Selection Factors Research Articles

Highly Porous Scandium(III) Tetrafluoroisophthalate Framework for Adsorptive Separation of Light Alkanes.

The separation of light alkanes is one of the most important tasks for modern industry due to the widespread use of ethane and propane as chemical feedstocks. Their extraction from natural gas is a challenging task and is now carried out by cryogenic distillation at a limited number of plants around the world. The development of new materials for adsorption separation is therefore important. Among the different types of adsorbents, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one of the most interesting due to their infinite design possibilities. Here we present a highly porous perfluorinated MOF [Sc(OH)(1,3-tFbdc)] (1,1,3-tFbdc2-─1,3-C6F4(COO)22- tetrafluoroisophthalate linker) with a BET surface area greater than 1000 m·g-1 and its ability to separate light alkanes was investigated. The ability of 1 to separate light hydrocarbons at 0 and 25 °C is demonstrated by IAST calculation of selectivity factors as well as by dynamic breakthrough experiments. The role of fluorine substituents within the organic linker of MOF 1 in gas adsorption is revealed by quantum chemical calculations.

Students’ Decision on The Choice of Academic Disciplines After Secondary Level Education

This study examines the factors influencing high school students’ selection of academic disciplines in Nepal, using data collected through a structured questionnaire from 260 students in Pokhara Metropolitan City. A mixed methods approach was employed, with two colleges selected through purposive sampling and all students surveyed. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses revealed that personal interest is the primary factor in course selection, followed by career prospects, course practicality, financial concerns, and parental guidance, while peer influence is minimal. Challenges such as financial constraints, limited career knowledge, and pressures from academic expectations and parental influence were more pronounced among students from lower-income families and those with higher GPAs. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including career guidance, financial aid, and improved access to career information, to support students in making informed academic decisions.

Preliminary insights: exploring irrigation practices during endodontic treatment among general dental practitioners in Malaysia.

Objective(s) This questionnaire study aimed to analyse the irrigation knowledge and current trends in irrigation practice during endodontic treatment among general dental practitioners (GDPs) in Malaysia.Materials and methods A three-part, self-administered questionnaire with multiple-choice questions was distributed to dentists in Malaysia. The survey comprised three sections: demographic data; irrigant selection and protocol; and other irrigation practices. Knowledge questions were marked based on a recommended answer by endodontists and the scores were analysed among various groups having different years of experience using the Kruskal-Wallis test.Results Out of 172 responses, the mean knowledge score of all respondents was 12.92 (standard deviation = 2.774) out of a possible total score of 18. For the scores of groups of practitioners with different years of experience, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed p = 0.069. Sodium hypochlorite appeared as the most used irrigant. Most respondents routinely practised smear layer removal using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Antibacterial capability and tissue dissolution were the main factors in irrigant selection. In total, 65.6% of the GDPs claimed to change their irrigation protocol to suit different pulpal and periapical diagnoses. There was considerable variation regarding the type of irrigants used, irrigation protocol, concentration, volume, time spent for irrigation, irrigation needle usage and additional adjunct methods used.Conclusion(s) Respondents of the survey were following the recommended irrigation practices in terms of irrigant selection but there is scope for improvement in other aspects of irrigation practice. Further investigation with a larger sample size is needed for more robust conclusions.

Codend Selectivity of Demersal Trawl with Square Mesh Panel (SMP) for Blunt-snouted mullet (Mullus ponticus Essipov, 1927) in the Southern Black Sea Shores of Türkiye

The study was conducted on the Southern Black Sea shores of the Mediterranean Basin and selectivity parameters of the trawl codend (36 mm, 40 mm diamond and 40 mm square mesh panel), were estimated in blunt-snouted mullet (Mullus ponticus, Essipov, 1927) fishing. End of the 12 valid hauls, selectivity parameters for 36 mm diamond (D), 40 mm diamond (D) and 40 mm Square Mesh Panel (SMP) were estimated selection length of 50 % (L50) 11.56 cm, 12.53 cm and 13.56 cm; selection range (SR) 4.88 cm, 5.02 cm and 3.91; selection factor (SF) 0.29, 0.31 and 0.34 respectively. 50 % selectivity length of 36 mm codend was smaller than the legal Minimum Landing Size (MLS=13 cm), 40 mm codend was more nearly MLS but it’s not enough and 40 mm Square Mesh Panel (SMP) on the codend has to use in the bottom trawl fisheries. Catch of small size (juvenile) blunt-snouted mullet will decrease by square mesh panel method must consider in the demersal trawl fishery of Black Sea.

Research Productivity Among Applicants Who Matched into an Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency Program: A Bibliographic Review

ObjectiveResearch productivity is an important factor in candidate selection by Integrated thoracic surgery residency programs. It is necessary to track the research output of applicants who match into an Integrated program. This study sought to examine the research productivity of matched Integrated applicants prior to residency and assess demographic, bibliographic, and institutional variables associated with continued research productivity during residency. MethodsBibliographic records of applicants who matched into an Integrated program from 2015 to 2022 were manually reviewed (e.g., PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate) to identify studies published until January 2024. Publications were stratified by publication type and first-authorship relative to the applicants’ match year. Individuals were analyzed by demographics, medical school ranking, and affiliated residency programs’ research infrastructure. ResultsThree hundred matched Integrated applicants were identified. Among applicants who matched into an Integrated program, the number of total (p = 0.001) and first-author (p = 0.006) publications prior to residency significantly increased from 2015 to 2022. Over the same period, the rate of total (p = 0.2) and first-author (p = 0.3) publications during residency remained relatively unchanged. Matched Integrated applicants with a higher number of total and first-author publications prior to residency had a higher rate of total (1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09 – 1.25; p < 0.001) and first-author (1.19; 95% CI 1.13 – 1.26; p < 0.001) publications during residency, respectively. ConclusionResearch productivity among applicants who matched into an Integrated program from 2015 to 2022 has increased and is a strong predictor of sustained scholarly output during residency.

Efficacy and Safety of Selective Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in FGFR-altered Urothelial Carcinoma

Efficacy and Safety of Selective Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in FGFR-altered Urothelial Carcinoma

A novel recyclable surface ion-imprinted graphene aerogels for high selective adsorption of lithium in salt lake brine

To mitigate the growing pressure of lithium resource supply and requirement, the exploration of abundant lithium from salt lake brine has emerged as a novel avenue for lithium resource acquisition. Surface ion imprinting technology with specific recognition could achieve selective lithium adsorption. However, existing Li+-imprinted adsorption materials exhibit poor adsorption performance and difficult recovery. To address these issues, the novel recyclable Li+-imprinted graphene aerogels were synthesized by using graphene oxide as the skeleton material, and thiourea dioxide as the reducing agent, assisted by DMF and NH3·H2O. The imprinted aerogels demonstrate excellent structural stability (bearing 10000 times of its weight), superior adsorption capacity (31.66 mg g−1), high selectivity and good regeneration performance (91.0% after six cycles). The selection factors for Li+ over Na+, K+ and Mg2+ reach 10.00, 5.71 and 4.00, respectively. This is attributed to the strong metal coordination interreaction between 2-Hydroxymethyl-12-crown-4 and Li+, thereby specifically recognizing and adsorbing Li+. This research offers a fresh material for the enrichment and recovery of lithium resources in salt lake brine.

Design of a Chiral Molecular Pocket in a Ni(II) Complex to Improve Stereoselectivity in the Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Epoxides with CO2

The kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides using the carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule is of significant practical interest because the reaction yields the valuable products – enantiomerically enriched cyclic carbonates (1,3-dioxolan-2-ones), along with the remaining opposite enantiomer of the epoxide. However, one is the main challenges in this direction is the absence of the universal and efficient chiral catalytic systems for the resolution of different epoxides by CO2 with a high selectivity factor (s). In this context, we herein present a perspective proof-of-concept approach for the improvement of stereoselectivity in the resolution of terminal epoxides by a rational design of an appropriate chiral molecular pocket in a Ni(II) complex based on commercially available (S)-(2-aminomethyl)pyrrolidine and 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde. The obtained chiral Ni(II) complex with iodide-anion catalyzes the kinetic resolution of epoxides by CO2 with s-factor up to 7.8, while the addition of a suitable chiral ligand to this system, particularly, (S)-(2-anilinomethyl)pyrrolidine led to the increasing of s-factor up to 11.5 in the case of challenging styrene oxide (ee of styrene cyclic carbonate was 82%) which is being one of the best results for this substrate to date. It is gratifying to note that even achiral co-ligands can be used, greatly simplifying the catalytic system. The experimental and spectral data and DFT calculations revealed the mechanism of catalysis and enantioselection.

Selective adsorption and synchronous reduction of Au from water with difunctional cellulose aerogel: Performance and mechanism

Here, valonia tannin and sulfhydryl functional groups were added to the cellulose aerogel from waste textiles to form a thiol-modified tannin-immobilized cellulose-based aerogel (TVTCA) with selective adsorption and outstanding reducing properties. This aerogel was then utilized to recycle Au(III) in the water. The resulting 3D TVTCA contained abundant -SH groups and phenolic hydroxyl groups and exhibited stable crystal structure and good thermal properties. TVTCA showed excellent Au (Ⅲ) adsorption performance (598.3 mg/g of maximum adsorption capacity) and strong reductivity (78 %). The adsorption process was conducted using both the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. In addition, TVTCA displayed excellent anti-interference ability. Even though the coexisting ions concentration was as high as 100 mmol/L, TVTCA still owned a high Au adsorption capacity (178.91–224.14 mg/g) and selectivity factor (29.16–2629.34), which was much higher than valonia tannin-immobilized cellulose-based aerogel (VTCA). Furthermore, the recycling of Au with TVTCA mainly included adsorption and in-situ reduction processes. The mechanisms involved the electrostatic interaction and chelation effects, which were ascribed to the introduced sulfhydryl groups. Meanwhile, the in-situ Au reduction was mainly caused by the studies showing that the high adsorption capacity of TVTCA was owing to the phenolic hydroxyl groups on the introduced valonia tannin. All the findings would provide a new way to achieve the recycling of precious metals from wastewater by using valuable cotton waste.

인근 지역 학생들은 왜 지방 사립 C대학을 선택하였나

This study aimed to explore the selection factors influencing local students' choice of local private universities and to offer strategic recommendations for how these institutions can more effectively attract students. A single case study was conducted involving nine students admitted to a local private C University in Gwangju Metropolitan City through their strong performance in the undergraduate comprehensive entrance examination. Data collection and analysis were performed using Ginoshita's modified grounded theory approach. The findings revealed that students' decision to attend Local C University could be interpreted as a strategic action aimed at maximizing economic efficiency and future economic prospects. Notably, the relocation of public institutions specializing in electricity and AI to an innovation city near Gwangju has resulted in the implementation of recruitment policies prioritizing local talent. This employment prospect significantly influenced students' choice of C University. Furthermore, the university's extensive alumni network and positive reputation were identified as factors that enhanced students' perceived competitiveness in the labor market. For rural students, parental advice and support emerged as a critical component of the decision-making process. This reflects the strong family-oriented values characteristic of Asian cultures. Rural students often face substantial economic and psychological challenges when considering enrollment at metropolitan universities, thus making parental experience and local social networks essential sources of practical and realistic guidance. This support aids students in making rational choices that consider long-term economic stability and utility.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the developing zebrafish enteric nervous system at the whole-organ level.

Neural crest cells give rise to the neurons of the enteric nervous system (ENS) that innervate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to regulate gut motility. The immense size and distinct subregions of the gut present a challenge to understanding the spatial organization and sequential differentiation of different neuronal subtypes. Here, we profile enteric neurons (ENs) and progenitors at single-cell resolution during zebrafish embryonic and larval development to provide a near-complete picture of transcriptional changes that accompany the emergence of ENS neurons throughout the GI tract. Multiplex spatial RNA transcript analysis identifies the temporal order and distinct localization patterns of neuronal subtypes along the length of the gut. Finally, we show that functional perturbation of select transcription factors Ebf1a, Gata3, and Satb2 alters the cell fate choice, respectively, of inhibitory, excitatory, and serotonergic neuronal subtypes in the developing ENS.

Transcriptomic analysis of codon usage patterns and gene expression characteristics in leafy spurge

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is an important herb and potential energy source with medicinal value. Codon usage bias (CUB) is a static feature of genes and genomes that results from adaptation and selection during long-term evolution and facilitates molecular breeding in transgenic plants. Here, we used TransDecoder to identify candidate coding regions from the downloaded leafy spurge transcriptome and generate coding region annotation files based on reference genomes. The whole genome showed A/T bias, especially at terminal positions, and seven high-frequency codons were identified. We compared codon usage frequencies to identify candidate exogenous expression receptor systems for leafy spurge. The identified factors affecting leafy spurge CUB included natural selection and other factors, mutation pressure and base composition, with natural selection and other factors being dominant. The observed CUB was significantly positively correlated with the gene expression levels. Systematic analysis of whole-genome leafy spurge revealed that highly expressed protein-coding genes presented greater CUB than did less expressed protein-coding genes. Furthermore, the highly expressed genes tended to have terminal G/C bases. In summary, we conducted a series of related studies based on the leafy spurge whole-genome sequence and laid a foundation for selecting suitable exogenous expression receptor systems and improving gene expression levels.

Selective adsorption-photocatalytic synergistic breakdown of sulfamethazine in milk using loaded molecularly imprinted Ag3PO4/TiO2 films

To remove antibiotics from milk effectively, molecularly imprinted Ag3PO4/TiO2 photocatalysts (MAT) were prepared using sulfamethazine (SMZ) as a template and butyl titanate as a functional monomer. Molecularly imprinted Ag3PO4/TiO2 films (MATs) were constructed using quartz glass tubes as the carrier. The morphology and structure of MAT, the properties and mechanism of degradation of SMZ by MATs, and the nutrition and safety of milk were evaluated. The results showed that MAT formed obvious imprinted cavities and n–p-type heterojunctions. Moreover, MATs exhibited the highest degradation rate (82.4 %) of SMZ, an enhanced selectivity factor α (3.98), and adsorption capacity Q (8.47 mg/g), which did not alter protein, fat, or acidity values in milk and no photocatalyst residue was detected. The high photocatalytic activity and selectivity of MATs for SMZ were mainly attributed to the presence of imprinted holes that matched the template molecules, the large specific surface area, the formation of n–p-type heterostructures, and Z-type charge transfer.

Service selection and switching decisions: user behavior in high-interoperability environments

Current legislation and market dynamics require and encourage systems to become more open and interoperable. Given this shift, the challenge arises as to how service providers can navigate such environments and whether and how known platform economics are affected by that change. In this context, our work investigates behavior when users interact with services in highly interoperable environments, examining the influence of service attributes and platform economics on service selection and switching decisions, with a focus on the role of transaction cost and time, onboarding time, privacy, ownership, and community. For this purpose, we designed and conducted an extensive survey study with more than 500 respondents that combined a conjoint study with an experimental part on switching scenarios. Our findings suggest that transaction features such as cost, time, and privacy are the main factors in service selection with part-worth utilities being 2.1 to 14.7 times higher than non-transactional features. Additionally, building a strong community and offering ownership opportunities to users are effective strategies for customer retention. Further, we observe that rational choice theory does not explain switching decisions in many cases. Our study has important implications for both industry practitioners and policymakers. Practitioners can use our results to carefully manage effective customer retention strategies, while policymakers can use them to better regulate digital markets.

Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of the First Complete Chloroplast Genome of Shizhenia pinguicula (Orchidaceae: Orchideae).

Genomic analysis is crucial for better understanding the evolutionary history of species and for their conservation. Shizhenia pinguicula is a rare medicinal plant endemic to China. However, the complete chloroplast genome of this species has not been reported to date. Insufficient genomic research on S. pinguicula has hindered effective conservation efforts for this valuable plant. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the first complete chloroplast genome of S. pinguicula using Illumina sequencing technology. We conducted a comparative analysis of its chloroplast genome with related species and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships. The chloroplast genome of S. pinguicula exhibited a typical quadripartite structure with a length of 158,658 bp. A total of 123 genes, 118 simple sequence repeats, and 51 dispersed repetitive sequences were identified. The inverted repeat boundaries were significantly expanded, along with the pseudogenization and loss of multiple NDH genes. Codon usage bias is primarily influenced by natural selection and other factors, with the ycf3 gene under positive selection. Additionally, 10 hypervariable regions were detected for species identification and evolutionary studies. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Ponerorchis gracilis and Hemipilia yajiangensis form a clade, with S. pinguicula as their sister species, located at the basal position of the Ponerorchis-Hemipilia alliance. The chloroplast genome structure and gene content of S. pinguicula exhibit certain degrees of variation compared to other species within the Orchidinae subtribe. This genome should be useful for further investigations into the biology of Shizhenia and the development of biodiversity conservation strategies.

One-step self-activated carbon adsorbent with synergistic micropore-mesopore structure for exceptional SF6/N2 separation performance

The capture and recovery of SF₆ from exhaust gases in the electronics industry through adsorptive separation offer a sustainable pathway toward resource reuse and environmental protection. The core challenge lies in developing adsorbents with rapid adsorption kinetics and exceptional selectivity. In this study, we present a novel one-step synthesis of PC-xMgO carbon materials via the self-activation of a potassium citrate (PC) precursor, facilitated by MgO nanosheets acting as spatial barriers. This approach yields a synergistic micropore-mesopore structure that enhances SF₆/N₂ separation. The inclusion of MgO prevents the aggregation of PC-derived carbon nanosheets, resulting in an ideal pore structure that combines micropore confinement with mesopore diffusion. This synergy optimally balances gas adsorption capacity, separation selectivity, and diffusion rate. Notably, the PC-0.5MgO adsorbent achieves an impressive SF₆ adsorption capacity of 2.19 mmol g−1 (0.1 bar) and a high selectivity factor of 506 (10 % SF₆/N₂) at 298K, outperforming all previously reported carbon-based adsorbents. Additionally, dynamic breakthrough tests on binary gas mixtures confirm its outstanding separation performance, yielding 99.9 % pure SF₆ with a productivity rate of 1.05 mol kg−1 at 298K—a threefold increase over the best reported data. This advancement provides a new perspective for designing efficient adsorbents aimed at SF₆ mitigation.

Engineering a Cu-Pd Paddle-Wheel Metal-Organic Framework for Selective CO2 Electroreduction.

Optimizing the binding energy between the intermediate and the active site is a key factor for tuning catalytic product selectivity and activity in the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction. Copper active sites are known to reduce CO2 to hydrocarbons and oxygenates, but suffer from poor product selectivity due to the moderate binding energies of several of the reaction intermediates. Here, we report an ion exchange strategy to construct Cu-Pd paddle wheel dimers within Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Cu3-xPdx(BTC)2] (BTC=benzentricarboxylate), without altering the overall MOF structural properties. Compared to the pristine Cu MOF ([Cu3(BTC)2], HKUST-1), the Cu-Pd MOF shifts CO2 electroreduction products from diverse chemical species to selective CO generation. In situ X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of the catalyst oxidation state and local geometry, combined with theoretical calculations, reveal that the incorporation of Pd within the Cu-Pd paddle wheel node structure of the MOF promotes adsorption of the key intermediate COOH* at the Cu site. This permits CO-selective catalytic mechanisms and thus advances our understanding of the interplay between structure and activity toward electrochemical CO2 reduction using molecular catalysts.

Evolutionary consequences of domestication on the selective effects of new amino acid changing mutations in canids.

The domestication of wild canids led to dogs no longer living in the wild but instead residing alongside humans. Extreme changes in behavior and diet associated with domestication may have led to the relaxation of the selective pressure on traits that may be less important in the domesticated context. Thus, here we hypothesize that strongly deleterious mutations may have become less deleterious in domesticated populations. We test this hypothesis by estimating the distribution of fitness effects (DFE) for new amino acid changing mutations using whole-genome sequence data from 24 gray wolves and 61 breed dogs. We find that the DFE is strikingly similar across canids, with 26-28% of new amino acid changing mutations being neutral/nearly neutral (|s| < 1e-5), and 41-48% under strong purifying selection (|s| > 1e-2). Our results are robust to different model assumptions suggesting that the DFE is stable across short evolutionary timescales, even in the face of putative drastic changes in the selective pressure caused by artificial selection during domestication and breed formation. On par with previous works describing DFE evolution, our data indicate that the DFE of amino acid changing mutations depends more strongly on genome structure and organismal characteristics, and less so on shifting selective pressures or environmental factors. Given the constant DFE and previous data showing that genetic variants that differentiate wolf and dog populations are enriched in regulatory elements, we speculate that domestication may have had a larger impact on regulatory variation than on amino acid changing mutations.

Addressing the urban congestion challenge based on traffic bottlenecks.

Historically, urban congestion and street life quality depended on city network hierarchies, shaped by land use and street layout. Yet navigation apps have shifted focus to travel time as the key route selection factor, challenging traditional urban structures. We review the development of an innovative approach to urban traffic management that leverages real-time data for the identification and analysis of traffic bottlenecks. This approach, combined with urban planning, aims to improve traffic flow and tackle modern urban challenges. It includes real-time bottleneck detection and cost, congestion analysis and designing a decentralized traffic management system that can serve planners. Based on complex system principles, it promises dynamic traffic optimization, merging urban planning with digital advancements. The research demonstrates the potential of different applications of the proposed methodologies to predict significant congestion from early bottleneck formation, offering urban planners a powerful toolset for reasserting their role in shaping the urban experience. This article posits that a nuanced understanding of traffic dynamics, coupled with advanced traffic management technologies, can restore the influence of urban planning in the digital era, fostering more liveable, equitable and efficient urban environments. This article is part of the theme issue 'Co-creating the future: participatory cities and digital governance'.

Inhibition of selective factor Xa suppresses type 1 diabetes development in mice via the CXCL16 chemokine

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with enhanced thrombosis potential. This research aims to investigate the role of coagulation system activation and CXCL16 in T1DM progression and the possible preventive effect of the selective Factor Xa inhibitor, Fondaparinux (Fond). Forty male Wistar albino mice were classified into 4 groups. Control, Fond, Streptozotocin (STZ), and Fond + STZ groups. Biochemical, hematological, and histopathological parameters, expressions of CXCL16, insulin, fibrinogen, and PAR-2, were investigated. A significant increase in blood glucose level and expressions of CXCL16, fibrinogen, and PAR-2, together with histological and nuclear changes in the pancreatic islets, was observed in STZ-treated mice, accompanied by a reduction in the serum insulin level. Fond improved the deleterious effects resulting from STZ treatment. In conclusion, coagulation system activation and CXCL16 play a critical role in the initiation of T1DM and could be used as therapeutic targets for T1DM prevention.