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Solvent-Responsive Glass Transition Behavior of Polyelectrolyte Complexes
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique physicochemical properties and potential applications as smart materials. Herein, the glass transitions of PECs solvated with varying alcohols are investigated in poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA) complexes by using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Solvents with one or two hydroxyl groups are selected to examine the effect of PAA-solvent interactions on the glass transition temperature (Tg). Except for glycerol, all alcohol solvents yield PECs with detectable Tg’s and plasticization behavior. Furthermore, a linear relationship for 1/Tg and the natural logarithm of the number of hydroxyl groups to intrinsic ion pair ratio [ln(nhydroxyl/nintrinsic-ion-pair)] is found. This result is significant because prior work demonstrated the relationship only for water and no other solvents. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations analyze the ability of the solvent to form hydrogen bonds via the solvent’s OH groups to the PAA, revealing that the solvent molecule size and available hydroxyl groups govern the change in the glass transition. Overall, the clear dependence of a PEC’s glass transition on the solvent’s chemical structure provides a simple guideline for predicting their relationship.Peer reviewe
The MBH-M∗ Relation up to z ∼ 2 through Decomposition of COSMOS-Web NIRCam Images
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Our knowledge of relations between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies at z ≳ 1 is still limited, even though being actively sought out to z ∼ 6. Here, we use the high resolution and sensitivity of JWST to measure the host galaxy properties for 107 X-ray-selected type-I active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at 0.68 < z < 2.5 with rest-frame optical/near-infrared imaging from COSMOS-Web and PRIMER. Black hole masses ( log M BH / M ⊙ ∼ 6.9 − 9.6 ) are available from previous spectroscopic campaigns. We extract the host galaxy components from four NIRCam broadband images and the Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys F814W image by applying a 2D image decomposition technique. We detect the host galaxy for ∼90% of the sample after subtracting the unresolved AGN emission. With host photometry free of AGN emission, we determine the stellar mass of the host galaxies to be log M * / M ⊙ ∼ 9.5 − 11.6 through spectral energy distribution fitting and measure the evolution of the mass relation between SMBHs and their host galaxies. Considering selection biases and measurement uncertainties, we find that the MBH/M*ratio evolves as 1 + z 0.4 8 − 0.62 + 0.31 thus remains essentially constant or exhibits mild evolution up to z ∼ 2.5. We also see an amount of scatter ( σ μ = 0.3 0 − 0.13 + 0.14 ), similar to the local relation and consistent with low-z studies, and a noncausal cosmic assembly history where mergers contribute to the statistical averaging toward the local relation is still feasible. We highlight improvements to come with larger samples from JWST and, particularly, Euclid, which will exceed the statistical power of current wide and deep surveys.Peer reviewe
Moniaistimarkkinoinnin rooli kuluttajien brändimielikuvien muovaamisessa
No full textAs e-commerce reshapes consumer behavior and intensifies competition, physical stores must find new ways to attract and engage customers. In industries like cosmetics, where sensory experiences are vital, brick-and-mortar retailers increasingly use multi-sensory marketing to create immersive environments. However, most research has focused on individual sensory elements, with limited attention to the overall impact of multi-sensory marketing on brand perception and consumer behavior.
This study explores how multi-sensory marketing shapes brand perceptions in cosmetics retail, using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model (Mehrabian & Russell, 1974). Through twelve semi-structured interviews with consumers familiar with Rituals Cosmetics and Lush Cosmetics, the research investigates how environmental stimuli influence emotions, brand perceptions and behavioral responses. Key themes were identified through the analysis of qualitative data using thematic coding.
The findings of this research confirm that effective multi-sensory strategies en-hance consumer experiences, strengthen brand perceptions through emotional connections and drive desired behaviors. However, the study also highlights the need for balance, as overstimulation or poorly aligned sensory cues can harm the brand experience.
This research contributes to existing literature by integrating the S-O-R model with brand perceptions and examining the roles of sensory congruence and sensory overload. Future studies could broaden the sample and explore the long-term effects of sensory marketing on brand loyalty and purchase behavior.Verkkokaupan nopean kasvun muuttaessa kuluttajakäyttäytymistä ja kiristäessä kilpailua kivijalkamyymälät etsivät uusia keinoja houkutella ja sitouttaa asiakkaita. Kosmetiikka-alalla, jossa aistikokemukset ovat todella keskeisiä, myymälät hyödyntävät yhä enemmän moniaistista markkinointia luodakseen elämyksellisiä ympäristöjä. Aiempi tutkimus aiheesta on keskittynyt lähinnä yksittäisiin aistikokemuksiin, eikä kokonaisvaltaista moniaistisen markkinoinnin vaikutusta brändimielikuvaan ja kuluttajakäyttäytymiseen ole juuri tarkasteltu.
Tässä tutkimuksessa pyritään selvittämään, miten moniaistinen markkinointi vaikuttaa brändimielikuvien muodostumiseen kosmetiikkamyymälöissä hyödyntäen Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) -mallia (Mehrabian & Russell, 1974). Tutkimus pohjautuu kahdentoista Rituals Cosmetics- ja Lush Cosmetics -myymälöiden asiakkaan haastatteluihin. Keskeiset teemat tunnistettiin laadullisen aineiston temaattisella analyysillä.
Tutkimuksen tulokset vahvistavat, että onnistuneesti toteutettu moniaistimark-kinointi monipuolistaa asiakaskokemusta, vahvistaa tunnesiteitä brändiin ja ohjaa kuluttajakäyttäytymistä toivottuihin suuntiin. Samalla tutkimus korostaa tasapainon merkitystä, sillä aistiärsykkeiden liiallinen määrä tai huonosti yhteen sopivat aistivihjeet voivat heikentää kokemusta.
Tutkimus laajentaa aiempaa tutkimusta yhdistämällä S-O-R-mallin brändimielikuvien tutkimukseen ja tarkastelemalla aistien yhteensopivuuden sekä ylikuormituksen vaikutuksia. Jatkossa olisi hyödyllistä tutkia laajemmalla otannalla moniaistisen markkinoinnin pitkäaikaisia vaikutuksia brändiuskollisuuteen ja ostopäätöksiin
The impact of Brexit on cross-border labour markets: an empirical analysis of Ireland and Germany
No full textThis paper studies the impact of Brexit on the labour markets of Ireland and Germany, and whether geo-proximity was a factor in determining the extent of that impact. Time-series OLS linear regression is utilised to investigate the relationship between Brexit and unemployment rate, labour force participation rate, and average annual wages of both Ireland and Germany. The results of the regression analysis demonstrate that Brexit did not have a statistically significant impact on the unemployment rate, labour force participation rate, or average annual wages of Ireland or Germany
In vivo biocompatibility and long-term durability of nanofibrillated cellulose as a urethral bulking agent in rats and Beagle dogs
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 Peltokallio et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background: Cystoscopy-assisted submucosal injections of urethral bulking agents offer a safe and efficient alternative to surgery for treating urinary incontinence in both dogs and women. To address the concern of their transient therapeutic effect, a preclinical study evaluating the biocompatibility, safety, and durability of nanofibrillated cellulose as a bulking agent was designed. Plant-based nanofibrillated cellulose is considered renewable, biocompatible, and non-degradable in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, no studies of nanofibrillated cellulose injected into the urethral wall of experimental animals have been published to date. Methods: After assessing the rheological behavior of nanofibrillated cellulose, a biocompatibility study with 50 rats and a durability study with two Beagle dogs were conducted. In anesthesized rats, deposits of either nanofibrillated cellulose or sodium chloride as an inert control were injected into the urethral wall via a caudal laparotomy. The rats were euthanized for histopathological assessment after 7, 30, and 90 days. In dogs, cystoscopy-assisted injections of nanofibrillated cellulose were followed with magnetic resonance imaging at 14 days and at 2, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: The rheological studies demonstrated a gel-like behavior under a wide range of shear stress. Nanofibrillated cellulose induced a moderate host tissue response according to the EN ISO 10993-6 standard, consisting primarily of macrophages, foreign body giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. No significant difference was observed in the tissue response at different time points. In dogs, the bulking agent was visible in 4/5 (80%) injection sites on magnetic resonance imaging at 12 months post-injection. No signs of migration, abscess formation or any major or long-term complications were observed. Conclusions: Nanofibrillated cellulose maintains a chronic but stable and tolerable inflammatory response for up to 90 days in the urethral wall of rats. Durability in the urethral wall of dogs indicates a potential long-term effect.Peer reviewe
Research on Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture with High-Viscosity Modified Asphalt
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.Porous asphalt mixtures play a pivotal role in enhancing pavement drainage capacity and traffic safety, where the performance of asphalt binder constitutes a determining factor. This study introduces an innovative advancement through the development of a high-viscoelastic modifier and corresponding modified asphalt based on SBS-modified asphalt, coupled with optimized preparation protocols. The optimal composition and dosage of the modifier were systematically determined through standardized tests including penetration, ductility, softening point, and bending beam rheometer (BBR) analysis. A comprehensive evaluation of road performance was conducted on two porous asphalt mixtures, namely conventional SBS-modified asphalt versus the novel high-viscoelastic modified asphalt (designated as 10-A). Experimental protocols encompassed high-temperature rutting resistance tests, low-temperature beam bending tests, freeze–thaw splitting tests, two-point bending fatigue tests, accelerated abrasion tests, and dynamic friction tester (DFT) measurements. The results demonstrate that the 10-A-modified mixture exhibits superior high- and low-temperature performance. Notably, its fatigue resistance and skid resistance showed minimal divergence from conventional SBS-modified asphalt, attributable to physicochemical crosslinking interactions among antioxidants, resins, and stabilizers. This research elucidates the synergistic mechanism of components within the 10-A modifier system. The proposed high-viscoelastic asphalt formulation meets the technical requirements for functional drainage asphalt mixtures while providing material-level support for implementing sponge city initiatives.Peer reviewe
Expanding the Substrate Scope of C−N Lyases by Homologue Discovery
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). ChemBioChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.The aspartase/fumarase superfamily is a group of homologous enzymes that promote the reversible elimination of functional groups from succinyl-containing compounds, typically yielding fumarate as the common product. Over the past 50 years, members of this superfamily have continuously demonstrated their power and significance as biocatalysts. This is exemplified by ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) lyase, which was shown to have an extraordinary amine scope, enabling the production of a wide variety of N-substituted aspartic acids. In this work, we used this enzyme as a starting point for a homology-based strategy to expand the biocatalytic toolbox of C−N bond-forming enzymes. We selected 13 enzymes for biochemical characterization, and identified several EDDS-lyase homologues that can accept L-amino acids as substrates in the hydroamination of fumarate to produce the corresponding aminopolycarboxylic acids. Lastly, we carried out a sequence similarity network analysis of the aspartase/fumarase superfamily, which suggests that EDDS lyase and its homologues may represent a distinct isofunctional subfamily, laying the foundations for future enzyme discovery and engineering campaigns.Peer reviewe
Microbiological and biosensor tests of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane toxicity as a water micropollutant
No full textPublisher Copyright: © (2025), (Polskie Towarzystwo Inzynierii Ekologicznej (PTIE)). All rights reserved.Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an organochloride pesticide with a global impact on agriculture. Despite the international ban on this pesticide in 2001, DDT is still illegally used for malaria control in some parts of the world, such as India and South Africa. The presence of DDT and its metabolites in waters, soil, and sediments continue to adversely affect living organisms. Understanding the toxic effects of DDT is crucial for global environmental health. The goal of this study was to investigate the toxicity of DDT in E. coli ATCC-25922, Sarcina spp., ATCC-35659, Enterobacter homaechei LBM ATCC-700323, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923 and Candida albicans ATCC-1023. To confirm oxidative stress as a mechanism of toxicity, sodA promoter induction in the Escherichia coli sodA:luxCDABE biosensor strain and ROS (Radical Oxygen Species) synthesis in E. coli ATCC-25922 strain, across various DDT concentrations (10, 1, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/L) were measured. The results showed that DDT in the range of applied concentrations shows a toxic effect on bacteria/fungi. Analysis of sodA promoter induction and ROS synthesis values in E. coli strains showed an increase in these indicators following exposure to the tested DDT concentrations. The results confirmed the validity of the hypothesis that the molecular mechanism of DDT toxicity is by induction of oxidative stress. Therefore, the need to develop more effective methods of removing DDT from wastewater and water and reducing the transport of this pesticide into the environment is justified. Moreover, recent evidence has increasingly confirmed positive correlations between human exposure to DDT and the development of cancers.Peer reviewe
A coarse-grained model for aqueous two-phase systems : Application to ferrofluids
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The AuthorsAqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), phase-separating solutions of water soluble but mutually immiscible molecular species, offer fascinating prospects for selective partitioning, purification, and extraction. Here, we formulate a general Brownian dynamics based coarse-grained simulation model for an ATPS of two water soluble but mutually immiscible polymer species. Including additional solute species into the model is straightforward, which enables capturing the assembly and partitioning response of, e.g., nanoparticles (NPs), additional macromolecular species, or impurities in the ATPS. We demonstrate that the simulation model captures satisfactorily the phase separation, partitioning, and interfacial properties of an actual ATPS using a model ATPS in which a polymer mixture of dextran and polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase separates, and magnetic NPs selectively partition into one of the two polymeric phases. Phase separation and NP partitioning are characterized both via the computational model and experimentally, under different conditions. The simulation model captures the trends observed in the experimental system and quantitatively links the partitioning behavior to the component species interactions. Finally, the simulation model reveals that the ATPS interface fluctuations in systems with magnetic NPs as a partitioned species can be controlled by the magnetic field at length scales much smaller than those probed experimentally to date.Peer reviewe