Browse Articles

The application of neutron imaging to examine ethene hydrogenation over a carbon-supported palladium catalyst

Abstract The combination of a heterogeneous catalyst operating within a defined reactor comes within the domain of reaction engineering, which takes cognisance of combined roles for both the catalyst and the reactor to define the overall operational system. One technique which is demonstrating much promise in investigating reaction engineering issues is neutron imaging. The technique is skewed towards monitoring hydrogen and hydrogenous species so, with hydrogen being ubiquitous in industrial organic chemistry and the penetrating power of the neutrons, neutron imaging can monitor hydrogen concentrations distributed throughout steel reactors whilst the reaction is taking place. In this way, neutron imaging can be used to assess the homogeneity of active catalyst beds and, additionally, determine how hydrogen is being partitioned throughout the catalyst bed as a function of time-on-stream. These are important parameters in the reaction engineering of catalytic systems involving transformations of hydrogen containing species. The article commences by reviewing the handful of existing neutron imaging studies in this field, then progresses to describe the application of the neutron imaging technique to investigate ethene hydrogenation over a 5 wt% Pd/C powder catalyst at 333 K and ambient pressure in a rectangular stainless-steel reactor. Modulations of the incident gas stream are seen to lead to spatially resolvable fronts moving across the bed and illustrate the diffusion of reagents from the reactor inlet across to the reactor exit. Thus, the investigation reveals spatially and temporally resolved elementary reactions that contribute to the hydrogenation process.

Oral fluid supplementation for the prevention of post-dural puncture headache: A noninferiority randomized controlled trial

Aim(s) To investigate the impact of the absence of specific advice for oral fluid intake, compared to supplementation water intake on the occurrence of post-dural puncture headache. Design A prospective, open-label, non-inferiority, multicenter trial including hospitalized patients requiring a diagnostic lumbar puncture in seven hospitals in France. Methods Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) either to receive no specific advice on oral fluid intake (FREE-FLUID), or to be encouraged to drink 2 liters of water (CONTROL) within the 2 hours after lumbar puncture. The primary outcome was the post-dural puncture headache rate within the 5 days after lumbar puncture, with a non-inferiority margin of 10%. The secondary outcome was the time-to-post-dural puncture headache onset between Day 0 and Day 5. Results From November 2016 and July 2019, we have included 554 participants. The primary outcomes occurs in 33.1% patients in the FREE-FLUID group, versus 38.0% in the CONTROL group with adjusted difference of 3.7%. Conclusion Among patients who had lumbar puncture, our study shows the noninferiority of the absence of specific advice on water intake after a lumbar puncture, compared with advice to increase oral fluid to prevent a post-dural puncture headache. Impact The value of questioning the appropriateness of non-evidence-based nursing care may allow time to be devoted to more relational and comforting care. Reporting method The study adheres to the CONSORT reporting guidelines. Patient or public contribution No patient or public contribution. Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov (NCT02859233, August 9, 2016).

Relative importance of soil fertility and microtopography as CO2 and CH4 exchange drivers in a northern boreal fen ecosystem

Relationship between sleep variables and interoceptive awareness in daytime workers

Interoception refers to the sensation of internal and physiological bodily states, such as heart rate, and contributes to the maintenance of bodily internal homeostasis. Some studies showed that interoceptive awareness is related to experiencing nightmares and subjective sleep quality. Similarly to the perception of heart rate variability, sleepiness is thought to be mainly evoked by homeostatic processes and is based on the awareness and recognition of internal body signals. However, the relationship between subjective excessive daytime sleepiness and interoceptive awareness has not been addressed. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between interoceptive awareness and multiple sleep variables including subjective excessive sleepiness in daytime workers. A web questionnaire survey was conducted targeting daytime workers in Japan, and data from 461 participants were used for analyses. Multiple regression analyses showed weak but significant relationships between subjective excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia symptoms, nightmare distress, and dream frequency and the components of interoception awareness measured by the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness. However, no components of interoceptive awareness were related to workday sleep loss or social jetlag of day workers. The results of this study suggest that subjective sleepiness, in addition to nightmare distress and sleep quality, is associated with interoceptive awareness. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the relationship between subjective daytime excessive sleepiness and interoceptive awareness. Further investigation of this relationship is expected to lead to a better understanding of sleep disorders and to elucidate individual differences in the accuracy of subjective assessments of sleepiness.

Study on the multi-wavelength variation of 3C 454.3

Abstract The variation mechanism of the blazar is still an open question. In this study, we collect the long-term multi-wavelength data of 3C 454.3 to conduct a comprehensive study. The local cross-correlation functions were computed between the $$\gamma$$ -ray and R band fluxes, as well as between B and K band fluxes. No significant time lags were found among these bands, which suggests that the optical and $$\gamma$$ -ray emissions are co-spatial. The color indices variation behavior showed a redder-when-brighter trend in the lower state, and a saturation state in the higher state. The slope of the linear correlations between the logarithms of synchrotron and inverse-Compton fluxes changed from 0.61 to 3.34 for different band pairs, which could be explained by a model of Doppler-boosted log-parabolic synchrotron emission combined with stable background contamination. The model could also reproduce the spectral energy distributions at different brightness. This study can help us to better understand the variation mechanism of blazars.

The impact of canine-assisted intervention on stress reduction among university students in Thailand

Stress negatively impacts university students, leading to adverse outcomes. While canine-assisted intervention (CAI) has been shown to reduce self-reported stress, no studies have investigated stress levels and associated biomarkers in dogs and students simultaneously. This study examined salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and pulse rate in 122 university students experiencing self-reported moderate to high stress before an encounter with a dog (T1), immediately before meeting a dog (T2), and after spending 15 minutes interacting with a dog (T3). Participants assessed their stress level using a visual analog scale, and blood pressure and pulse rate were measured at three time points. Salivary cortisol was also measured at T1 and T3. Six privately owned dogs, all in good health and comfortable with strangers, participated in the intervention sessions. Salivary and fecal cortisol samples from the dogs were collected in the morning before commencing activities, at noon, and in the evening after human interactions ended. The results showed that the expectation of interacting with dogs reduces self-reported stress, pulse rate, and salivary cortisol, which remained significantly lower after the interaction. Salivary cortisol concentrations in dogs did not differ throughout the day. By contrast, fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations during the week dogs interacted with students were higher (P =  0.0012) than those during the week post-experiment, which, based on behavior, appeared to indicate positive stimulation. These findings highlight the potential of integrating CAI into university stress management programs. Future research could explore extending these benefits to community dogs, long-term effects, and enhancing accessibility to this form of stress relief.

The development of specific emotion comprehension components in 1285 preschool children

The impact of work-family conflict on job burnout among community social workers in China

In China, for community social workers, work-family conflict has become a common phenomenon that may harm their well-being. Based on the analysis of a survey of community social workers in four cities in China, this study demonstrated that community workers’ work-family conflict significantly affects burnout, role overload mediates the relation between work-family conflict and burnout, and cognitive crafting negatively moderates the relation between role overload and burnout. The conclusions validate the job crafting theory and enrich the research on job burnout under the JD-R model. The practical significance of the study is that on the one hand, community and individual workers can effectively alleviate burnout by clarifying their roles. On the other hand, it also reminds managers that they should pay attention to the physical and mental health of social workers to enable them to develop healthily.

LCD-AHP-TRIZ methodology enhances low-carbon principles in smart product design

Deciphering the structural consequences of R83 and R152 methylation on DNA polymerase β using molecular modeling

DNA polymerase β, a member of the X-family of DNA polymerases, undergoes complex regulations both in vitro and in vivo through various posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation and methylation. The impact of these modifications varies depending on the specific amino acid undergoing alterations. In vitro, methylation of DNA polymerase β with the enzyme protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) at R83 and R152 enhances polymerase activity by improving DNA binding and processivity. Although these studies have shown that methylation improves DNA binding, the underlying mechanism of enhancement of polymerase activity in terms of structure and dynamics remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we modeled the methylated enzyme/DNA complex and conducted a microsecond-long simulation in the presence of Mg ions. Our results revealed significant structural changes induced by methylating both R83 and R152 sites in the enzyme. Specifically, these changes caused the DNA fragment to move closer to the C- and N-subdomains, forming additional hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the cross-correlation map demonstrated that methylation enhanced long-range correlations within the domains/subdomains of DNA polymerase β, along with an increase in the linear mutual information value between the domains/subdomains and DNA fragments. The graph connectivity network also illustrated that methylation modulates the information pathway and identifies residues exhibiting long-distance coupling with the methylated sites. Our results provide an atomic-level understanding of the structural transition induced by methylation, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying the methylation-induced enhancement of activity in DNA polymerase β.

Comparative analysis of organoid, air-liquid interface, and direct infection models for studying pathogen–host interactions in endometrial tissue

Measuring real-time violence exposure and its impact on intimate partner violence perpetration among adolescents

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) has dire health consequences. To intervene, it is critical we first understand why young men perpetrate IPV. One theory is that men who experience violence are more likely to perpetrate violence. We used real time data to examine how daily and repeat experiences of violence affect IPV behaviors. Methods We enrolled 498 males aged 15-19 years in Soweto, South Africa during 2020-2022. We collected data through weekly mobile phone surveys (n = 12,603) delivered over a year. Generalized linear mixed effect models were used to fit IPV perpetration as a function of past-24-hour violence victimization; models included indicators for between-person and within-person components of victimization. Findings In at least one survey submitted, 13% of boys reported perpetrating physical IPV and 5% perpetrating sexual IPV. Any victimization in the past 24-hours significantly increased the odds of physical (OR 4.00) and sexual violence perpetration (OR 2.45). When examined individually, sexual violence victimization had the strongest association (OR of 7.96 for physical and 4.88 sexual IPV perpetration). We also examined the between-person influence of victimization. Boys who experienced more violence on average (a higher person-centered mean exposure) were substantially more likely to perpetrate both physical IPV and sexual IPV as compared to boys with overall low levels of victimization. Conclusion Adolescent boys who experience violence are more likely to use violence against their partners that same day. To break this cycle, it will be critical to understand the mechanisms by which proximal victimization triggers onward violence perpetration. Both the current findings and the next steps highlight the importance of real-time, repeated data collection.

Illuminating ecology and distribution of the rare fungus Phellinidium pouzarii in the Bavarian Forest National Park

Abstract Due to their cryptic lifestyle, hidden diversity and a lack of ecological knowledge, conservation of wood-inhabiting fungi continues to be a niche interest. Molecular methods are able to provide deeper insights into the ecology of rare fungal species. We investigated the occurrence of the rare wood-inhabiting fungus Phellinidium pouzarii across the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany using a fruit body survey, amplicon sequencing and qPCR. Additionally, we sequenced the genome of P. pouzarii and characterized the chemical substances responsible for its distinctive scent. Our approach gave matching results between amplicon sequencing and qPCRs, however, we found no evidence that P. pouzarii is more abundant in the National Park than we can assume based on fruit body inventories, underlining the species’ critically endangered status. Genomics revealed P. pouzarii’s repertoire of ligninolytic enzymes, pointing towards a white rot lifestyle. Two main components of P. pouzarii’s distinct odour we identified (2-phenylethanol, methyl p-anisate) are known to act as insect attractants and/or to possess antimicrobial properties.

Correction: Neuroprotective effect of Kaempferol Glycosides against brain injury and Neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and STAT3 in transient focal stroke

Comparing ISO 4049 and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for assessing ambient light sensitivity in dental resin composites

Impact of a three-week full leg cast immobilization on infant crawling kinetics and spatiotemporal parameters

Despite its importance in the development of mobility in infants, there is a general lack of quantified data on infant crawling, and a specific lack of understanding of crawling kinetics, which includes the relative weightbearing and force generation among the four limbs. Moreover, because of the difficulty of measurement and study design, there is no longitudinal quantification of the impact of a perturbation to typical development, such as limb immobilization. This study measured kinetic and spatiotemporal outcomes in a typically developing infant prior to a fracture that necessitated a long-leg cast that immobilized the left knee and ankle, while crawling with the cast, and again one day after cast removal, and two weeks post. The study utilized a pressure-sensing mat to generate outcomes. Crawling in the cast resulted in a 37% decrease in speed, a shift of weight toward the arms (toward the right arm in particular), and a shift from double and quadruple limb support toward triple limb support. Upon removal of the cast, the unweighting and limb support patterns persisted, while speed recovered and actually exceeded baseline. Triple limb support was 12% at baseline, 28% in the cast, and 32% immediately following cast removal. Two weeks later, the value had dropped back to 17%, while speed continued to increase following a linear trend vs. age. These data provide insight into an infant’s ability to reorganize crawling kinematics, and the persistence of that reorganization following remobilization.

Malagasy flea microbiota results from a combination of vertically transmitted and environmentally acquired microbes

Study on the failure of oil-contaminated wheel-rail conditions

The phenomenon of adhesion improvement during wheel-rail sliding has been experimentally verified under water conditions. However, the academic community is in agreement that, for oil that is also fluid, the adhesion characteristic curve under oil conditions exhibits a single peak, making adhesion improvement through wheel-rail sliding impossible. To investigate whether a similar adhesion improvement phenomenon exists under high-viscosity oil medium conditions as observed under water condition, this study conducted wheel-rail adhesion tests on oil-contaminated interfaces within a slip ratio up to 80%. The test results demonstrate that under higher wheel-rail slip, an adhesion improvement phenomenon also occurs on oil-contaminated rail surfaces, although it is more stringent compared to water conditions. The essence of this adhesion improvement is due to the lubrication failure of oil caused by temperature. Finally, this study analyzes the failure conditions of the oil-contaminated interface and its influencing factors, determining the thermal failure temperature range of the oil film.

Continuous spectroscopic monitoring of urinary catheter output: advancements and clinical implications

Abstract Urine diagnostics are crucial for identifying urological disorders and systemic diseases. Monitoring bladder catheters for urine output and early signs of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is essential but labor-intensive and prone to documentation errors. Recent advances in electronic monitoring and spectroscopy offer potential improvement in this process. This study introduces a novel smart sensor system for urinary catheters, enabling digital, continuous, automated real-time spectroscopic urine monitoring. A prototype consisting of a mini-spectrometer integrated with a custom lens array and hyperspectral illumination source was developed for urine analysis. It measures light intensity across 288 channels (340–850 nm) from multiple angles and exposure times, capturing detailed spectral data. Analyzing 401 urine samples from 168 patients, statistical models in R software were used to assess the dependency between spectral data and clinical laboratory values. The prototype accurately detected response variables like bilirubin, erythrocytes, pH, protein, specific gravity, and urobilinogen, with AUC values indicating good to very good discrimination. Response variables like glucose and nitrite, which do not absorb within the measured spectrum, showed minimal correlation. Our smart catheter system presents the potential for a significant advancement in urine monitoring, providing continuous, accurate analysis of parameters absorbing within the visible light spectrum.

Preschool children of parents who screen positive for mental health problems have an increased risk of subsequent mental disorders: Findings from a longitudinal follow-up study in Sweden

Research has shown associations between parental and child mental health problems. However, there is a paucity of Swedish studies on this topic. Investigating this link in a Swedish context could inform preventive interventions aimed at reducing mental health problems in affected families. This longitudinal cohort study aimed to explore the association between parental mental health problems and children’s subsequent mental disorders in Sweden. We used data on children, 3–5 years old, whose mothers (n = 6379) and fathers (n = 6218) had responded to the 12-item General Health Questionnaire for assessment of parental mental health problems using a cut-off of ≥12 points. The children were followed for approximately seven years with regard to subsequent mental disorders, collected from the Swedish National Patient Register. The associations between parental mental health problems and children’s mental disorders were explored through Cox-regression models. In unadjusted Cox regression models, mothers (HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.37–1.94) and fathers (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.12–1.65) with mental health problems were more likely to have children diagnosed with a subsequent mental disorder than mothers and fathers with no mental health problems. In adjusted models controlling for children’s emotional and behavioral problems and parental sociodemographic factors, the associations remained significant for mothers’ mental health problems (AHR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12–1.59), but not for fathers’ (AHR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.93–1.40). Children with emotional and behavioral problems, whose parents were single or living apart and whose parents had lower educational levels also had an elevated risk of being diagnosed with a mental disorder. Maternal mental health problems and child emotional and behavioral problems during the preschool years may serve as risk factors for subsequent child mental disorders. Assessment of these problems at child health services in Sweden could facilitate delivery of interventions to promote parental and child mental health.