Research Group Research Articles

Migration experience and risky financial assets investments of county households: evidence from China

Enhancing the support for inclusive finance in county economies is crucial in achieving the strategic goal of building financial power. Drawing upon the theoretical lens of county-level inclusive financial accessibility, this study examines the effect of the migration experience (ME) of county socialites on their risky financial assets investment (FAI) and the underlying mechanisms. We utilize data sourced from the County Consumption Survey, a nationwide effort by the Department of Sociology of Tsinghua University and the 58 Tongzhen Research Group. Our findings reveal that the ME of county socialites significantly boosts their likelihood of engaging in financial markets. Furthermore, housing inequality factors, such as housing property rights and housing loans, play a moderating role in the impact of individual ME on their FAI. Additionally, the financial concept has a masking effect rather than a mediating effect on the path of the ME affecting FAI. Notably, the promotion effect of ME displays heterogeneity. Specifically, ME has a stronger positive effect on FAI among college-educated groups, members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and urban hukou residents than on those who have not completed college education, non-CPC members and rural hukou households. In light of these findings, we propose policy recommendations to optimize the distribution of financial services, adjust the housing equality policy, and enhance inclusive financial literacy.

Margaret: Streamlining Research Productivity Analysis in Colombia with an R Package for GrupLAC Integration

Margaret is an advanced R package designed to systematically extract and consolidate data pertaining to research outputs (such as publications, books, book chapters, and conference presentations) of scientific groups from the GrupLAC platform, an online application managed by Minciencias in Colombia for the registration and updating of researcher and research group information in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. The challenge of monitoring and evaluating scientific production across various web platforms presents a substantial barrier to universities in tracking their contributions effectively. To address this challenge, Margaret accepts a designated list of links corresponding to university-affiliated research groups within GrupLAC. Utilizing web-scraping techniques, the package retrieves and compiles this data into a comprehensive XLSX file. This file encompasses information across 51 distinct categories of research products, enabling research directors to meticulously assess, monitor, and enhance various strategies that aim to augment the production, quality, and impact of scientific outputs. The Shiny application is publicly accessible and can be accessed via the following link: https://ucatolicaluisamigo-investigaciones.shinyapps.io/margaret/

Environmental impacts of drugs against parasitic vector-borne diseases and the need to integrate sustainability into their development and use

Background The current scientific discourse on environmental impacts of veterinary medicines mostly focuses on ectoparasiticides. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts of widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of human and animal parasitic vector-borne diseases (PVBD) remain largely unexplored. There is thus a need for evidence-based information to support guidelines and protocols for sustainable One Health PVBD drug development and use, while promoting greener research practices. Here, we reflect on the potential environmental impacts of PVBD drugs in current use, and the environmental impact of our research practices for developing new antiparasitics. Methods We conducted a survey of the membership of the “One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond” Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 21111 (OneHealth drugs) to assess the current appreciation of sustainable drug design concepts and the extent to which One Health and sustainability principles are integrated into PVBD drug discovery and development. The survey also explored which human, technical, and funding resources are currently used in Europe and neighbouring countries in PVBD drugs research. Results The survey was conducted and analysed by OneHealth drugs and garnered 89 respondents, representing a response rate of 66% from 32 countries, predominantly European. 87% of participating collaborators worked in Academia; research groups were small (60% with 1–4 researchers) and mostly consist of few researchers, mostly at early career stages (63% <35 years old). Collaborations were mostly between academics, and 60% collaborated with non-European researchers, while funding was mostly from national governments. Motivation for greener research practices was high but there was as yet low implementation of green strategies or the incorporation of ecotoxicological test in drug development workflows, due to cost and unfamiliarity. Conclusions We highlight the need for early-ecotoxicological testing of new drug candidates and suggest best practices as we move towards standardized protocols in developing safe and efficacious PVBD drugs.

25 years into research with the Méhes Scale, a comprehensive scale of modern dysmorphology

It has been recognized that subtle, cosmetically insignificant anomalies tend to occur cumulatively in diseases with neurodevelopmental origin. These visible signs of morphogenesis errors are called minor physical anomalies (MPAs), serving as sensitive external markers of abnormal neurodevelopment. After the introduction of the Waldrop Scale, the studies conducted on MPAs in diseases with neurodevelopmental origin gave conflicting results. It has been debated that this discrepancy can be – at least partly – attributed to the use of the Waldrop Scale. Understanding the need of a comprehensive scale of MPAs that also differentiates according to the time of development, Hungarian pediatrician professor of University of Pécs, Károly Méhes developed a scale with 57 items, the only scale differentiating minor malformations from phenogenetic variants. With the use of the Méhes Scale, our research group has been investigating the role of abnormal neurodevelopment in different neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders since 1997. 25 years into our research, in this review we summarize the results of our 18 research articles on MPAs in different diseases. We have found an increased number of MPAs, especially in the head and mouth region, in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Tourette syndrome, autism and many epilepsy syndromes, fortifying the role of abnormal neurodevelopment in these diseases. Moreover, an increased number of MPAs was detected among the first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, supporting the hypothesis about MPAs being endophenotypic trait markers.

Characterisation of incident interstitial lung disease in late systemic sclerosis.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common and potentially lethal complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Screening by HRCT is recommended in all patients with risk factors, including early disease. Little is known on late presentations of ILD. This study aimed to characterize the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of late-onset SSc-ILD. Subjects enrolled in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) cohort from 2004 to 2020 without prevalent ILD were included. Incidence and risk factors for ILD (on HRCT) were compared according to disease duration above (late) and below (earlier) 7 years from first non-Raynaud manifestation. Risk of ILD progression was compared using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox models. Overall, 199/969 (21%) patients developed incident ILD over a median of 2.4 [1.2, 4.3] years. The incidence rate in late SSc (3.7/100 person-years) was lower than in earlier SSc (relative risk 0.68, 95%CI:0.51-0.92). Risk factors for incident ILD included male sex, diffuse subtype, myositis, anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies and higher C-reactive protein levels. Patients with late-onset ILD were also less frequently White and more frequently had arthritis and anti-RNA-polymerase III autoantibodies. Lung disease severity was similar between late- and earlier-onset SSc-ILD (FVC 88% and 87%, DLCO 64% and 62%, respectively). Progression rates were also similar between late- and earlier-onset SSc-ILD (log-rank p=0.8, hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI: 0.58-2.10). ILD can present in late SSc. Risk factors and progression rates overlapped with earlier-onset SSc-ILD. Surveillance for ILD should continue in longstanding SSc. Frequency and modality of monitoring remain to be defined.

Development of Pupils', Students' and Cadets Value Attitude to Health-Preserving Activities by Means of Combat Horting

The co-authors of the scientific publication carried out the research and described the results by means of a survey of 9th grade athletes from 34 sports clubs in Ukraine (n=807), research students of the State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University (n=92), and practicing students of the State Tax University (n=32), who were involved in the development of mini-projects on health promotion activities, conducting training in combat horting in natural conditions, experimental extracurricular health activities, writing qualification papers on the topic of research and participating in conferences of various levels, including international ones, monitoring activities during combat horting classes and extracurricular activities). The aim of the study is to practically test the efficiency of educating pupils', students' and cadets value attitude to health-preserving activities by means of combat horting. The basis of the study was the development of research skills through the method of analyzing student researchers; improvement of practical skills of pupils and students who participated as combat sport athletes and student practitioners, assistant coaches from 2020 to 2024. Results of the research. The co-authors of the research group developed and implemented a set of goals for educating pupils', students' and cadets to cultivate a value-based attitude to health promotion; developed questionnaires and conducted a survey among pupils and students; identified components, criteria and indicators for developing a value-based attitude of pupils', students' and cadets to health promotion; and presented practical recommendations. Moreover, the respondents acted as coaches, which promoted the development of soft skills and the ability of teamwork. Conclusions: This study contributed to the coordination of teamwork between pupils, students, teachers/coaches; aimed at improving the quality of professional and practical training of higher education students and their career development. Consequently, it is necessary to focus on the practical component of educational and research activities in higher education institutions, improvement of the educational and training process in sports clubs of Ukraine, based on the domestic and foreign experience of prominent experts.

Bacterial Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the leading oil-exploring and -exploiting country in the world. As a result, contamination of the environment by petroleum products (mainly hydrocarbons) is common, necessitating strategies for their removal from the environment. Much work has been conducted on bacterial degradation of hydrocarbons in the KSA. This review comprehensively analyzed 43 research investigation articles on bacterial hydrocarbon degradation, mainly polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within the KSA. More than 30 different bacterial genera were identified that were capable of degrading simple and complex PAHs, including benzo[a]pyrene and coronene. Different strategies for selecting and isolating these bacterial strains and their advantages and disadvantages were highlighted. The review also discussed the origins of sample inocula and the contributions of various research groups to this field. PAH metabolites produced by these bacteria were presented, and biochemical pathways of PAH degradation were proposed. More importantly, research gaps that could enrich our understanding of petroleum product biodegradation mechanisms were highlighted. Overall, the information presented in this paper will serve as a baseline for further research on optimizing bioremediation strategies in all petroleum-contaminated environments.

Am I attached? A patient-partnered approach to creating infographics about attachment to primary care in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundHaving a primary care provider is associated with better care experiences and lower care costs. In 2021, INSPIRE-PHC released Primary Care Data Reports - publicly available summaries of administrative billing data about how populations in each of Ontario’s 60 health teams use primary care services. Given the characterization of Canadian primary care systems as ‘in crisis’, publicly available data about primary care at the regional level presented a significant opportunity for knowledge mobilization. An understandable resource could ground the public conversation about primary care access in data. Recognizing the role that lived experience plays in ensuring the public understands research findings, a partnership between patient advisors, Ontario Health Team representatives, researchers, and trainees was established to co-produce public-facing infographics based on primary care data.MethodsEvidence-based guidelines for public health infographic creation and elements of transformative action research guided a six-meeting process to engage up to 14 patient advisors, three Ontario Health Team staff and two primary care trainees. Patient advisors were affiliated with a provincial patient-oriented primary health care research group or a Hamilton-based Ontario Health Team. Ninety-minute meetings were conducted virtually, and notes were shared with attendees to ensure they accurately reflected the conversation. Two consultations with Ontario Health Team-affiliated primary care providers provided direction and ensured project outputs aligned with local priorities.ResultsProject partners shared feedback on draft infographics, audience identification, priority elements from Primary Care Data Reports to include in the infographics, and aesthetic features (e.g., headings, colour scheme, charts). Project partners felt the most important metrics to convey to the public were those that simultaneously reinforced the benefits of primary care on individual health outcomes and health system costs.ConclusionsPatient engagement in research is becoming widespread, but co-developing knowledge products with patient and health system partners is less common. Our approach to engaging patients prevented both oversimplification and unnecessary complexity in a public-facing visual about attachment to primary care.

The role of the primary healthcare research community in addressing the social and structural determinants of health: a call to action from NAPCRG 2023.

The need for effective primary healthcare to address social and structural determinants of health and to mitigate health inequalities has been well established. Here, we report on the international forum of the 2023 NAPCRG (formerly known as North American Primary Care Research Group) Annual Meeting. The aim of the forum was to develop principles for action for the primary healthcare research community on addressing social and structural determinants of health. From this forum, 10 key recommendations for the primary care research community were identified.

Life profile of Prof. Premvati Tewari: A visionary who pioneered the specialties of Prasuti Tantra, Stree-Roga, and Balaroga

Abstract Dr. Premvati Tiwari, an Ayurvedic luminary, was born and raised in a society that offered few opportunities for women to pursue studies. With her family’s support and firm resolve, she paved the way to become a successful academician, clinician, and researcher in the fields of Prasuti Tantra, Stree-Roga, and Balaroga. She was a proficient writer, excellent practitioner, and surgeon. She was a member of various governing bodies, selection committees, and research groups and a recipient of several national-level awards in Ayurvedic Sciences. She supervised over 70 MD and PhD scholars and authored many research articles and books. The life and contributions of Dr. Premvati Tiwari would inspire generations to come as an idol of perseverance, hard work, dedication, and service to society.

Equivalent thickness method of CFRP in chloride ion diffusion equation for CFRP–strengthened RC members and its load capacity assessment method

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)–strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) structures exhibit resistance to chloride ion penetration. However, accurately quantifying this resistance and predicting the load capacity of CFRP–strengthened RC beams subjected to chloride ion erosion requires further investigation. This paper introduces two equivalent thickness methods for non-fully bonded CFRP within the chloride ion diffusion equation: first method assumes CFRP having a fixed equivalent thickness, while the second method allows for CFRP having a linearly decreasing equivalent thickness depending on the depth within the concrete. A model is established between the reduction factor of load capacity in CFRP–strengthened RC beams and the concentration of diffusing chloride ions. Based on experimental results from our research group regarding chloride ion erosion in CFRP–strengthened RC members, both the equivalent thickness method and the load capacity model for CFRP were evaluated. The findings indicate that the chloride ion concentration predicted by the second equivalent thickness method outperforms the first, with an error of 13.1%. Furthermore, this method accurately predicts the chloride ion concentration after 60 days of exposure, exhibiting an error of 7.0%. Additionally, employing the proposed load capacity model, derived from the second equivalent thickness method, the calculated load capacity of CFRP–strengthened RC members subjected to chloride ion erosion shows only a 5.2% deviation from experimental results. This study concludes that the equivalent thickness of non-fully bonded CFRP decreases linearly with depth in concrete and establishes a direct correlation between load capacity and chloride ion concentration, thereby offering more targeted characterization methods.

Recent advances in noncoding RNA modifications of gastrointestinal cancer.

Elucidating the mechanisms underlying cancer development and proliferation is important for the development of therapeutic methods for the complete cure of cancer. In particular, the identification of diagnostic markers for early detection and new therapeutic strategies for refractory gastrointestinal cancers are needed. Various abnormal phenomena occur in cancer cells, such as functional changes of proteins, led by genomic mutations, and changes in gene expression due to dysregulation of epigenetic regulation. This is no exception for noncoding RNA (ncRNA), which do not encode proteins. Recent reports have revealed that microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) are deeply involved in cancer progression. These ncRNAs have attracted attention as gene expression regulatory molecules. Recent advances in technology have made it possible not only to read DNA and RNA sequences but also to study the modification state of each base. In particular, comprehensive analysis of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been performed by many research groups, with multiple studies reporting that m6A modifications of specific genes are associated with cancer progression. Based on the above, this review examines how ncRNA modifications are related to cancer progression in gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal and pancreatic cancer. We also discuss enzyme inhibitors that have been reported to have drug discovery potential targeting m6A modifications. By utilizing the new perspective of ncRNA modification, we may be able to accumulate knowledge on the molecular biology of cancer and contribute to human health through diagnosis and treatment.

Extremity War Injury Symposium 2024: Sports Medicine and Medical Readiness Section Summary

Collaboration between military and civilian investigators is necessary to develop strategies for optimizing treatments to diminish the sequelae of non–battle-related musculoskeletal injuries, which are highly prevalent among servicemembers. The 2024 Extremity War Injuries Symposium provided a forum whereby a diverse group of clinicians and researchers could develop strategies for optimizing treatments and diminishing the sequelae of conditions that are highly prevalent among active individuals. Key points were as follows: 1. The value of collaborations between military and civilian investigators cannot be overemphasized. These synergies can leverage the capabilities of established infrastructures in order to answer important questions pertaining to short-term outcomes—for example, warrior readiness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions among servicemembers and long-term posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) outcomes among civilian cohorts. 2. Current and future prospective trials will inform future treatment decisions related to multiligamentous knee injuries and glenohumeral instability. 3. Novel approaches to addressing PTOA in the acute postinjury period will need longitudinal surveillance to measure their impact on improving clinical outcomes and diminishing residual functional deficits.

Patterns of medicine use in the year prior to death by suicide: an Australian population-based case series study

Prescribed medicines are commonly used to treat mental health conditions but are also often implicated in suicide death by poisoning. This was a descriptive study quantifying changes in dispensing and initiation of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics in the year prior to death by suicide. In this Australian population-based case series, we used national coronial data linked with dispensing claims for all people ≥10 years who died by suicide (2013-2019). Our primary outcome was change in aggregate weekly medicine dispensing the year before death, quantified using piecewise linear regression stratified by cause of death (medicine poisoning vs other causes). Our secondary outcome was change in medicine initiation rates. This study was performed between June 2021 and July2023. Our study included 14,207 people (24% female, median age 44 years). In the year prior to death, we observed higher rates of nervous system medicine use in people who died by medicine poisoning compared with those that did not: antidepressants (62.4% vs 42.9%), benzodiazepines (51.4% vs 29.0%), antipsychotics (25.6% vs 17.1%), opioids (43.8% vs 23.4%). For benzodiazepines, among people who died by medicine poisoning the slope (rate of increase) changed from 0.18 (95% CI-0.01, 0.37) to 4.12 (95% CI 0.98, 7.26) dispensings per 1000 people per week at 8 weeks prior to death. Among people who died of other causes, the slope changed from 0.18 (95% CI 0.14, 0.22) to 2.41 (95% CI 1.90, 2.91) also at 8 weeks prior to death. For antidepressants, among people who died of medicine poisoning we observed no change in the slope. Among people who died of other causes, the slope increased from 0.18 (95% CI 0.09, 0.28) to 1.68 (95% CI 1.20, 2.15) at 14 weeks prior to death. Dispensing of antidepressants and benzodiazepines increased more rapidly closer to date of death, regardless of medicine involvement in death. This suggests these changes may reflect worsening symptoms or increased help seeking and that the method of death by suicide may be due to greater means access. However, findings need to be interpreted with caution as our analyses were performed on aggregate data and may not reflect person-level changes. This study is funded by a grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Translational Australian Clinical Toxicology Research (TACT) Group.

Treatment of epistaxis in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease by bevacizumab nasal spray. The EROSB study: Determining the effective dose

Treatment of nosebleeds in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease (OWRD) is a therapeutic challenge. Intranasal anti-angiogenic sprays are a promising solution, requiring scientific validation, leading us to conduct the present study. ObjectiveThe main objective was to determine the minimum effective dose of bevacizumab by intranasal spray to treat epistaxis in OWRD: i.e., the dose resulting in≥50% reduction in the number of nosebleeds at 1 month of treatment compared to the month prior to inclusion for 60% of patients. The secondary objectives were to assess treatment efficacy at 3 and 6 months and progression in the number and impact of nosebleeds, and to document pharmacokinetics. Materials and methodsThe study, named EROSB (treatment of epistaxis in patients with OWRD using a bevacizumab intranasal spray), under the French Hospitals Clinical Research Program (PHRC-I 2013), was selected by the Inter-regional Clinical Research and Innovation Group (GIRCI). It was a phase I/II prospective single-blind study based on 10 cohorts of 3 patients each, using the Continual Reassessment Method (CRM) to determine the minimum effective dose of bevacizumab. ResultsDue to difficulties in recruiting enough patients, the study was stopped after inclusion of 15 subjects. The CRM method identified 64mg as the minimum effective dose. However, this result is not interpretable due to the small number of subjects. ConclusionThe EROSB study did not succeed in identifying a minimum effective dose of bevacizumab, administered as intranasal spray that could reduce the number of nosebleeds compared to the month prior to inclusion. However, the initial results indicated almost no systemic passage of the substance.

Disease Characteristics and Outcomes of 493 Young Myeloma Patients Treated With Modern Therapies: A Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database Study.

Young patients ≤ 50 years old with multiple myeloma (MM) account for about 10% of cases and are underrepresented in the literature. We explored disease characteristics, treatments, and outcomes following modern therapies of young MM patients using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) database. We included 493 patients ≤ 50 years old diagnosed with MM or plasma cell leukemia without concurrent amyloidosis or POEMS syndrome from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2022. The median age was 46 years old (range: 25.6-50). Most patients fell into the R-ISS II category (72.7%), and 24.1% had high-risk cytogenetics. The majority of patients (89.9%) received a proteasome inhibitor-based first-line treatment, 92.1% received a stem cell transplant, and 65.6% had maintenance therapy post-autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Median follow-up from initial treatment to patients' last follow-up was 48.5 (range: 0-155) months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 45.0 months (95% CI: 40.2-50.0). Maintenance therapy post-ASCT improved median PFS to 52.3 months (95% CI: 43.1-68.2), compared to 23.6 months (95% CI: 20.0-34.8) without maintenance[p < 0.001]. Although the overall survival has not yet been reached in this young population, our reported median PFS of only 45 months highlights the urgent need to develop innovative treatments to induce more profound and durable responses.

Predictive ability of the Cancer and Aging Research Group chemotherapy toxicity calculator in hematologic malignancy

IntroductionChemotherapy toxicity tools are rarely studied in patients with hematologic malignancy (HM). The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine the predictive ability of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) chemo-toxicity calculator in estimating grade 3–5 toxicity in patients with HM. Materials and MethodsPatients 60 years and older with HM were prospectively evaluated using the CARG chemo-toxicity calculator. Discrimination and calibration were checked by applying the published model in our data. Additionally, a full geriatric assessment (GA), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and health related quality of life (HRQoL) were captured longitudinally at the start of treatment and at end of study. Secondary aims explored the association of GA metrics with chemo-related toxicities and survival. ResultsOne hundred forty-five patients were approached, 118 patients consented, and 97 patients were evaluable. Most patients were newly diagnosed (n = 91). The median CARG score was 9 (range 4–18). The CARG score was not validated in our cohort of older patients with HM, with area under the receiver operation characteristic curve being 0.53 (95 % CI: 0.41–0.65). In multivariable analysis, after controlling for disease type, risk factors associated with grade 3–5 toxicity included living alone (hazard ratio [HR] 4.24, 95 %CI: 2.07–8.68, p < 0.001), increase in body mass index (HR 1.06, 95 %CI: 1.01–1.12, p = 0.03) and a higher social activities score (HR 1.27, 95 %CI: 1.06–1.51, p = 0.01). In multivariable analysis of overall survival, the only prognostic factor was an objective marker of physical function (SPPB score HR = 0.85, 95 %CI:0.78–0.93, p < 0.001). DiscussionThe CARG chemo-toxicity calculator was not predictive of grade 3–5 toxicity in patients with hematologic malignancy. The SPPB was associated with overall survival in multivariable analysis, suggesting future use as an objective biomarker in HM. We also report a comprehensive trajectory of function, QoL, psychosocial well-being, and cognition among older adults with HM. The predictive accuracy of the CARG chemo-toxicity calculator may be affected by the diverse range of HM treatment options that are not traditional chemotherapy.

Visible light-induced photocatalytic oxidation of gaseous ammonia on C surface-coated N-TiO2 catalyst: synthesis, properties and mechanism

This paper explores an eco-friendly and efficient photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) technology aimed at converting NH3 into N2, which holds considerable importance for environmental conservation and human well-being. Building upon previous investigations of N-TiO2 catalysts, the research group successfully synthesized an N-TiO2 catalyst featuring a carbon layer on its surface via mechanical mixing followed by calcination at 400 °C (denoted as C/N-TiO2(1), 1 represents the molar ratio of N and Ti). The analysis concentrated on the influence of C content on the PCO efficiency of NH3, revealing a peak performance correlated with increasing C levels. Notably, the C/N-TiO2(1) catalyst with 3.0 wt% C exhibited remarkable catalytic performance, achieving a conversion rate of 94 % and selectivity of 98 %. The enhancement of catalytic activity and selectivity is primarily attributed to the co-doping of C and N elements. Experimental results indicate that doping with N alone effectively suppresses the recombination of photogenerated carriers under visible light. Furthermore, the simultaneous doping of C and N significantly reduces the band gap energy of TiO2 (3.18 to 2.90 eV), thereby broadening its photoresponse range. Concurrently, more Ov (Oxygen vacancy) are formed under visible light irradiation, which enhances the PCO performance. More importantly, more acidic sites are introduced to improve the catalyst’s adsorption capacity for NH3. Additionally, the impact of various reaction components on the PCO capability of the 3.0 wt% C/N-TiO2(1) catalyst is examined further. The findings indicate that oxygen anion radicals produced from O2 play a critical role in facilitating NH3-PCO. However, the presence of CO2 and extra H2O could hinder the approach of NH3 molecules to the active sites and decrease the longevity of photogenerated ·OH, consequently reducing catalytic effectiveness. This research introduces fresh insights and optimization approaches for enhancing the activity, selectivity, and stability of catalysts.

Transitions in development - an interview with Dorit Hockman.

Dorit Hockman is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her group studies the dynamics of gene regulation in the developing nervous system. We chatted with Dorit over a video call to find out more about her career path, her return to South Africa to establish her independent research group, and the importance of having supportive colleagues and mentors.

The influence of pure compounds’ parameters on the phase behaviour of carbon dioxide + 1-hexanol binary system

New vapour–liquid–liquid and vapour–liquid equilibrium data to complement the existing ones are measured at six temperatures (308.15 K to 383.15 K) and at pressures up to 182.9 K using an analytic-static method with phases sampling via special valves (“AnTVisVarCap”, as defined by Prof. Ralf Dohrn and co-workers) for the carbon dioxide (1) + 1-hexanol (2) binary system. Four out of the six isotherm reported here are measured for the first time. The main component of the high-pressure setup is a 60 cm3 visual cell.The new isotherms are compared with the available literature which is also reviewed and analysed. It should be noted that among the data already published, only one other research group reported the compositions of both phases at equilibrium, as we did previously by using another experimental method. The new and literature data were modelled with Peng-Robinson (PR) and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equations of state based on a semi-predictive procedure to reproduce as well as possible the minimum and the maximum of the critical curve(s) using one set of binary interaction parameters. The influence of critical data and acentric factors of pure components on the phase behaviour of their binary system is discussed. Although the values of the critical pressures and acentric factors of pure substances are not very different in the database we used, the models predict type III or IV phase behaviour with the same set of binary interaction parameters. This sensitivity, which was not observed for other systems we studied, could be explained by the alcohol structure and high asymmetry of the system. Therefore, we analysed in more depth the influence of the critical temperatures and pressures, as well as the acentric factors of carbon dioxide and 1-hexanol and exemplified for one temperature located above the system UCEP's temperature.