 and M5 opportunities. Additional new mission configurations adapted with technological innovations could be envisioned to pursue accurate measurements of these extremely small motions. The goal of this White Paper is to address the fundamental science questions that are at stake when we focus on the motions of faint sky objects and to briefly review instrumentation and mission profiles.
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| 8. |
- Parola, Vitor, et al.
(författare)
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Burnout in Palliative Care Settings Compared With Other Settings : A Systematic Review
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1522-2179 .- 1539-0705. ; 19:5, s. 442-451
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A systematic review, using the guideline of the Joanna Briggs Institute, was conducted to explore the effect of working in palliative care settings, compared with other settings, on burnout among health care professionals. Multiple databases were searched-CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and SciELOV-as well as gray literature for studies published since 1975 that compared health professionals caring for patients older than 18 years in specialized palliative care settings (palliative care units, home care, or hospices) with health professionals working in other settings. Of the 539 studies retrieved, 7 cross-sectional studies were included in this review. Of these, six were conducted with nurses, and six used the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Working in palliative care (palliative care unit or hospices) was associated with lower levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, as well as higher levels of personal accomplishment, compared with working in other settings. Evidence indicates that burnout levels seem to be lower among professionals working in palliative care compared with professionals working in other settings. Further research is needed to explore the strategies used by nurses working in palliative care that help them deal with burnout and to apply these same strategies to professionals working in other settings.
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| 9. |
- Parola, Vitor, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of burnout in health professionals working in palliative care : a systematic review
- 2017
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Ingår i: The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. - : University of Adelaide. - 2202-4433. ; 15:7, s. 1905-1933
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: More than ever, the current increasing need for palliative care leads to health professionals providing this type of care which further leads to multiple challenges, and stressful and demanding situations. The multiple challenges of working in palliative care put health professionals working in this context at the risk of burnout.OBJECTIVES: To examine the evidence on the prevalence of burnout among health professionals working in palliative care.INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS: The current review included studies that encompass qualified health professionals working in palliative care, caring for patients 18 years of age or older.CONDITION: The current review considered studies reporting on the point prevalence of burnout, measured by a burnout scale, such as, but not limited to, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Burnout Measure and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.CONTEXT: The current review considered studies conducted in the context of specialist palliative care, more specifically, palliative care units, specialized palliative home care or hospices.TYPES OF STUDIES: The current review considered observational study designs, including prospective and retrospective cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies.SEARCH STRATEGY: An initial search of MEDLINE (via PubMed) and CINAHL was undertaken, followed by a second search for published and unpublished studies since 1975 in major healthcare-related electronic databases. Studies written in English, Spanish and Portuguese were included.METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of studies using the standardized critical appraisal instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute. No studies were excluded from the review based on the methodological appraisal.DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using a data extraction table, taking into account the review questions.DATA SYNTHESIS: Significant differences were found between condition measures, thus we were unable to perform a meta-analysis.RESULTS: Eight cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 1406 health professionals. The sample was limited to nurses, physicians and social workers. None of the included articles presented data about other health professionals. Seven of the included studies assessed the prevalence of burnout using the same instrument - the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data revealed a prevalence of burnout of 17.3% among health professionals. Personal Accomplishment was the sub-scale from the Maslach Burnout Inventory that had the highest prevalence (19.5%). Nurses had higher levels of Emotional Exhaustion (19.5%) and Depersonalization (8.2%), and physicians had lower levels of Personal Accomplishment (41.2%). The prevalence of burnout was, however, higher in social workers (27%). The palliative care context with the highest prevalence of burnout was home care (19.6%).CONCLUSION: The current systematic review contributes to a body of empirical knowledge that can facilitate the professional development of palliative care teams by highlighting the prevalence of burnout in health professionals, which staff category is the most affected (social workers), and which palliative care context has the highest prevalence (home care).
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| 10. |
- Servin, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Nonlinear self-interaction of gravitational waves
- 2003
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Ingår i: Physical Review D. - : American Physical Society. - 2470-0010 .- 2470-0029. ; 67
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently Mendonca and Cardoso [Phys. Rev. D 66, 104009 (2002)] considered nonlinear gravitational wave packets propagating in flat space-time. They concluded that the evolution equation—to third order in amplitude—takes a similar form to what arises in nonlinear optics. Based on this equation, the authors found that nonlinear gravitational waves exhibit self-phase modulation and high harmonic generation leading to frequency up-shifting and spectral energy dilution of the gravitational wave energy. In this Brief Report we point out the fact—a possibility that seems to have been overlooked by Mendonca and Cardoso—that the nonlinear terms in the evolution equation cancels and, hence, that there is no amplitude evolution of the pulse. Finally we discuss scenarios where these nonlinearities may play a role.
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