CO conversion to CO plasma and electrolysis: a techno-economic and energy cost analysis.

Electrification and carbon capture technologies are essential for achieving net-zero emissions in the chemical sector. A crucial strategy involves converting captured CO into CO, a valuable chemical feedstock. This study evaluates the feasibility of two innovative methods: plasma activation and electrolysis, using clean electricity and captured CO.

The role of WO and dopants (ZrO and SiO) on CeO-based nanostructure catalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under ambient conditions.

Herein, the efficacy of WO-promoted CeO-SiO and CeO-ZrO mixed oxide catalysts in the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde using molecular oxygen as an oxidant is reported. We evaluated the effects of the oxidant and catalyst concentration, reaction duration, and temperature on the reaction with an aim to optimize the reaction conditions. The as-prepared CeO, CeO-ZrO, CeO-SiO, WO/CeO, WO/CeO-ZrO, and WO/CeO-SiO catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Chip-based TEM investigation of structural thermal instability in aged layered cathode.

Thermally induced oxygen release is an intrinsic structural instability in layered cathodes, which causes thermal runaway issues and becomes increasingly critical with the continuous improvement in energy density. Furthermore, thermal runaway events always occur in electrochemically aged cathodes, where the coupling of the thermal and electrochemical effect remains elusive. Herein, we report the anomalous segregation of cobalt metal in an aged LiCoO cathode, which is attributed to the local exposure of the high-energy (100) surface of LiCoO and weak interface Co-O dangling bonds significantly promoting the diffusion of Co.

Decreased Water Mobility Contributes To Increased α-Synuclein Aggregation.

The solvation shell is essential for the folding and function of proteins, but how it contributes to protein misfolding and aggregation has still to be elucidated. We show that the mobility of solvation shell HO molecules influences the aggregation rate of the amyloid protein α-synuclein (αSyn), a protein associated with Parkinson's disease. When the mobility of HO within the solvation shell is reduced by the presence of NaCl, αSyn aggregation rate increases.

Discontinuity of Cardiac Follow-Up in Young People With Congenital Heart Disease Transitioning to Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background The majority of people born with congenital heart disease require lifelong cardiac follow-up. However, discontinuity of care is a recognized problem and appears to increase around the transition to adulthood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the proportion of adolescents and emerging adults with congenital heart disease discontinuing cardiac follow-up.

Autocrine Signaling in Cardiac Remodeling: A Rich Source of Therapeutic Targets.

The myocardium consists of different cell types, of which endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and fibroblasts are the most abundant. Communication between these different cell types, also called paracrine signaling, is essential for normal cardiac function, but also important in cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Systematic studies on the expression of ligands and their corresponding receptors in different cell types showed that for 60% of the expressed ligands in a particular cell, the receptor is also expressed.

Infection and vaccine-induced HPV-specific antibodies in cervicovaginal secretions. A review of the literature.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects and propagates in the cervical mucosal epithelium. Hence, in addition to assessing systemic immunity, the accurate measurement of cervical immunity is important to evaluate local immune responses to HPV infection and vaccination. This review discusses studies that investigated the presence of infection and vaccine-induced HPV-specific antibodies in cervicovaginal secretions (CVS).

Staff empowerment and engagement in a magnet® recognized and joint commission international accredited academic centre in Belgium: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: A substantial number of studies linked aspects of a balanced, healthy and supportive nurse practice environment with quality and patient safety. To what extent balanced work characteristics such as social capital, decision latitude and workload are relevant for all staff engaged in patient care including healthcare and medical staff in a Magnet Recognized and Joint Commission International accredited academic centre is unclear. The study aim is to investigate associations between work characteristics such as social capital, decision latitude and workload, work engagement and feelings of burnout as explanatory variables and job satisfaction, turnover intentions and perceived quality of care as dependent variables in a study population of nursing, healthcare and medical staff taken in account generation differences.

Will the Eu Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 Inhibit Critical Care Research?

There is an inherent tension between critical care research and data protection. Because of their condition it is not possible to ask for the patients' informed consent to be enrolled in observational research at the point of admission to the hospital. Often this is not possible at a later moment either.

Cobalt toxicity in humans-A review of the potential sources and systemic health effects.

Cobalt (Co) and its compounds are widely distributed in nature and are part of numerous anthropogenic activities. Although cobalt has a biologically necessary role as metal constituent of vitamin B, excessive exposure has been shown to induce various adverse health effects. This review provides an extended overview of the possible Co sources and related intake routes, the detection and quantification methods for Co intake and the interpretation thereof, and the reported health effects.

POLG2 deficiency causes adult-onset syndromic sensory neuropathy, ataxia and parkinsonism.

Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders such as ataxia and Parkinson's disease. We describe an extended Belgian pedigree where seven individuals presented with adult-onset cerebellar ataxia, axonal peripheral ataxic neuropathy, and tremor, in variable combination with parkinsonism, seizures, cognitive decline, and ophthalmoplegia. We sought to identify the underlying molecular etiology and characterize the mitochondrial pathophysiology of this neurological syndrome.

Establishment and characterization of cetuximab resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines: focus on the contribution of the AP-1 transcription factor.

Background: After an initial response to EGFR targeted therapy, secondary resistance almost invariably ensues, thereby limiting the clinical benefit of the drug. Hence, it has been recognized that the successful implementation of targeted therapy in the treatment of HNSCC cancer is very much dependent on predictive biomarkers for patient selection.

Methods: We generated an in vitro model of acquired cetuximab resistance by chronically exposing three HNSCC cell lines to increasing cetuximab doses.

Stability of resting state networks in the female brain during hormonal changes and their relation to premenstrual symptoms.

Resting-state fMRI is a promising imaging technique to evaluate functions in the human brain in health and disease. Different hormonal stages of the female menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives use affect results in task-based fMRI; it is however not yet clarified whether resting state networks are also altered. A population of 18 women with a natural cycle, and 19 women using hormonal contraceptives was examined in a longitudinal study-design.

Opening the research agenda for selection of hot spots for human biomonitoring research in Belgium: a participatory research project.

Background: In order to select priority hotspots for environment and health research in Flanders (Belgium), an open procedure was organized. Environment and health hotspots are strong polluting point sources with possible health effects for residents living in the vicinity of the hot spot. The selection procedure was part of the work of the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Environment and Health, which investigates the relation between environmental pollution and human health.

STEPS: Modeling and Simulating Complex Reaction-Diffusion Systems with Python.

We describe how the use of the Python language improved the user interface of the program STEPS. STEPS is a simulation platform for modeling and stochastic simulation of coupled reaction-diffusion systems with complex 3-dimensional boundary conditions. Setting up such models is a complicated process that consists of many phases.