bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the loaded morphology of active metal components in Cu-M@ carbon-based catalysts and their protection against SO2
Authors: Zhang Lingxuan , Zhao Ting , Wu Yue , Li Da , Zhao Tong , Cao Zhuo , Zhang Li
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the samples of metal impregnators for activated carbon were prepared by Cu compound with Co, Ni, Zn and Mo compounds, respectively. The loading forms of metal compounds on activated carbon were investigated. With the increase of calcination temperature, the crystal form of the activated carbon metal impregnant sample changes correspondingly. Under the calcination temperature of 200 °C, the sample of copper impregnator completely decomposes into copper oxide with a monoclinic crystal phase structure, and the cobalt impregnator samples decompose from CoCO3 to Co3O4. Its main component is Co3O4, with a cubic phase structure. The metallic zinc compounds decomposed completely into hexagonal zinc oxide crystals with a wurtzite structure. For the solid sample of molybdenum impregnation agent, ammonium molybdate pyrolyzed to remove all water of crystal and part of ammonium ions, and its crystal shape changed from (NH4)6Mo7O24•4H2O to (NH4)2Mo4O13. Meanwhile, the protection performance of metal-impregnated samples against sulfur dioxide was also evaluated. The evaluation results show that the two-component Cu-Ni impregnated sample had the strongest SO2 protection performance under the calcination condition of 150 °C.
Study on Preparation and Properties of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer with Different Molecular Weight Methylallyl Polyoxyethylene Ether
Authors: Zhong Lina
Published: July 2023

The molecular weight of the macromonomer has a great influence on the performance of the Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer (PCE). The PCE with different structures was prepared by using methylallyl polyoxyethylene ether (HPEG) with molecular weights of 2400, 3000, 4000, and 5000. The effects of PCE on the emptying time and the rheological properties of cement paste and the properties of concrete were investigated. The test results show that the emptying time of cement paste, the plastic viscosity ratio and the emptying time ratio of concrete inverted slump have a corresponding relationship: HPEG-5000 < HPEG-4000 < HPEG-3000 < HPEG-2400, and the PCE prepared by HPEG-2400 has the best performance.
Study on the Properties of Cellulose Acetate Composite Synergistically Toughened by Glycerol Triacetate and Modified Nano Titania
Authors: Gan Huaiyin , Xu Jiangdong , He Weidong
Published: July 2023

Glyceryl triacetate (GT) and nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) filler modified by titanate coupling agent were used to toughen cellulose diacetate to prepare CA/GT/nano TiO2@NZD-201 composites. The effects of glyceryl triacetate and modified titanium dioxide filler on the mechanical properties and rheological properties of cellulose acetate were studied. The rheological properties showed that glyceryl triacetate and modified nano TiO2 significantly increased the plasticity of the composite, reduced the complex viscosity, reduced the rigidity, and increased the viscoelastic ratio. The impact resistance of the composite was improved by 101% due to the addition of modified nano titanium dioxide.
Monte Carlo simulation study of rare earth/polypropylene composite shielding 120 KV medical X-ray
Authors: Cui Tongyan , Duan Shiyu , Chen Ruixin , Wang Rui , Jia Qingxiu
Published: July 2023

Rare earth is widely used as a ray shielding material due to its special electron layer structure, and Monte Carlo simulations are also widely used in ray shielding. Therefore, in this paper, based on the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm and FLUKA program, three kinds of rare earth, Gd2O3, Nd2O3, and La2O3, were selected as shielding fillers to prepare rare earth/polypropylene composite materials, and their shielding effect on X-ray at 120KV tube voltage was simulated. It is found that the three rare earths as shielding fillers have a shielding effect on X-ray under 120KV tube voltage, and Gd2O3 has the best effect on X-ray attenuation. When the thickness of the material is 0.06 cm, the shielding rate of pure Gd2O3 particles is 92.25%, and the rare earth/polypropylene composite material with a mass ratio of 1: 1 at the same thickness can also shield 32.74% of rays. Increasing the thickness of the composite or the amount of rare earth filling can improve the shielding effect of the composite, but the effect of increasing the amount of rare earth filling is more significant.
Preparation of calcium carbonate by indirect carbonation desulfurization gypsum with renewable aspartic acid
Authors: Zhu Xuechen , Gong Yuan , Wu Baizhi , Wei Hongxia , Li Chunlei
Published: July 2023

As an industrial by-product of flue gas desulfurization, flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD gypsum), whose main component is CaSO4 · 2H2O, is an ideal raw material for mineralization. The technical problem of indirect mineralization lies in the efficient recycling of leaching agents, while amino acids have the lowest solubility at their isoelectric point, and thus the mixture of amino acids can be separated by adjusting the isoelectric point. Therefore, this paper proposes the use of aspartic acid (ASP) as leaching agent to realize the recycling of leaching agent. The leaching efficiency of Ca2+ was regulated by changing the temperature, liquid-to-solid ratio, ammonia concentration, and the ratio of ASP to the amount of FGD gypsum substance. The results showed that ASP could sufficiently improve the leaching efficiency of Ca2+ from desulfurized gypsum under alkaline conditions provided by ammonia. The leaching concentration of Ca2+ was 7474.92 mg/L at 7% ammonia concentration, temperature of 30 °C, n(ASP): n(FGD gypsum) = 2.5:1, and liquid-solid ratio of 30:1 mL/g, which was 12 times higher compared with the leaching concentration of Ca2+ in pure water of 601.2 mg/L. While improving the leaching efficiency, ASP has lone electron pairs and can form soluble complexes with Ca2+ under alkaline environment, which can convert the crystalline form of the product CaCO3 to sphalerite during the mineralization process, and can regenerate ASP by adding acid to adjust the pH, and the recovery rate can reach 80.72%. This method effectively solves the problem of resource waste caused by the massive accumulation of desulfurization gypsum.
Determination of Quinoline in Textiles by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Fu Kejie , Ren Qingqing , Dong Wei , Liu Jun , Feng Rui , Lian Sumei , Liu Dongzhi
Published: July 2023

Quinoline, an important intermediate in rubber, fine chemicals, dyeing and finishing industry, is irritating to eyes and skin, and has the risk of carcinogenesis, teratogenesis and mutagenesis in organisms. At present, the research on quinoline mainly focuses on fine chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, while the research on textiles is less. Up to now, the determination standard of quinoline content in textiles has not been issued in China and the international field. To establish a method for determination of quinoline in textiles by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the extraction conditions were optimized. The textile samples were ultrasonically extracted with acetonitrile as solvent. A 0.45 μm filter membrane was used to filter the extracts. The detection method was validated by methodology. The RSD of intra-day precision is 0.32% and the RSD of inter-day precision is 0.59%. Recoveries ranged from 90.6% to 98.9% with RSDs ranging from 0.4% to 2.14% (n=6) at low, medium and high spiked concentrations, which shows this method has stable detection results, high precision, and satisfactory recovery rate. 28 samples were tested with this method, and quinoline was detected in 1 sample, with a content of 5.3 mg/kg, which was less than the limit requirement for quinoline in 2019 OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
Solidification process analysis and parameter optimization of powder coating by electrostatic spraying
Authors: Yan Ran , Xue Bing , Yue Yongyong
Published: July 2023

Aiming at formulating reasonable curing process parameters of powder coating, solving the problems of over-drying of thin plate and impervious drying of the thick plate during combined drying of workpieces with different thicknesses, analyzing the optimal curing temperature range of powder coating by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and designing a three-factor and four-level DOE test scheme within the optimal curing temperature range to test the curing time of powder coating are necessary. Using Minitab analysis software, the significance of the influence of various factors on the powder curing time is verified and the powder coating curing process model is built on this basis. The results show that the furnace temperature and workpiece thickness have significant effects on the shortest and longest curing time of powder coating. And there is no obvious interaction between furnace temperature and heating rate. The curing process model based on this can effectively solve the drying problem of composite plates with different thicknesses and reduce energy consumption.
Design of Chitosan Derivative as Environmentally Friendly Scale and Corrosion Inhibitor in Municipal Wastewater
Authors: Gao Yuhua , Li Haihua , Liu Zhan , Zheng Yuxuan , Liu Zhenfa
Published: July 2023

Chitosan is a potential scale and corrosion inhibitor in municipal wastewater. But it is insoluble in water and most solvents, so its application is greatly limited. For this reason, the development of chitosan derivatives that were used in municipal wastewater to improve the dissolubility and performance of inhibition of chitosan has broad application prospects. A chitosan derivative (O-CTS-PSI) was designed. Through determining the infrared spectrum and 1H NMR spectrogram of the synthesized O-CTS-PSI, have proved that the chemical constitution. The scale inhibition rate of O-CTS-PSI could reach 100% in static scale inhibition experiment when 40 mg/L O-CTS-PSI was added in municipal wastewater. The rotating coupon corrosion test results showed that the corrosion inhibition rate of O-CTS-PSI could reach 58.4% in municipal wastewater when 100 mg/L O-CTS-PSI was used. This indicated that O-CTS-PSI was an excellent substitute for commonly used chemicals in circulating water system.
Development of Forming Limit Curve for Glare in a semi-cured state using Hydro-bulging test method
Authors: Ali Mirza Hasnain , Lang Lihui , Zhang Meng
Published: July 2023

Forming limit curve (FLC) is a valuable tool for predicting the formability of materials. Considering the need to develop FLC for fiber metal laminates (FMLs), Glare in a 2/1 sequence was prepared for the development of FLC. The prepreg used was glass fiber stacked in between the aluminum sheets in a semi-cured state, which allows for enhanced strain percentage and helps predict the maximum forming limit of Glare. The experimental data was accumulated by comprehensively testing parameters like pressure rate, temperature, and blank holding pressure. The results show that at higher temperatures and reduced pressure rate and blank holding pressure, the formability of Glare can be enhanced. This study helps predict the safe zone when forming Glare and manufacturing small intricate parts of Glare material in engineering applications.
A Theoretical Study on Photocatalytic Water Splitting of Boron Doped Defective Zirconium Dioxide
Authors: Zhao GuoChen , Qiu YongQing , Liu ChunGuang
Published: July 2023

At present, environmental crisis and energy problems are becoming more and more serious. Finding a sustainable green energy source is urgent. Solar energy has attracted widespread attention. Here, we have meticulously investigated the application of boron atom-doped defective zirconia catalysts for photocatalytic water splitting through theoretical calculations. We know that doping boron atom greatly promotes the generation of oxygen vacancy defects in the zirconia catalyst, and the boron atom-doped defective zirconia catalyst has better photocatalytic water splitting performance than the pristine zirconia catalyst. In addition, boron atom-doped defective zirconia catalysts have higher stability. Through electronic structure analysis, the photo-response in the photocatalytic water splitting system and the fundamental reasons for the improvement of catalyst stability were explored. The introduction of boron atom promoted the generation of defect impurity electronic states, which made the antibonding state of the catalyst more stable cling to the Fermi level. Finally, the great photocatalytic water splitting performance of the boron-doped defective zirconia catalyst was confirmed with the difference in Gibbs free energy in photocatalytic water splitting process.
Preparation and study of Nanocomposite material CAFe-PPy
Authors: Wang Shasha , Ren Bin , Zhang Lihui , Liu Zhenfa
Published: July 2023

Carbon aerogel (CA) is a new type of lightweight porous material with many excellent properties. Here, CAFe-PPy was prepared via iron and conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) on carbon aerogel. The physical properties of CA and CAFe-ppy were compared. Iron, nitrogen and oxygen were successfully loaded onto CAFe-PPy. PPy can increase the conductivity of CAFe-PPy, but it also blocks some holes.
Diffusion induced thermal effect and stress in layered Li (Ni0.8Mn0.1Co0.1) O2 cathode materials for button lithium-ion battery electrode plates
Authors: Tian Chongwang , Leng Xuning , Bao Chunjiang , Xu Lipeng
Published: July 2023

This paper develops a coupling model of the relationship between chemical reaction, temperature and stress/strain for NCM811 cathode materials. With the process of reaction, the concentration of electrolyte salts changes rapidly at the initial stage of diffusion and tends to be in dynamic equilibrium. The concentration of electrolyte LiPF6 in electrode materials diffuses from bottom to top with the process of lithium intercalation. In the process of Li-ion intercalation, the temperature rise of porous electrode materials increases sharply at first, then decreases and then increases slowly. The rate of temperature rise in the cathode material increases with the temperature decrease. Electrode material volume deformation with the expansion along the X-axis and the radial bending along the Y-axis. And the law of stress variation with time is consistent with the temperature-time curve. By the stress-strain distribution nephogram, it is found that the position where the maximum stress is located at the edge of the upper surface and is the most vulnerable to failure.
How COVID-19 altered perceived household resource consumption in the United States: Results from a survey
Authors: Shivaram Ranjitha , Azevedo Inês M L
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented changes in the daily lives of people in the United States and across the world, particularly around how households consume critical resources. We fielded a survey to a national U.S. sample (n = 1214) to quantify the nature and extent of perceived change in household consumption of energy, water, information and communication technology (ICT) services, transportation, and grocery and non-grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that most survey respondents report increased consumption of electricity and water, but they did not report altered heating and cooling energy consumption. Respondents reported sharp increases in work-related ICT usage for medium- and high-income respondents, and increased ICT usage for recreation and entertainment across all income categories during the pandemic. Nearly half of car-based commuters stopped commuting, with higher shares of medium- and high-income respondents shifting to working from home instead of commuting by car. Respondents shopped less frequently, spent more on both grocery and non-grocery items, and moved their shopping online—indicating that the pandemic hastened the ongoing shift to online modes of resource consumption. Low-income households and respondents of color reported different shifts in consumption in comparison to higher income households and white households. Finally, more than half of our respondents stated that their altered consumption patterns will persist post-pandemic, pointing to potential long-term shifts in consumption behaviour. These findings provide useful empirical evidence for perceived changes in household resource consumption during the pandemic, suggest that we need to better protect low-income and Black households from the effects of large-scale disruptions, and can inform more effective and equitable disaster response policies.
Conditions for symmetry reduction of polysymplectic and polycosymplectic structures
Authors: García-Toraño Andrés E , Mestdag T
Published: July 2023

For Hamiltonian field theories on polysymplectic manifolds with a symmetry group action and a momentum map, we explore the redundancy in a set of necessary conditions that has appeared in the literature, for a generalized version of the Marsden–Weinstein symmetry reduction theorem. Next, we prove a necessary and sufficient condition for polycosymplectic reduction. We relate polycosymplectic reduction in a one-to-one way to the reduction of an associated larger polysymplectic manifold. Throughout the paper, we provide examples and discuss special cases.
Bursa Uludag University’s Contribution to the Society with Sustainability Projects
Authors: Salihoglu Guray , Turhan Sule
Published: July 2023

Universities bring solutions to society’s problems with academic research and education and by raising leaders who would be role models. There are more than 8 million university students in Turkey. Approximately ten percent of the population is university students in Turkey. Therefore the positive influence of sustainability projects at universities will be undeniable. Bursa Uludag University (BUU) is a large state university with over 60 000 students and 6000 staff. The vision of BUU Sustainable Campus Project, which was launched in April 2021, was stated as “Being a university that lives sustainability in all activities such as research, education, and campus operations.” This paper aims to present the contribution of BUU’s sustainability efforts to the social cohesion between the university staff and students and among the members of the society and city. BUU’s short but significant journey toward sustainable development will be shared. Several projects such as seed balls, ecological gardens, waste-to-art, an introduction to sustainability, a walk for the Environment, no elevators day, rainwater harvesting, and corporate sustainability expert program will be presented to this aim.
NCNU dedicates to develop green campus and renewable energy for environmental sustainability
Authors: Wuu Dong-Sing , Liu I-Chung , Chen Ku-Fan
Published: July 2023

National Chi Nan University (NCNU) is located in Puli in central Taiwan with an altitude of 665 meters, making it the highest university in Taiwan. NCNU has a single campus with a total area of 150 ha and a ratio of green cover of 80% including 39.6% forest and 40.7% planted vegetation. In addition to forest and planted vegetation areas, area for water absorption accounts for 16.3% of campus. NCNU designates around 40% of total budget for sustainability effort each year. Percentage of operation and maintenance activities during Covid-19 pandemic is up to 92% because of good disease prevention measures. NCNU campus is surrounded by dense valleys and forests that provides a habitat for many wild animals such as cattle egrets, pangolins, and butterflies. Recently, NCNU dedicates to construct solar power generation system on campus. The power generation capacity of the system is around 3.0 MW to date, which supplies for 20% of annual power consumption. The solar power generation system is constructing continuously and will reach a total power generation capacity of 8.2 MW in 2023, which accounts for around 90% of annual power consumption.
The practice of waste management in the RUDN University
Authors: Savenkova Elena , Redina Margarita
Published: July 2023

The pandemic period has left a serious imprint on the development of universities: the formats and content of lectures, workshops, research directions and, in general, the organization of university life. However, the role of universities as centres for the development of a culture of sustainable development remains unchanged: development of new educational courses, demonstration of the university’s achievements in reducing the amount of waste generated, as well as interdisciplinary research on the climate neutrality of the waste management industry. The University implements educational activities for schoolchildren, students, and volunteers. Waste recycling programs have been implemented. A new direction of the university’s activity is the analysis of the carbon footprint of organizations within the framework of the work of the greenhouse gas validation and verification body, the first in Russia to be opened at the RUDN. Management of greenhouse gas flows in waste management is a very popular area of validation and verification. The involvement of university students in research programs involves the development of this topic. The University is a representative facility for estimating greenhouse gas flows caused by waste flows. Thus, the pandemic period has become a period of opportunities for RUDN to create a new scientific and educational direction.
Gambling among indebted individuals: an analysis of bank transaction data
Authors: Marionneau Virve K , Lahtinen Aino E , Nikkinen Janne T
Published: July 2023

Background

Gambling is connected to important financial harms, including debt. Most existing research has investigated the relationship between gambling and debt using self-reported data. Only a few studies have used objective data. The current study focuses on the gambling of indebted individuals. It investigates the amounts and types of gambling consumed by indebted individuals, and the amounts of unsecured debt among heavy gamblers.

Methods

We use past-year banking data of Finnish individuals (N = 23 231) collected between 2018 and 2021 among applicants to a debt consolidation service. The transactions consist of deposits to, and winnings paid by gambling operators, distinguished by type of gambling (sports betting, casino, lottery) as well as active loans divided into secured and unsecured loans.

Results

Gambling is widespread among indebted individuals in Finland. In terms of gambling types, casino-type gambling is the most popular among indebted individuals. Gambling spending is highly concentrated. Nearly half (49.5%) of all gambling deposits are concentrated among the highest spending 5% of indebted individuals. Individuals with unsecured loans have higher median losses than those without unsecured loans.

Conclusions

The results suggest that gambling and indebtedness are strongly linked. The connection is stronger for individuals with unsecured debt. This has implications for prevention and treatment. Easy access to unsecured credit is likely to worsen gambling harms. Debt counselling services routinely encounter gambling-related harms and need to be equipped to manage these issues.
Self-rated work ability as a risk factor for disability retirement
Authors: Kainulainen Sakari , Elovainio Marko , Laaksonen Mikko , Jääskeläinen Tuija , Rissanen Harri , Koskinen Seppo
Published: July 2023

Background

Simple and efficient survey measures to predict staying in or leaving work are needed. We examined the association of single-item self-rated work ability (SRWA) with disability retirement in two large population-based samples and compared the association of SRWA to two other scales, work ability score (WAS) and self-rated health (SRH), used earlier in studies.

Methods

The study population comprised 6034 participants aged 35–58 from the population-based Health 2000 and FinHealth 2017 cohort studies, pooled together. SRWA, WAS and SRH were all classified in three categories: poor, limited and good. A 36-month follow-up for disability retirement via linkage to electronic records was included in the analysis.

Results

Of the participants, 195 retired during the follow-up. All three measures strongly predicted disability retirement. Hazard ratio (HR) for poor SRWA (vs. good) was 8.48 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.41–13.28], WAS 7.99 (95% CI 5.62–11.37) and SRH 5.96 (95% CI 4.17–8.51). HR for limited SRWA (vs. good) was 4.35 (95% CI 3.21–5.91), WAS 3.54 (95% CI 2.49–5.04) and SRH 2.27 (95% CI 1.59–3.23). Taking into account gender, age, education and mental health narrowed the gap between poor and limited vs. good work ability as predictors of disability retirement, but the differences remained clear.

Conclusions

Limited or poor self-rated work ability or health are strong predictors of disability retirement. The SRWA measure is a useful survey-measure of work ability in community-based surveys.
Opi1-mediated transcriptional modulation orchestrates genotoxic stress response in budding yeast
Authors: Panessa Giovanna Marques , Tassoni-Tsuchida Eduardo , Pires Marina Rodrigues , Felix Rodrigo Rodrigues , Jekabson Rafaella , de Souza-Pinto Nadja Cristhina , da Cunha Fernanda Marques , Brandman Onn , Cussiol José Renato Rosa
Published: July 2023

In budding yeast, the transcriptional repressor Opi1 regulates phospholipid biosynthesis by repressing expression of genes containing inositol-sensitive upstream activation sequences. Upon genotoxic stress, cells activate the DNA damage response to coordinate a complex network of signaling pathways aimed at preserving genomic integrity. Here, we reveal that Opi1 is important to modulate transcription in response to genotoxic stress. We find that cells lacking Opi1 exhibit hypersensitivity to genotoxins, along with a delayed G1-to-S-phase transition and decreased gamma-H2A levels. Transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing reveals that Opi1 plays a central role in modulating essential biological processes during methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)–associated stress, including repression of phospholipid biosynthesis and transduction of mating signaling. Moreover, Opi1 induces sulfate assimilation and amino acid metabolic processes, such as arginine and histidine biosynthesis and glycine catabolism. Furthermore, we observe increased mitochondrial DNA instability in opi1Δ cells upon MMS treatment. Notably, we show that constitutive activation of the transcription factor Ino2-Ino4 is responsible for genotoxin sensitivity in Opi1-deficient cells, and the production of inositol pyrophosphates by Kcs1 counteracts Opi1 function specifically during MMS-induced stress. Overall, our findings highlight Opi1 as a critical sensor of genotoxic stress in budding yeast, orchestrating gene expression to facilitate appropriate stress responses.
What Becomes a Refugee Camp? Making Camps for European Refugees in North Africa and the Middle East, 1943–46
Authors: Mackinnon Katherine , White Benjamin Thomas
Published: July 2023

Refugees have often been housed in camps made by ‘adaptive reuse’ of a wide range of existing sites. We argue that any given refugee camp’s previous uses shape the experiences of its residents and may indicate how that displaced population is viewed by the responsible authorities. We test this argument on three historical case studies drawn from an important but under-researched episode in the history of the refugee camp: the far-flung network of camps established by the Allies in North Africa and the Middle East in the 1940s for European refugees from Fascism. They range from a former hotel housing under 50 people to a vast tented encampment housing over 20,000, adapted from an army ‘rear camp’. We argue that research on any given camp should include analysis of the site’s architectural origins. This is a step towards a more fully articulated methodological approach to researching refugee camps, the ‘site biography’.
Evaluation of Culture Conducive to Academic Success by Gender at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Keenan Bridget P , Sibley Amanda , Zhang Li , Westring Alyssa F , Velazquez Ana I , Bank Erin M , Bergsland Emily K , Boreta Lauren , Conroy Patricia , Daras Mariza , Hermiston Michelle , Hsu Gerald , Paris Pamela L , Piawah Sorbarikor , Sinha Sumi , Sosa Julie A , Tsang Mazie , Venook Alan P , Wong Melisa , Yom Sue S , Van Loon Katherine
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether workplace culture in academic oncology differed by gender, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods

We used the Culture Conducive to Women’s Academic Success (CCWAS), a validated survey tool, to investigate the academic climate at an NCI-designated Cancer Center. We adapted the CCWAS to be applicable to people of all genders. The full membership of the Cancer Center was surveyed (total faculty = 429). The questions in each of 4 CCWAS domains (equal access to opportunities, work-life balance, freedom from gender bias, and leadership support) were scored using a 5-point Likert scale. Median score and interquartile ranges for each domain were calculated.

Results

A total of 168 respondents (men = 58, women = 106, n = 4 not disclosed) submitted survey responses. The response rate was 39% overall and 70% among women faculty. We found significant differences in perceptions of workplace culture by gender, both in responses to individual questions and in the overall score in the following domains: equal access to opportunities, work-life balance, and leader support, and in the total score for the CCWAS.

Conclusions

Our survey is the first of its kind completed during the COVID-19 pandemic at an NCI-designated Cancer Center, in which myriad factors contributed to burnout and workplace challenges. These results point to specific issues that detract from the success of women pursuing careers in academic oncology. Identifying these issues can be used to design and implement solutions to improve workforce culture, mitigate gender bias, and retain faculty.
Active Living and the Politics of Implementation: A Review Article
Authors: Forsyth Ann
Published: July 2023

Drawing on five case studies, Lawrence D. Brown's Political Exercise: Active Living, Public Policy, and the Built Environment (2022) examines the complex path to fruition of comprehensive policy approaches. The health-promotion approach called active living, or modifying the built environment to encourage physical exercise in everyday life, experienced a peak of interest in parts of two decades. Looking at five very different places (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Sacramento, California; and New York, New York), Brown explores how difficult it is to implement active living in practice. Brown argues that active living is perceived by many to be a good thing. However, few organizations or parts of government see it as their main focus. It requires substantial collaborative work, which is typically difficult. Implementing active living requires strategies beyond the typical public health toolkit, including those from urban planning. Brown introduces the term implementation sensitivity to explain policies that are susceptible to dissonance between policy aims and political realities. Obstacles faced by policy proponents include local particularities that make it hard to transfer or scale up solutions, intersectoral pluralism or multiple lines of authority, and the need for effective champions. The path from policy to implementation is not linear but iterative.
The Impact of Restricting Labor Mobility on Corporate Investment and Entrepreneurship
Authors: Jeffers Jessica S
Published: July 2023

This paper examines how labor mobility restrictions like noncompete agreements affect firms’ investment decisions. Using matched employee-employer data from LinkedIn, I show that increases in the enforceability of noncompete agreements lead to widespread declines in employee departures, specifically in knowledge-intensive occupations. Established firms that rely more on these knowledge-intensive occupations increase their investment rate in physical capital. However, new firm entry in corresponding sectors declines. I provide evidence for different mechanisms to explain these patterns. Together, the findings show that labor frictions play an important role in investment decisions.

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Newly uncovered biochemical and functional aspects of ferritin
Authors: Yanatori Izumi , Nishina Sohji , Kishi Fumio , Hino Keisuke
Published: July 2023

Iron homeostasis is strictly regulated at both the systemic and cellular levels by complex mechanisms because of its indispensability and toxicity. Among the various iron‐regulatory proteins, ferritin is the earliest discovered regulator of iron metabolism and is a molecule that safely retains excess intracellular iron in the cores of its shells. Two types of ferritin, cytosolic ferritin and mitochondrial ferritin (FTMT), have been identified in a range of organisms from plants to humans. FTMT was identified approximately 60 years after the discovery of cytosolic ferritin. Cytosolic ferritin expression is regulated in an iron‐responsive manner. Recently, the molecular mechanisms of iron‐dependent degradation of cytosolic ferritin or its secretion into serum have been clarified. FTMT, which shares a high degree of sequence homology with cytosolic ferritin, has distinct functions and is regulated in different ways from cytosolic ferritin. Although knowledge of the physiological role of FTMT is still incomplete, recent studies have shed light on the function and regulation of FTMT. The accumulating biological evidence of both ferritins has made it possible to deepen our knowledge about iron metabolism and its significance in diseases. In this review, we discuss the biological properties of both ferritins, focusing on their newly uncovered behaviors.
Laparoscopic treatment of complicated obturator hernia: A case series of 6 patients
Authors: Dang Thanh Nhu , Pham Vu Anh , Nguyen Tri Huu
Published: July 2023

Obturator hernia (OH) is a rare type of abdominal hernia. Preoperative diagnosis of OH is often challenging because of nonspecific signs and symptoms, leading to late diagnosis and increased mortality. Laparoscopic repair has been suggested as one of the alternative options for complicated inguinal hernias. We describe a case series of 6 consecutive patients diagnosed with complicated OH and treated by laparoscopic repair. All patients were females, aged 81 to 90 years. Most of them were underweight (body mass index, <18.5 kg/m2). All cases presented with acute small bowel obstruction. All cases were unilateral OH. Concomitant femoral hernia existed in 3 cases (50%). Bowel resection was required in 2 cases because of bowel ischemia and perforation. Four of 6 cases were repaired using synthetic mesh, and the 2 remaining patients were treated with peritoneal closure and medial umbilical fold flap reinforcement. There were no postoperative deaths. Laparoscopic repair seems to be a safe and effective option for the treatment of complicated OH.
Stress, Grit, Satisfaction With Life, and Remediation of Prelicensure Nursing Students
Authors: Tsusaki Rebecca , Mullassery Daisy , Ramaswamy Padmavathy
Published: July 2023

Background:

Stress and poor academic performance often lead to high levels of nursing school attrition.

Purpose:

To explore nursing students' perceived stress, grit, and satisfaction with life, and assess the effectiveness of a remediation program for students at risk for poor academic performance.

Methods:

Perceived stress, grit, and satisfaction with life were measured, and the effect of remediation given to at-risk students was studied. Examination and psychometric scores were compared between remediation and nonremediation groups.

Results:

The remediation group had higher levels of perceived stress and a lower satisfaction with life compared with the rest of the cohort. Remediation significantly improved examination scores of at-risk students although scores remained lower than those among nonremediation students.

Conclusions:

Perceived stress and grit scores were high in nursing students, and satisfaction varied among age groups. Remediation based on metacognitive theory significantly improved at-risk students' examination scores.
Impact of Liver Transplantation on Adipose Tissue Compartments and Its Association With Metabolic Sequela
Authors: Hassouneh Ramzi , Flynn Sean , Shen Steve , Tseng Michael , Bui Anh Tuan , Pham Jay , Park Dan , Matherly Scott , Bruno David , Lee Seung , Kumaran Vinay , Patel Vaishali , Muthiah Mark , Sharma Amit , Siddiqui Mohammad Shadab
Published: July 2023

Background.

Loss of skeletal muscle can be accompanied by an increase in adipose tissue leading to sarcopenic obesity. There are limited data on how liver transplantation (LT) might impact adipose tissue compartments, particularly among patients with metabolically active disease, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent metabolic sequela.

Methods.

Skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured using cross-sectional imaging performed in 190 patients pre-LT, 6 mo post-LT and 12 mo post-LT. Changes in adipose tissue and their impact on metabolic diseases were determined in patients transplanted for NASH versus non-NASH.

Results.

Skeletal muscle, VAT, and SAT were similar in patients with NASH and non-NASH pre-LT despite a higher burden of metabolic diseases in patients with NASH. Following LT, no significant differences between skeletal muscle and SAT were observed in the entire cohort and among patients with NASH (versus non-NASH). LT recipients with the highest muscle mass pre-LT were at the greatest risk for muscle loss post-LT. A time-dependent increase in VAT was noted post-LT, which was more robust among patients with a history of NASH cirrhosis. In adjusted multivariate analysis, NASH versus non-NASH was a strong predictor of post-LT increase in VAT (β-coefficient 3.00, P = 0.04). Pre-LT VAT was an independent predictor of post-LT serum triglycerides (β-coefficient 5.49 ± 2.78, P = 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β-coefficient 1.80 ± 0.75, P = 0.02). A trend between pre-LT VAT and diabetes was noted but did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions.

VAT but not SAT increases rapidly after LT, especially among patients transplanted for NASH cirrhosis and predicts future metabolic burden.
Acinetobacter baumannii from grass: novel but non-resistant clones
Authors: Mateo-Estrada Valeria , Tyrrell Ciara , Evans Benjamin A. , Aguilar-Vera Alejandro , Drissner David , Castillo-Ramirez Santiago , Walsh Fiona
Published: July 2023

Acinetobacter baumannii

is one the most worrisome nosocomial pathogens, which has long been considered almost mainly as a hospital-associated bacterium. There have been some studies about animal and environmental isolates over the last decade. However, little effort has been made to determine if this pathogen dwells in the grass. Here, we aim to determine the evolutionary relationships and antibiotic resistance of clones of

A. baumannii

sampled from grass to the major human international clones and animal clones. Two hundred and forty genomes were considered in total from four different sources for this study. Our core and accessory genomic epidemiology analyses showed that grass isolates cluster in seven groups well differentiated from one another and from the major human and animal isolates. Furthermore, we found new sequence types under both multilocus sequence typing schemes: two under the Pasteur scheme and seven for the Oxford scheme. The grass isolates contained fewer antibiotic-resistance genes and were not resistant to the antibiotics tested. Our results demonstrate that these novel clones appear to have limited antibiotic resistance potential. Given our findings, we propose that genomic epidemiology and surveillance of

A. baumannii

should go beyond the hospital settings and consider the environment in an explicit One Health approach.
Web-based eye-tracking for remote cognitive assessments: The anti-saccade task as a case study
Authors: Juantorena Gustavo E , Figari Francisco , Petroni Agustín , Kamienkowski Juan E
Published: July 2023

Over the last years, several developments of remote webcam-based eye tracking (ET) prototypes have emerged, testing their feasibility and potential for web-based experiments. This growing interest is mainly explained by the possibility to perform tasks remotely, which allows the study of larger and hard-to-reach populations and potential applications in telemedicine. Nevertheless, a decrease in the quality of the camera and a noisier environment bring new implementation challenges. In this study, we present a new prototype of remote webcam-based ET. First, we introduced improvements to the state-of-the-art remote ET prototypes for cognitive and clinical tasks, e.g. without the necessity of constant mouse interactions. Second, we assessed its spatiotemporal resolution and its reliability within an experiment. Third, we ran a classical experiment, the anti-saccade task, to assess its functionality and limitations. This cognitive test compares horizontal eye movements toward (pro-saccades) or away from (anti-saccades) a target, as a measure of inhibitory control. Our results replicated previous findings obtained with high-quality laboratory ETs. Briefly, higher error rates in anti-saccades compared to pro-saccades were observed, and incorrect responses presented faster reaction times. Our web-ET prototype showed a stable calibration over time and performed well in a classic cognitive experiment. Finally, we discussed the potential of this prototype for clinical applications and its limitations for experimental use.
Evaluation of single-sample network inference methods for precision oncology
Authors: Deschildre Joke , Vandemoortele Boris , Loers Jens Uwe , De Preter Katleen , Vermeirssen Vanessa
Published: July 2023

A major challenge in precision oncology is to identify targetable cancer vulnerabilities in individual patients. Modelling high-throughput omics data in biological networks allows identifying key molecules and processes of tumorigenesis. Traditionally, network inference methods rely on many samples to contain sufficient information for learning and predicting gene interactions for a group of patients. However, to implement patient-tailored approaches in precision oncology, we need to interpret omics data at the level of the individual patient. Several single-sample network inference methods have been developed that infer biological networks for an individual sample from bulk RNA-seq data. However, only a limited comparison of these methods has been made. Moreover, many methods rely on ‘normal tissue’ samples as reference point for the tumor samples, which is not always available.

Here, we conducted an evaluation of the single-sample network inference methods SSN, LIONESS, iENA, CSN and SSPGI using expression profiles of lung and brain cancer cell lines from the CCLE database. The methods constructed networks with distinct network topologies, as observed by edge weight distributions and other network characteristics. Further, hub gene analyses revealed different degrees of subtype-specificity across methods. Single-sample networks were able to distinguish between tumor subtypes, as exemplified by edge weight clustering, enrichment of known subtype-specific driver genes among hub gene sets, and differential node importance. Finally, we show that single-sample networks correlate better to other omics data from the same cell line as compared to aggregate networks. Our results point to the important role of single-sample network inference in precision medicine.
High quality genome assembly and annotation (v1) of the eukaryotic terrestrial microalgaCoccomyxa viridisSAG 216-4
Authors: Kraege Anton , Chavarro-Carrero Edgar A. , Guiglielmoni Nadège , Schnell Eva , Kirangwa Joseph , Heilmann-Heimbach Stefanie , Becker Kerstin , Köhrer Karl ,   WGGC Team,   DeRGA Community, Schiffer Philipp , Thomma Bart P. H. J. , Rovenich Hanna
Published: July 2023

Unicellular green algae of the genusCoccomyxaare recognized for their worldwide distribution and ecological versatility. Most species described to date live in close association with various host species, such as in lichen associations. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that drive such symbiotic lifestyles. We generated a high-quality genome assembly for the lichen photobiontCoccomyxa viridisSAG 216-4 (formerlyC. mucigena). Using long-read PacBio HiFi and Oxford Nanopore Technologies in combination with chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing, we assembled the genome into 21 scaffolds with a total length of 50.9 Mb, an N50 of 2.7 Mb and a BUSCO score of 98.6%. While 19 scaffolds represent full-length nuclear chromosomes, two additional scaffolds represent the mitochondrial and plastid genomes. Transcriptome-guided gene annotation resulted in the identification of 13,557 protein-coding genes, of which 68% have annotated PFAM domains and 962 are predicted to be secreted.
Aging affects reprogramming of murine pulmonary capillary endothelial cells after lung injury
Authors: Truchi Marin , Gautier-Isola Marine , Savary Grégoire , Cadis Hugo , Scribe Célia , Baeri Alberto , Lingampally Arun , Magnone Virginie , Girard-Riboulleau Cédric , Arguel Marie-Jeanne , de Schutter Clémentine , Fassy Julien , Boukrout Nihad , Larrue Romain , Martin Nathalie , Rezzonico Roger , Pluquet Olivier , Perrais Michael , Hofman Véronique , Marquette Charles-Hugo , Hofman Paul , Günther Andreas , Ricard Nicolas , Barbry Pascal , Leroy Sylvie , Lebrigand Kevin , Bellusci Saverio , Cauffiez Christelle , Vassaux Georges , Pottier Nicolas , Mari Bernard
Published: July 2023

Aging increases the risk of developing fibrotic diseases by hampering tissue regeneration after injury. Using longitudinal single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics, here we compare the transcriptome of bleomycin-induced fibrotic lungs of young and aged mice, at 3 time points corresponding to the peak of fibrosis, regeneration and resolution. We find that lung injury shifts the transcriptomic profiles of three pulmonary capillary endothelial cells (PCEC) subpopulations. The associated signatures are linked to pro-angiogenic signaling with strongLrg1expression and do not progress similarly throughout the resolution process between young and old animals. Moreover, part of this set of resolution-associated markers is also detected in PCEC from samples of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Finally, we find that aging also alters the transcriptome of PCEC which display typical pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory features. We propose that age-associated alterations in specific PCEC subpopulations may interfere with the process of lung progenitor differentiation, thus contributing to the persistent fibrotic process typical of human pathology.