Influence of Ti–O–Si hetero-linkages in the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

The influence of Ti–O–Si hetero-linkages in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye over TiO2–SiO2 xerogels is exemplified by XPS analysis. We demonstrate a relationship between the percentage surface content of Ti–O–Si and the rate of photocatalytic degradation of RhB. Our detailed surface investigation revealed that the overall degradation of RhB is enhanced due to the high surface percentage content of Ti–O–Si species, high crystallinity of titania phase, and its effective dispersion on a high surface area porous silica support

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Informing Policy Decision-Making for a Vulnerable Population

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted society. Vulnerable populations are at heightened risk for exposure, as well as adverse health and social consequences. Policymakers are operating under difficult circumstances, making crucial policy decisions to maximize impact and mitigate harm, with limited scientific evidence. This article examines the pronounced vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples in Canada to the pandemic. We highlight the importance of moving beyond individual-level risk factors associated with COVID-19 by identifying and classifying Indigenous communities most vulnerable to the pandemic. We propose the use of a social diagnostic tool, the Community Well-Being Index, rooted in the social determinants of health, to predict community vulnerability and potentially guide policy decision-making in the fight against COVID-19.&nbsp

Exploration of the role of anions in the synthesis of Cr containing mesoporous materials at room temperature

Chromium containing mesoporous silica materials were synthesized via a modified Stöber synthesis at room temperature. The chromium ion loading and the effect of counter ion in the synthesis were studied in detail. The mesoporous materials were extensively characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier-Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS UV–Vis), hydrogen Temperature-Programmed Reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies. A transition from Ia View the MathML source3¯d cubic phase to p6mm hexagonal or wormhole phases was noted as more amounts of chromium were incorporated into the siliceous materials. Chromium species present in the silica matrix include monochromate, polychromate, and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) clusters

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Informing Policy Decision-Making for a Vulnerable Population

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted society. Vulnerable populations are at heightened risk for exposure, as well as adverse health and social consequences. Policymakers are operating under difficult circumstances, making crucial policy decisions to maximize impact and mitigate harm, with limited scientific evidence. This article examines the pronounced vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples in Canada to the pandemic. We highlight the importance of moving beyond individual-level risk factors associated with COVID-19 by identifying and classifying Indigenous communities most vulnerable to the pandemic. We propose the use of a social diagnostic tool, the Community Well-Being Index, rooted in the social determinants of health, to predict community vulnerability and potentially guide policy decision-making in the fight against COVID-19

Competitive role of structural properties of titania–silica mixed oxides and a mechanistic study of the photocatalytic degradation of phenol

TiO2–SiO2 mixed oxide materials were hydrothermally synthesized and the photocatalytic degradation of phenol under UV-irradiation was evaluated. We also demonstrated that varying the co-solvent, modulates the structural properties of the materials. In particular, the use of non-polar co-solvents such as toluene seemed to increase the crystallinity, surface area, and pore diameter while the crystallite size of titania seemed to change little. A comprehensive characterization using surface and bulk techniques evidenced the role of porosities, crystallinity, and Ti–O–Si linkages of the mixed oxides as significant factors that contribute to the degradation of phenol. The TiO2–SiO2 mixed oxide material prepared using only ethanol as the solvent showed 24% degradation of phenol after 120 min of irradiation whereas other mixed oxide materials degraded phenol more efficiently (57% to 100%) in the same duration of time. The higher photocatalytic activities of the mixed oxide materials prepared using non-polar solvents is attributed to a combination of factors that include higher Apparent Surface Coverages of Ti–O–Si heterolinkages, larger pore sizes, and most importantly higher crystallinities of the titania phase. Larger pore sizes enabled better transport of reactant molecules and products to and from the active sites (Ti–O–Si heterolinkages) and the higher crystallinities of the titania phase helped in minimizing the electron–hole recombination in these photocatalysts, and thus resulted in high degradation efficiencies

The dynein light chain 8 binding motif of rabies virus phosphoprotein promotes efficient viral transcription

Recent studies indicate that the interaction between rabies virus (RV) phosphoprotein and the dynein light chain 8 (LC8) is essential for RV pathogenesis. Through its association with the dynein motor complex, LC8 has been suggested as a molecular factor that links the viral ribonucleoprotein to the host cell transport system. Recent structural investigations, however, dispute this model. To understand the role of LC8 in RV pathogenesis, we generated recombinant RVs with or without the LC8 binding domain (LC8-BD) deleted from the RV phosphoprotein. Peripheral infection of adult mice showed that removal of the LC8-BD did not inhibit entry into the CNS, although it prevented onset of RV-induced CNS disease. However, deletion of the LC8-BD significantly attenuated viral transcription and replication in the CNS. Studies in RAG2 knockout (KO) mice infected with the same recombinant RVs confirmed this finding and indicated that the adaptive immune system is not a factor in the attenuation of viral replication early in the infection. In cell culture, the deletion of the LC8-BD greatly attenuated growth on neuronal cells whereas the growth pattern on nonneuronal cells remained unchanged. However, deletion of the LC8-BD did not affect production of RV virions. We provide evidence that removal of the LC8-BD decreases primary transcription. In this study, we propose that LC8 does not play a role in the retrograde axonal transport of RV and that the deletion of the LC8-BD impairs the infectivity of the virions by reducing early transcription and replication in neurons

Organization of intensive cardiac care units in Europe: Results of a multinational survey

International audienceBackground:The present survey aims to describe the intensive cardiac care unit organization and admission policies in Europe.Methods: A total of 228 hospitals (61% academic) from 27 countries participated in this survey. In addition to the organizational aspects of the intensive cardiac care units, including classification of the intensive cardiac care unit levels, data on the admission diagnoses were gathered from consecutive patients who were admitted during a two-day period. Admission policies were evaluated by comparing illness severity with the intensive cardiac care unit level. Gross national income was used to differentiate high-income countries ($n$=13) from middle-income countries ($n$=14).Results: A total of 98% of the hospitals had an intensive cardiac care unit: 70% had a level 1 intensive cardiac care unit, 76% had a level 2 intensive cardiac care unit, 51% had a level 3 intensive cardiac care unit, and 60% of the hospitals had more than one intensive cardiac care unit level. High-income countries tended to have more level 3 intensive cardiac care units than middle-income countries (55% versus 41%, $p$=0.07). A total of 5159 admissions were scored on illness severity: 63% were low severity, 24% were intermediate severity, and 12% were high severity. Patients with low illness severity were predominantly admitted to level 1 intensive cardiac care units, whereas patients with high illness severity were predominantly admitted to level 2 and 3 intensive cardiac care units. A policy mismatch was observed in 12% of the patients; some patients with high illness severity were admitted to level 1 intensive cardiac care units, which occurred more often in middle-income countries, whereas some patients with low illness severity were admitted to level 3 intensive cardiac care units, which occurred more frequently in high-income countries.Conclusion: More than one-third of the admitted patients were considered intermediate or high risk. Although patients with higher illness severity were mostly admitted to high-level intensive cardiac care units, an admission policy mismatch was observed in 12% of the patients; this mismatch was partly related to insufficient logistic intensive cardiac care unit capacity