Effect of excess iron on oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene over a series of zinc ferrite catalysts

The influence of excess Fe3+ in ZnFe2O4 for the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene to 1, 3-butadiene was investigated to try to clarify inconsistencies in the existing literature. A series of nanoscale zinc ferrite powders were produced with increasing Fe: Zn ratios. The materials were characterized by a range of techniques, which showed the presence of α-Fe2O3 as a distinct phase with an increasing excess of Fe3+ and SEM highlighted the increased presence of surface structures on the ferrites at higher Fe: Zn ratios. Reaction testing showed α-Fe2O3to be virtually inactive for the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene. Results for the ferrite catalysts showed a significant decrease in both conversion and yield with an increasing excess of Fe3+. Therefore an excess of Fe3+ has a negative effect on catalytic activity and selectivity of zinc ferrite for the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene, but acts as a promoter for competing hydrogenation and combustion side reactions

Exploración vocacional en adolescentes: evaluación de una intervención en clase

Analisa-se o impacto de uma intervenção psicológica na exploração e tomada de decisão vocacional em adolescentes portugueses. Em contexto curricular e de classe, desenvolveram-se actividades de exploração do meio e do Eu com 39 alunos e 43 alunas do 9o ano, entre 13 e 17 anos (M=14,4, DP=0,95). Em um design pré/pós-teste, aplicaram-se o Career Exploration Survey (CES) e o Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ). Os resultados do teste do sinal evidenciaram ganhos significativos (p<0,01) nas dimensões de exploração e diminuição significativa da falta de informação profissional (p<0,01) e do total das dificuldades de decisão (p<0,05). Observou-se um padrão de correlações negativas (ró de Spearman) entre as duas medidas vocacionais, evidenciando uma relação entre a informação explorada na intervenção e a diminuição das dificuldades de decisão por falta de motivação. Em geral, os resultados suportam a importância do papel da exploração da carreira na diminuição das dificuldades de tomada de decisão.This study analyses the impact of a psychological intervention to promote vocational exploration and decisionmaking in Portuguese adolescents. Activities to foster exploration of self and environment were developed in a classroom program with 39 boys and 43 girls, all 9th grade students, between 13 and 17 years of age (M=14,4, SD=0.95). Following a pre/post-test design, the Career Exploration Survey (CES), and the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) were administered. Results of sign-test showed significant increments (p<0.01) in all of the exploration dimensions, significant reduction of lack of occupational information (p<0.01) and of the total of career decision-making difficulties (p<0.05). Negative correlations (Spearman’s rho) between the two career measures was observed, evidencing a relationship between information explored during intervention and decreased difficulty with decision-making due to lack of motivation. In general, results support the importance of career exploration on diminishing decision-making difficulties.Evalúa-se el impacto de una intervención psicológica que fomenta la exploración y la decisión vocacional en adolescentes portugueses. Fueran efectuadas actividades de exploración del medio ambiente y del yo en contexto curricular de clase con 39 alumnos y 43 alumnas del curso 3º ESO, 13 hasta 17 años (M=14,4, DP=0,95). Utilizó-se un diseño pre/posteste, con aplicación del Career Exploration Survey (CES) y Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ). Resultados del test del señal evidencian beneficios significativos (p<0,01) en las dimensiones de la exploración, reducción significativa de ausencia de información ocupacional (p<0,01) y total de dificultades de decisión (p<0,05). Ha sido observado un patrón de correlaciones negativas (ró de Spearman) entre las dos medidas vocacionales, mostrando relación entre la información explorada e la disminución de las dificultades de decisión por falta de motivación. En general, resultados sostienen la importancia de la exploración de carrera en la disminución de las dificultades de decisió

Alpha B-crystallin protects retinal tissue during Staphylococcus aureus-induced endophthalmitis

Bacterial infections of the eye highlight a dilemma that is central to all immune-privileged sites. On the one hand, immune privilege limits inflammation to prevent bystander destruction of normal tissue and loss of vision. On the other hand, bacterial infections require a robust inflammatory response for rapid clearance of the pathogen. We demonstrate that the retina handles this dilemma, in part, by activation of a protective heat shock protein. During Staphylococcus aureus-induced endophthalmitis, the small heat shock protein αB-crystallin is upregulated in the retina and prevents apoptosis during immune clearance of the bacteria. In the absence of αB-crystallin, mice display increased retinal apoptosis and retinal damage. We found that S. aureus produces a protease capable of cleaving αB-crystallin to a form that coincides with increased retinal apoptosis and tissue destruction. We conclude that αB-crystallin is important in protecting sensitive retinal tissue during destructive inflammation that occurs during bacterial endophthalmitis

Effect of excess iron on oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene over a series of zinc ferrite catalysts

The influence of excess Fe3+ in ZnFe2O4 for the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene to 1, 3-butadiene was investigated to try to clarify inconsistencies in the existing literature. A series of nanoscale zinc ferrite powders were produced with increasing Fe: Zn ratios. The materials were characterized by a range of techniques, which showed the presence of α-Fe2O3 as a distinct phase with an increasing excess of Fe3+ and SEM highlighted the increased presence of surface structures on the ferrites at higher Fe: Zn ratios. Reaction testing showed α-Fe2O3to be virtually inactive for the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene. Results for the ferrite catalysts showed a significant decrease in both conversion and yield with an increasing excess of Fe3+. Therefore an excess of Fe3+ has a negative effect on catalytic activity and selectivity of zinc ferrite for the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene, but acts as a promoter for competing hydrogenation and combustion side reactions

Examining Stress and Residual Symptoms in Remitted and Partially Remitted Depression Using a Wearable Electrodermal Activity Device:A Pilot Study

Consistent evidence suggests residual symptoms and stress are the most reliable predictors of relapse in remitted depression. Prevailing methodologies often do not enable continuous real-time sampling of stress. Thus, little is known about day-to-day interactions between residual symptoms and stress in remitted depression. In preparation for a full-scale trial, this study aimed to pilot a wrist-worn wearable electrodermal activity monitor: ADI (Analog Devices, Inc.) Study Watch for assessing interactions between physiological stress and residual depressive symptoms following depression remission. 13 individuals remitted from major depression completed baseline, daily diary, and post-daily diary assessments. Self-reported stress and residual symptoms were measured at baseline and post-daily diary. Diary assessments required participants to wear ADI's Study Watch during waking hours and complete self-report questionnaires every evening over one week. Sleep problems, fatigue, energy loss, and agitation were the most frequently reported residual symptoms. Average skin conductance responses (SCRs) were 16.09 per-hour, with an average of 11.30 hours of wear time per-day. Increased residual symptoms were associated with enhanced self-reported stress on the same day. Increased SCRs on one day predicted increased residual symptoms on the next day. This study showed a wearable electrodermal activity device can be recommended for examining stress as a predictor of remitted depression. This study also provides preliminary work on relationships between residual symptoms and stress in remitted depression. Importantly, significant findings from the small sample of this pilot are preliminary with an aim to follow up with a 3-week full-scale study to draw conclusions about psychological processes explored. Clinical and Translational Impact Statemen - ADI's wearable electrodermal activity device enables a continuous measure of physiological stress for identifying its interactions with residual depressive symptoms following remission. This novel procedure is promising for future studies.</p

Retroperitoneal Compared to Transperitoneal Approach for Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Is Associated with Reduced Systemic Inflammation and Postoperative Morbidity

Background  In the United Kingdom, the most common surgical approach for repair of open abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is transperitoneal (TP). However, retroperitoneal (RP) approach is favored in those with more complex vascular anatomy often requiring a cross-clamp on the aorta superior to the renal arteries. This study compared these approaches in patients matched on all major demographic, comorbid, anatomic, and physiological variables. Methods  Fifty-seven patients (TP: n  = 24; RP: n  = 33) unsuitable for endovascular aneurysm repair underwent preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing prior to open AAA repair. The surgical approach undertaken was dictated by individual surgeon preference. Postoperative mortality, complications, and length of hospital stay (LoS) were recorded. Patients were further stratified according to infrarenal (IR) or suprarenal/supraceliac (SR/SC) surgical clamping. Systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein) and renal function (serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate) were recorded. Results  Twenty-three (96%) of TP patients only required an IR clamp compared with 12 (36%) in the RP group. Postoperative systemic inflammation was lower in RP patients ( p  = 0.002 vs. TP) and fewer reported pulmonary/gastrointestinal complications whereas renal impairment was more marked in those receiving SR/SC clamps ( p  < 0.001 vs. IR clamp). RP patients were defined by lower LoS ( p  = 0.001), while mid-/long-term mortality was low/comparable with TP, resulting in considerable cost savings. Conclusion  Despite the demands of more complicated vascular anatomy, the clinical and economic benefits highlighted by these findings justify the more routine adoption of the RP approach for complex AAA repair

Laboratory practice is central to earlier myeloma diagnosis:Utilizing a primary care diagnostic tool and laboratory guidelines integrated into haematology services

Treatment advances have greatly improved survival, but myeloma is among the worst of all cancers for delayed diagnosis, causing serious morbidities and early deaths. This delay is largely because the symptom profile of myeloma has very low specificity, and in primary care, myeloma is rare. However, initiating the journey to diagnosis simply requires considering myeloma and sending blood to test for monoclonal immunoglobulin. Laboratory tests reliably detect monoclonal immunoglobulin, which is present in 99% of myeloma cases, so why do health care systems have such a problem with delayed diagnosis? The Myeloma UK early diagnosis programme has brought together diverse expertise to investigate this problem, and this article was prepared by the programme's working group for laboratory best practice. It reviews evidence for test requesting, analysis and reporting, for which there is large variation in practice across the United Kingdom. It presents a ‘GP Myeloma diagnostic tool’ and how it can be integrated into laboratory practice alongside a laboratory best practice tool. It proposes improved requesting and integration with haematology services for reporting and interpretation. Here the laboratory has a central role in creating efficient and cost-effective pathways for appropriate and timely bone marrow examination for myeloma diagnosis.<br/

Profiling post-COVID-19 condition across different variants of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective longitudinal study in unvaccinated wild-type, unvaccinated alpha-variant, and vaccinated delta-variant populations

BACKGROUND: Self-reported symptom studies rapidly increased understanding of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic and enabled monitoring of long-term effects of COVID-19 outside hospital settings. Post-COVID-19 condition presents as heterogeneous profiles, which need characterisation to enable personalised patient care. We aimed to describe post-COVID-19 condition profiles by viral variant and vaccination status. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we analysed data from UK-based adults (aged 18–100 years) who regularly provided health reports via the Covid Symptom Study smartphone app between March 24, 2020, and Dec 8, 2021. We included participants who reported feeling physically normal for at least 30 days before testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 who subsequently developed long COVID (ie, symptoms lasting longer than 28 days from the date of the initial positive test). We separately defined post-COVID-19 condition as symptoms that persisted for at least 84 days after the initial positive test. We did unsupervised clustering analysis of time-series data to identify distinct symptom profiles for vaccinated and unvaccinated people with post-COVID-19 condition after infection with the wild-type, alpha (B.1.1.7), or delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) variants of SARS-CoV-2. Clusters were then characterised on the basis of symptom prevalence, duration, demography, and previous comorbidities. We also used an additional testing sample with additional data from the Covid Symptom Study Biobank (collected between October, 2020, and April, 2021) to investigate the effects of the identified symptom clusters of post-COVID-19 condition on the lives of affected people. FINDINGS: We included 9804 people from the COVID Symptom Study with long COVID, 1513 (15%) of whom developed post-COVID-19 condition. Sample sizes were sufficient only for analyses of the unvaccinated wild-type, unvaccinated alpha variant, and vaccinated delta variant groups. We identified distinct profiles of symptoms for post-COVID-19 condition within and across variants: four endotypes were identified for infections due to the wild-type variant (in unvaccinated people), seven for the alpha variant (in unvaccinated people), and five for the delta variant (in vaccinated people). Across all variants, we identified a cardiorespiratory cluster of symptoms, a central neurological cluster, and a multi-organ systemic inflammatory cluster. These three main clusers were confirmed in a testing sample. Gastrointestinal symptoms clustered in no more than two specific phenotypes per viral variant. INTERPRETATION: Our unsupervised analysis identified different profiles of post-COVID-19 condition, characterised by differing symptom combinations, durations, and functional outcomes. Our classification could be useful for understanding the distinct mechanisms of post-COVID-19 condition, as well as for identification of subgroups of individuals who might be at risk of prolonged debilitation. FUNDING: UK Government Department of Health and Social Care, Chronic Disease Research Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Research and Innovation London Medical Imaging & Artificial Intelligence Centre for Value-Based Healthcare, UK National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, UK Alzheimer's Society, and ZOE

Clinical and ethical challenges in undertaking LIMPRINT in vulnerable populations

Background and study objective: To estimate the prevalence of CO and wounds within two vulnerable populations a male, high security prison in the East Midlands (UK) and residential and nursing homes in the UK and Australia. Methods and results: Methods for screening for chronic oedema (CO) and wounds were adapted from the main LIMPRINT methodology. Prison population. In total, 195 inmates were recruited with 22(11%) having CO. While the majority were white Caucasian (156 / 83.4%) a further 20 (10.7%) were dark skinned with 11 (5.95%) from other minority populations. Co-morbidities included 123 (63%) smokers, 22 (11%) alcohol dependant, 60 (31%) with mental health problems and 35 (18%) a history of self- harm. Only three had a current wound with 30 (16%) having had a traumatic stab wound. Residential and nursing homes (UK and Australia): In the UK, the total population available for inclusion was 189 with only 137(73%) recruited. Seventy two of the 137 (52%) suffered from CO and a further 16 (23%) had a history of cellulitis. Results from the Australian residential care facilities have been published in full. In summary, of the 37 participants 20 (54%) experienced CO with 25 (68%) having co-morbidities and 11 (30%) having a concurrent wound. Conclusion: Obtaining an accurate picture of the prevalence and impact of CO in vulnerable populations is extremely challenging due issues of access and consent. Lack of reliable data for these populations will contribute to poor service provision