Career inhibitors and career enablers for executive women

This paper is intended to contribute to the study of career inhibitors and career enablers for women. The analysis is based on data obtained from a survey conducted by the International Center of Work and Family at IESE Business School. The main conclusions of the analysis are: - Women have readier access to general management posts in small companies. - The feeling of working a "double work day" is widespread among women managers, especially in large companies. - Lack of sympathy on the part of colleagues and superiors when women give priority to their family responsibilities undermines women managers' satisfaction with their professional life. - The main career inhibitor is corporate culture (the "glass ceiling"). - The importance that executive women ascribe to career inhibitors decreases with age and professional rank. - The average woman manager's main support is her husband, who in most cases is also a manager. - The principal career enablers are: motivation, training, mental strength and value system.top management; career; family; women;

Acylation of Chiral Alcohols: A Simple Procedure for Chiral GC Analysis

The use of iodine as a catalyst and either acetic or trifluoroacetic acid as a derivatizing reagent for determining the enantiomeric composition of acyclic and cyclic aliphatic chiral alcohols was investigated. Optimal conditions were selected according to the molar ratio of alcohol to acid, the reaction time, and the reaction temperature. Afterwards, chiral stability of chiral carbons was studied. Although no isomerization was observed when acetic acid was used, partial isomerization was detected with the trifluoroacetic acid. A series of chiral alcohols of a widely varying structural type were then derivatized with acetic acid using the optimal conditions. The resolution of the enantiomeric esters and the free chiral alcohols was measured using a capillary gas chromatograph equipped with a CP Chirasil-DEX CB column. The best resolutions were obtained with 2-pentyl acetates (α = 3.00) and 2-hexyl acetates (α = 1.95). This method provides a very simple and efficient experimental workup procedure for analyzing chiral alcohols by chiral-phase GC

Nk3R blockade has sex-divergent effects on memory in mice

Altres ajuts: National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression: 22434 ; Fundación Alicia KoplowitzMemory consolidation is a process required for the formation of long-term memories. The G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) neurokinin-3-receptor (Nk3R) and its interactions with sex hormones seem important for the modulation of fear memory consolidation: Nk3R antagonism in male mice impairs fear memory, but enhances it in females. However, the involvement of the Nk3R as a modulator of other memories in both sexes remains unexplored. We use the novel object recognition paradigm to test the effect of a systemic blockade of Nk3R during memory consolidation. Further, we assess the expression of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, and androgen receptor and heterodimerization with Nk3R in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal hippocampus (DH) of mice. Nk3R systemic antagonism elicited decreased memory consolidation in males while it enhanced it in females during proestrus. Nk3R analysis in the different subregions of the mPFC and the DH showed a higher expression in males than females. Moreover, females presented upregulation of the androgen receptor in the CA1 and the estrogen receptor beta in the cingulate cortex, CA1, and dentate gyrus. Overall, males presented an upregulation of the estrogen receptor alpha. We also explored the heterodimerization of GCPR membrane sex hormone receptors with the Nk3R. We found a higher percentage of Nk3R-membrane G-protein estrogen receptors heterodimers in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC in females, suggesting an interaction of estradiol with Nk3R in memory consolidation. However, males presented a higher percentage of Nk3R-membrane G-protein androgen receptors heterodimers compared to females, pointing to an interaction of testosterone with Nk3R in memory consolidation. These data propose novel ideas on functional interactions between Nk3R, sex hormones, estrogen receptors, and androgen receptors in memory consolidation

Effect of four novel bio-based DES (Deep Eutectic Solvents) on hardwood fractionation

Using the basic principle of construction between a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and a hydrogen bond donor (HBD), four bio-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared in a 1:2 molar ratio of HBA:HBD. 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl-1-triethylammonium chloride ([C9H22N+O2]Cl婨 ) was synthesized from raw glycerol and used as an HBA. Lactic acid, urea, pure glycerol, and ethylene glycol were selected as HBD. Attempts to prepare DESs, using citric acid and benzoic acid as HBDs, were unsuccessful. All these DESs were characterized using FTIR and NMR techniques. Besides, physicochemical parameters such as pH, viscosity, density, and melting point were determined. The behavior of these DES to fractionate olive pomace was studied. Lignin recovery yields spanned between 27% and 39% (w/w) of the available lignin in olive pomace. The best DES, in terms of lignin yield ([C9H22N+O2]Cl婨 -lactic acid), was selected to perform a scale-up lignin extraction using 40 g of olive pomace. Lignin recovery on the multigram scale was similar to the mg scale (38% w/w). Similarly, for the holocellulose-rich fractions, recovery yields were 34% and 45% for mg and multi-gram scale, respectively. Finally, this DES was used to fractionate four fruit pruning samples. These results show that our novel DESs are alternative approaches to the ionic liquid:triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate and the widely used DES: choline chloride:lactic acid (1:10 molar ratio) for biomass processingThis work has been partially funded by the Spanish government (CTQ2015-70982-C3-1-R (MINECO/FEDER)

Kinetic study of palmitic acid esterification catalyzed by rhizopus oryzae resting cells

ABSTRACT In the present study, a kinetic model for the biocatalytic synthesis of esters using Rhizopus oryzae resting cells is proposed. The kinetic study has been made in a range of 30-50 °C and atmospheric pressure. The Influence of operating variables, water content, pH, amount of mycelium was studied. Different values of temperature, initial mycelium concentration and acid/alcohol molar ratio were tested. Initial rates were estimated from the slope of the concentration of palmitic acid, or their corresponding ester at conversions of less than 10%, versus time and reported as mmol l-1 min -1. The values of kinetic constants were computed using the freeware program SIMFIT (http:\\www.simfit.man.ac.uk). Key words: bound lipase, esterification, fungal resting cells, Rhizopus oryzae, palmitic acid, propanol. RESUMEN En el presente estudio, un modelo cinético para la síntesis de esteres usando Rhizopus oryzae resting cells es propuesto. El estudio cinético fue realizado en un rango de temperatura de 30-50 ºC a presión atmosférica reducida. La influencia de las variables de operación tales como temperatura, pH y contenido de agua fueron estudiadas. Diferentes valores de concentración de micelio y relación molar de ácido/alcohol son ensayadas, Las velocidades iníciales se estimaron de la curva de concentración de acido palmítico, y su correspondiente conversión a ester en menos del 10%, frente a tiempo y reportadas en mmol I-1 min -1. Los valores de las constantes cinéticas fueron calculados usando el programa freeware SIMFIT (http:\\www.simfit.man.ac.uk). Palabras clave: Lipasas, esterificación, resting cells, Rhizopus oryzae, acido palmítico, propanol

Emotional impact and compassion fatigue in oncology nurses: results of a multicentre study

Purpose: to assess the prevalence of Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue (Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress) and anxiety in oncology nurses and the association with demographics, training, work-related conditions, and psychological factors. Method: a multicentre, cross-sectional study in 8 selected hospitals in Catalonia involving oncology nurses. Primary outcomes were Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue (Burnout/Secondary Traumatic Stress), evaluated with the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire v.IV, and anxiety, evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: of 297 participants, 18.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]:16.1-20.3) presented low Compassion Satisfaction; 20.2% (95% CI:18.0-22.4), high burnout; and 37.4% (95% CI:34.8-40.0), high Secondary Traumatic Stress. Trait and State Anxiety were high in 5.4% (95% CI:4.2-6.6) and 8.1% (95% CI:6.6-9.6) of participants, respectively. Nurses' desire to leave the unit was associated with high burnout (adjusted odds ratio [ORa] 3.7, 95% CI:1.9-7.5) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (ORa 3.2, 95% CI:1.9-5.3), while the desire to leave the profession was related to high State Anxiety (ORa 12.5, 95% CI:4.6-33.7). Most participants (96.9%) were interested in receiving emotional management training. Conclusions: continuous demands on oncology nurses' empathy can lead them to experience compassion fatigue, anxiety and a desire to leave the profession. The first study carried out with Spanish oncology nurses shows Compassion Fatigue is highly prevalent. This is related to nurses' desire to change units, leave their profession and has negative implications on staff satisfaction and quality of care. This problem justifies institutions support strategies for these professionals

Biocatalytic Transformation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)furan by a Newly Isolated Fusarium striatum Strain

The compound 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)furan (DHMF) is a high-value chemical block that can be synthesized from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a platform chemical that results from the dehydration of biomass-derived carbohydrates. In this work, the HMF biotransformation capability of different Fusarium species was evaluated, and F. striatum was selected to produce DHMF. The effects of the inoculum size, glucose concentration and pH of the media over DHMF production were evaluated by a 23 factorial design. A substrate feeding approach was found suitable to overcome the toxicity effect of HMF towards the cells when added at high concentrations (>75 mM). The process was successfully scaled-up at bioreactor scale (1.3 L working volume) with excellent DHMF production yields (95%) and selectivity (98%). DHMF was purified from the reaction media with high recovery and purity by organic solvent extraction with ethyl acetate.This work was partially supported by the Spanish government (PID2019-110735RB-C21, MICIN/FEDER) and the Catalan Government (FI_B1_00135)

Sustainable Synthesis of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters from Monkfish Liver Oil

The search for economic and sustainable sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within the framework of the circular economy is encouraged by their proven beneficial effects on health. The extraction of monkfish liver oil (MLO) for the synthesis of omega-3 ethyl esters was performed to evaluate two blending systems and four green solvents in this work. Moreover, the potential solubility of the MLO in green solvents was studied using the predictive simulation software COnductor-like Screening MOdel for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS). The production of ethyl esters was performed by one or two-step reactions. Novozym 435, two resting cells (Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae) obtained in our laboratory and a mix of them were used as biocatalysts in a solvent-free system. The yields for Novozym 435, R. oryzae and A. flavus in the one-step esterification were 63, 61 and 46%, respectively. The hydrolysis step in the two-step reaction led to 83, 88 and 93% of free fatty acids (FFA) for Novozym 435, R. oryzae and A. flavus, respectively. However, Novozym 435 showed the highest yield in the esterification step (85%), followed by R. oryzae (65%) and A. flavus (41%). Moreover, selectivity of polyunsaturated fatty acids of R. oryzae lipase was evidenced as it slightly esterified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in all the esterification reactions tested.This research was funded by Interreg POCTEFA program (EFA253/16 BIOPLAST) and the PhD student aid program “Jade Plus” financed by Banco Santander of which Johanna Aguilera Oviedo is a beneficiary

Preparation of (S)-1-halo-2-octanols using ionic liquids and biocatalysts

Preparation of (S)-1-chloro-2-octanol and (S)-1-bromo-2-octanol was carried out by the enzymatic hydrolysis of halohydrin palmitates using biocatalysts. Halohydrin palmitates were prepared by various methods from palmitic acid and 1,2-octanediol. A tandem hydrolysis was carried out using lipases from Candida antarctica (Novozym® 435), Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme IM), and “resting cells” from a Rhizopus oryzae strain that was not mycotoxigenic. The influence of the enzyme and the reaction medium on the selective hydrolysis of isomeric mixtures of halohydrin esters is described. Novozym® 435 allowed preparation of (S)-1-chloro-2-octanol and (S)-1-bromo-2-octanol after 1–3 h ofreaction at 40 °C in [BMIM][PF6]