Search results

Dissolution is a key factor in better utilization of cellulose, the most abundant macromolecule on our planet. Several non-aqueous solvent systems, of very different nature, have been found to dissolve significant amounts of cellulose. For reasons of cost, safety and environment, however, water-based systems would have high priority. Cellulose is insoluble in water, but since well above 100 years,

When natural areas are converted for human use, resulting changes in the landscape often lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, which can disrupt key ecological interactions such as pollination by animals. In this study, we investigated the independent effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the structure and composition of plant-vertebrate pollinator interaction networks, focusing on intera

The source of mercury (Hg) in petroleum is debated in the literature and could stem from; Hg rich black shales producing petroleum, coals, proximity to deep faults acting as migration routes from deep Hg sources, and proximity to large igneous provinces. In an attempt to cast light on the source of Hg in oils on the Norwegian Shelf 268 mainly organic rich core samples from wells in the North Sea,

This study presents an approach of inventory, morphometric analysis, and geoconservation assessment of the exceptional denudation landforms of the Markovi Kuli geosite in North Macedonia. By integrating Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and orthophoto imagery processed from the UAV-based aerial photos of the area using Agisoft Metashape software, a high-resolution 0.1 m 3D model is produced. The mode

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic equivalent of antibodies and have been widely used in electrochemical sensing as recognition elements. They offer advantages over traditional recognition elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids and aptamers due to their simple synthesis, lower production costs, greater chemical and physical stability, and robust performance in diverse environm

Objectives: Human service workers are at a greater risk for negative work and health-related outcomes due to the highly demanding nature of their work which involves unique stressors such as emotion work and routine interactions with clients. This scoping review synthesizes the current state of literature reporting on the associations of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) with human service workers

Silicate weathering regulates climate as a critical carbon sink, yet understanding its role in the carbon cycle is challenging because of limited knowledge about the impact of temperature and rainfall on weathering during glacial-interglacial cycles. Here we investigated the orbital scale of silicate weathering variations and their role in atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration using reconstruct

Accurate reservoir dynamics, particularly water storage and inflow, are crucial for release decisions and operation rule assessments. However, the lack of sufficient monitoring data has hindered the accurate representation of reservoir behavior in hydrological models. While the increasing availability of satellite imagery provides unprecedented opportunities for dynamic reservoir monitoring, its p

Climate change and its associated extreme events challenge the effectiveness of passive building design strategies. Hybrid passive-active systems emerge as a promising solution; however, their resilience in extreme climate conditions is less studied. This study addresses this gap by investigating the integration of solar chimneys (SC) with variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems to improve thermal

Heavy metals are toxic elements that can have significant adverse effects on human health, particularly during vulnerable periods such as pregnancy. The presence of heavy metals in the environment can lead to increased exposure in pregnant women, which may adversely affect both maternal and neonatal health. This study investigates the relationship between heavy metal concentrations, thyroid hormon

Black carbon (BC) is produced by incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels and is released as aerosols to the atmosphere with effects on the climate, environment, and human health. Current BC emissions are well monitored in many parts of the world. However, the geographical coverage is limited, and historical records of BC accumulation are still scarce. Here we present a quantification of

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence has steadily increased in Sweden, more steeply in the mid-1990s caused by increased opportunistic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Tallness, normal weight, and non-smoking are associated with more PSA testing, which increases detection of low-risk and localised PCa. We investigated time trends of height, body mass index (BMI), and smoking with PCa risk in 17

Altermagnets constitute a novel, third fundamental class of collinear magnetic ordered materials, alongside with ferro- and antiferromagnets. They share with conventional antiferromagnets the feature of a vanishing net magnetization. At the same time they show a spin-splitting of electronic bands, just as in ferromagnets, caused by the atomic exchange interaction. On the other hand, topology has r

Background: Physical activity (PA) in childhood is critical for establishing a healthy lifestyle across the lifespan, particularly to treat and prevent obesity. This study aimed to explore PA and sedentary behaviour (SED) in 6–12-year-old children with obesity and their parents, and possible associations in these behaviours between children and parents. Methods: Children referred to outpatient pae

Repetitive Head Impacts (RHI) in boxing may increase the risk for neuronal damage. We evaluated blood-based biomarkers for neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathology, clinical features, and MRI biomarkers in former professional boxers compared to patients with AD or patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Nine former boxers were compared to age-matched patients (without sin

Synaesthesia is a sensory phenomenon where specific inputs such as written letters or tastes automatically trigger additional sensations (for instance colours). The phenomenon is more common in people on the autism spectrum compared to the general population and seems also to be associated with other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions and features. We assessed the associations between s

Fire drills are a commonly-used training method for improving how people act in emergency situations. This article deals with fire drills in early childhood education facilities and analyses data gathered from an online survey of 1 151 Czech nursery schools (23.5% of nursery schools invited to participate, 21.5% of all officially registered nursery schools in Czechia). It provides recommendations

Macrophages infiltrate solid tumors and either support survival or induce cancer cell death through phagocytosis or cytotoxicity. To uncover regulators of macrophage cytotoxicity towards cancer cells, we perform two co-culture CRISPR screens using CAR-macrophages targeting different tumor associated antigens. Both identify ATG9A as an important regulator of this cytotoxic activity. In vitro and in

The role of anyonic statistics stands as a cornerstone in the landscape of topological quantum techniques. While recent years have brought forth encouraging and persuasive strides in detecting anyons, a significant facet remains unexplored, especially in view of connecting anyonic physics to quantum information platforms—whether and how entanglement can be generated by anyonic braiding. Here, we d

Purpose: To assess the ability of corneal epithelial aberrations to discriminate forme fruste keratoconus (FFKC) and keratoconus (KC) from normal eyes. Methods: This prospective, case-control study enrolled 91 right eyes from 91 normal participants, 87 eyes with FFKC and 148 eyes with KC. Epithelial aberrations for the 6-mm pupil were measured using an anterior segment optical coherence tomography