Showing papers by "McGill University published in 2022"
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors examined the relationship between environmental regulation, green technology progress, and total factor productivity to explore the role of social, environmental, and technological factors in manufacturing development.
106 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors examined the relationship between environmental regulation, green technology progress, and total factor productivity to explore the role of social, environmental, and technological factors in manufacturing development.
93 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a high entropy concept is utilized to design an NiFeCoMnAl oxide with amorphous structure as an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst.
Abstract: The exploration of an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is urgently required for sustainable renewable-energy conversion and storage. Due to the increased chemical complexity, multimetallic catalysts provide flexibility to alter their electronic and crystal structure to attain a superior intrinsic catalytic activity via synergistic effects, which is seldom accomplished using single metal catalysts. However, the high chemical complexity increases the difficulty to prepare elemental homogenous catalysts and reveal their synergistic effect during OER process, which further hinder the design of multimetallic catalysts. Here, high entropy concept is utilized to design an NiFeCoMnAl oxide with amorphous structure as OER catalyst. The direct evidence of active Ni sites is provided by the operando Raman measurements and Fe can modify oxygen intermediates binding energy on Ni sites. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reveal that the incorporation of Mn can construct the electron-rich environment of active Ni center, and the relatively lower oxidation state of Ni facilitates the self-construction of β-NiOOH intermediates, which shows promoted OER activity as confirmed by density functional theory calculations. Doping Co can enhance the conductivity and doping Al leads to the formation of nanoporous structure through dealloying process, thus each component is essential for improving OER performance. The optimized NiFeCoMnAl catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 190 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH solution, much superior to the ternary and quaternary counterparts. This work sheds light on understanding the origin of high entropy catalysts’ OER activity and thereby enables the rational design of multinary transition metallic catalysts.
80 citations
TL;DR: In this article, international standard weathering protocols developed for polymers were critically analysed for their appropriateness for use in microplastics research and it was shown that most studies using weathered micro-plastics involve sorption experiments followed by toxicity assays.
50 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , international standard weathering protocols developed for polymers were critically analysed for their appropriateness for use in microplastics research, and it was shown that most studies using weathered micro-plastics involve sorption experiments followed by toxicity assays.
48 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a biocompatible cellulose biomimetic hydrogel (CBH) showing the characteristics of the skin is fabricated, which can be used as a sensitive and stable strain sensor to monitor human motions.
48 citations
TL;DR: A detailed survey of the most significant literature on continuum mechanics models of micro-nano-structures can be found in this article, which can orient researchers in their future studies in this field of research.
Abstract: Recently, the mechanical behavior of micro-/nano-structures has sparked an ongoing debate, which leads to a fundamental question: what steps can be taken to investigate the mechanical characteristics of these structures, and characterize their performance? From the standpoint of the non-classical behavior of materials, size-dependent theories of micro-/nano-structures can be considered to analyze their mechanical behavior. The application of classical theories in the investigation of small-scale structures can lead to inaccurate results. Many studies have been published in the past few years, in which continuum mechanics models have been used to investigate micro-/nano-structures with different geometry such as rods, tubes, beams, plates, and shells. The mechanical behavior of these systems under different loading – resulting in vibration, wave propagation, bending, and buckling phenomena – is the focus of the review covered in this work. The present objective is to provide a detailed survey of the most significant literature on continuum mechanics models of micro-/nano-structures, and thus orient researchers in their future studies in this field of research.
40 citations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill1, University of Nantes2, Ohio State University3, University of Connecticut4, McGill University5, University of Houston6, Indiana University7, Stony Brook University8, Brookhaven National Laboratory9, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory10, University of Illinois at Chicago11, North Carolina State University12, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign13, University of Washington14, University of Wuppertal15, Michigan State University16, Massachusetts Institute of Technology17, Wayne State University18, University of Minnesota19, University of Chicago20, University of California, Los Angeles21, Chinese Academy of Sciences22
TL;DR: The Beam Energy Scan Theory (BEST) Collaboration was formed with the goal of providing a theoretical framework for analyzing data from the BES program at the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory as mentioned in this paper.
36 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the key developmental stages sensitive to EDCs and the state of knowledge on the mechanisms by which model EDCs affect these processes, based on the roadmap of gonad development specific to fish and mammals.
36 citations
TL;DR: A critical review that summarizes recent advances in microplastics research and emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks devoted to MPs is presented in this article, which may be useful for reducing the proliferation of MPs in the environment.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors determined the PE degradation efficiency of two Pseudomonas, identified by 16S rDNA analysis, and elucidated their potential mechanisms through whole genome sequencing, which provided a theoretical basis for further research that investigates the mechanism driving the degradation and metabolism of discarded PE in the environment.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors provide a holistic view on the role of adhesion strategies in different biomedical applications and identify actionable clinical scenarios that underwater and wet adhesive hydrogels could improve upon.
TL;DR: In this article, all-aqueous mangosteen-like core-shell multicompartmental microparticles were created by an oil-free gas-shearing fabrication approach.
TL;DR: Based on data envelopment analysis, an Epsilon-based measure super-efficiency model considering undesirable output is constructed in this article to measure the water resource utilization efficiency (WRUE) of 286 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2018.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of incorporation of carvacrol in soy protein isolate (SPI) films on film characteristics, including mechanical properties, opacity, water vapor permeability (WVP), and antimicrobial activities, were evaluated.
TL;DR: Parkinson's disease (PD) is defined as a complex disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis, yet a more accurate definition could be that PD is not a single entity, but rather a mixture of different diseases with similar phenotypes.
TL;DR: Research on food enzyme immobilization is aimed at sustainability, cost-effectiveness, automation, high-throughput, multifunction, and safety, which enable new applications in food bioprocessing, food analyses, food control and food packaging, etc.
Abstract: Food enzyme immobilization is a technology to mitigate various limitations of free enzymes in food processing. Versatile carriers such as agro-waste based materials, nano materials, and metal organic frameworks are developed to immobilize enzymes with improved enzymological characteristics to enable catalytic reactions to be carried out under sophisticated and extreme processing conditions. New fabrication technologies of immobilized food enzymes, for example, 3D printing and coaxial electrospraying also enhance enzyme functionality. Recent research on food enzyme immobilization is aimed at sustainability, cost-effectiveness, automation, high-throughput, multifunction, and safety. These developments enable new applications in food bioprocessing, food analyses, food control and food packaging, and so on.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors demonstrate that MYC overexpression significantly diminishes the androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional program (the set of genes directly targeted by the AR protein) in luminal prostate cells without altering AR expression.
Abstract: Abstract c-MYC (MYC) is a major driver of prostate cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Although MYC is overexpressed in both early and metastatic disease and associated with poor survival, its impact on prostate transcriptional reprogramming remains elusive. We demonstrate that MYC overexpression significantly diminishes the androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional program (the set of genes directly targeted by the AR protein) in luminal prostate cells without altering AR expression. Analyses of clinical specimens reveal that concurrent low AR and high MYC transcriptional programs accelerate prostate cancer progression toward a metastatic, castration-resistant disease. Data integration of single-cell transcriptomics together with ChIP-seq uncover an increase in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter-proximal pausing at AR-dependent genes following MYC overexpression without an accompanying deactivation of AR-bound enhancers. Altogether, our findings suggest that MYC overexpression antagonizes the canonical AR transcriptional program and contributes to prostate tumor initiation and progression by disrupting transcriptional pause release at AR-regulated genes.
TL;DR: Parkinson's disease (PD) is defined as a complex disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis, yet a more accurate definition could be that PD is not a single entity, but rather a mixture of different diseases with similar phenotypes as discussed by the authors .
TL;DR: In this article, the authors summarize the recent progress in the preparation of regenerated cellulose films and hydrogels, and highlight their potential applications as biodegradable packaging, active packaging, and intelligent packaging.
Abstract: Nowadays, non-degradable plastic packaging materials have created significant disposal and pollution issues threatening human health and development. The utilization of biodegradable packaging materials can help address the issue. Cellulose is abundant and renewable, and cellulose-based materials have been regarded as an alternative to petroleum-based plastic food packaging. With the development of cellulose solvents, various regenerated cellulose films and hydrogels have been fabricated for different applications. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the preparation of regenerated cellulose films and hydrogels, and highlight their potential applications as biodegradable packaging, active packaging, and intelligent packaging. Finally, the biodegradability and safety of cellulose-based materials are stated, and future opportunities and challenges in this active research area are described.
TL;DR: In this paper , the principal gradient of cortical connectivity, describing a hierarchy from unimodal to transmodal cortex, was significantly flattened under both drugs relative to their respective placebo conditions.
TL;DR: In this paper, the free vibrational behavior of rotating truncated conical sandwich microshells is investigated using first-order shear deformation theory and modified couple stress theory.
TL;DR: In this article , the design and synthesis of submicromolar covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro has been reported, where the enzymatic activity of the viral protease was used as a screening platform.
Abstract: Severe diseases such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the previous SARS and MERS outbreaks, are the result of coronavirus infections and have demonstrated the urgent need for antiviral drugs to combat these deadly viruses. Due to its essential role in viral replication and function, 3CLpro (main coronaviruses cysteine-protease) has been identified as a promising target for the development of antiviral drugs. Previously reported SARS-CoV 3CLpro non-covalent inhibitors were used as a starting point for the development of covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. We report herein our efforts in the design and synthesis of submicromolar covalent inhibitors when the enzymatic activity of the viral protease was used as a screening platform.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors fuse Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2A and -2B data streams to capture, with reduced latency, stand replacing forest change (harvest and wildfire), tagged to a temporal window of occurrence over an ~10,000 km2 area of central British Columbia, Canada.
TL;DR: This article explored word usage in 6850 free-form testimonials about 27 drugs through the prism of 40 neurotransmitter receptor subtypes, which were then mapped to three-dimensional coordinates in the brain via their gene transcription levels from invasive tissue probes.
Abstract: Psychedelics probably alter states of consciousness by disrupting how the higher association cortex governs bottom-up sensory signals. Individual hallucinogenic drugs are usually studied in participants in controlled laboratory settings. Here, we have explored word usage in 6850 free-form testimonials about 27 drugs through the prism of 40 neurotransmitter receptor subtypes, which were then mapped to three-dimensional coordinates in the brain via their gene transcription levels from invasive tissue probes. Despite high interindividual variability, our pattern-learning approach delineated how drug-induced changes of conscious awareness are linked to cortex-wide anatomical distributions of receptor density proxies. Each discovered receptor-experience factor spanned between a higher-level association pole and a sensory input pole, which may relate to the previously reported collapse of hierarchical order among large-scale networks. Coanalyzing many psychoactive molecules and thousands of natural language descriptions of drug experiences, our analytical framework finds the underlying semantic structure and maps it directly to the brain.
01 Feb 2022
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of TnsC bound to DNA using a gain-of-function variant of the protein and a DNA substrate that together recapitulate the recruitment to a specific DNA target site.
Abstract: Tn7 transposable elements are unique for their highly specific, and sometimes programmable, target-site selection mechanisms and precise insertions. All the elements in the Tn7 family utilize an AAA+ adaptor (TnsC) to coordinate target-site selection with transpososome assembly and to prevent insertions at sites already containing a Tn7 element. Owing to its multiple functions, TnsC is considered the linchpin in the Tn7 element. Here we present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of TnsC bound to DNA using a gain-of-function variant of the protein and a DNA substrate that together recapitulate the recruitment to a specific DNA target site. TnsC forms an asymmetric ring on target DNA that segregates target-site selection and interaction with the paired-end complex to opposite faces of the ring. Unlike most AAA+ ATPases, TnsC uses a DNA distortion to find the target site but does not remodel DNA to activate transposition. By recognizing pre-distorted substrates, TnsC creates a built-in regulatory mechanism where ATP hydrolysis abolishes ring formation proximal to an existing element. This work unveils how Tn7 and Tn7-like elements determine the strict spacing between the target and integration sites. Activation of the Tn7 transposase depends on the Tn7-encoded AAA+ ATPase adaptor, TnsC. A new cryo-EM structure reveals how TnsC targets DNA sequences between target and insertion sites to restrict insertion events to control sequence-specific transposon insertion.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the antioxidant effect of soybean milk fermented by a new type of Lactobacillus fermentum (LF-HFY02) by using D-galactose induced aging mice model.
University of British Columbia1, European Gravitational Observatory2, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley3, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee4, California Institute of Technology5, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences6, University of Arizona7, Cardiff University8, Haverford College9, University of Birmingham10, INFN Sezione di Padova11, University of Hamburg12, Laboratoire des Matériaux Avancés13, Université libre de Bruxelles14, Swinburne University of Technology15, Northwestern University16, University of Texas at Austin17, Brera Astronomical Observatory18, University of the Balearic Islands19, Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory20, IFAE21, McGill University22, Astroparticle and Cosmology Laboratory23, The Chinese University of Hong Kong24, University of Western Australia25, Paris Diderot University26, University of Florida27, INFN Sezione di Pisa28, Southern University and A&M College29, National Institute for Space Research30, Utrecht University31, Pennsylvania State University32, KEK33, University of Cambridge34, National Institute for Subatomic Physics35, Rochester Institute of Technology36, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur37, INFN Sezione di Roma I38, University of Tokyo39, University of Glasgow40, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology41, INFN Sezione di Roma II42, Louisiana State University43, INFN Sezione di Napoli44, Massachusetts Institute of Technology45, National Central University46
TL;DR: In this paper , the frequency and frequency time-derivative of the gravitational wave signals from 18 pulsars in data from LIGO and Virgo's third observing run (O3) was investigated.
Abstract: Isolated neutron stars that are asymmetric with respect to their spin axis are possible sources of detectable continuous gravitational waves. This paper presents a fully-coherent search for such signals from eighteen pulsars in data from LIGO and Virgo's third observing run (O3). For known pulsars, efficient and sensitive matched-filter searches can be carried out if one assumes the gravitational radiation is phase-locked to the electromagnetic emission. In the search presented here, we relax this assumption and allow the frequency and frequency time-derivative of the gravitational waves to vary in a small range around those inferred from electromagnetic observations. We find no evidence for continuous gravitational waves, and set upper limits on the strain amplitude for each target. These limits are more constraining for seven of the targets than the spin-down limit defined by ascribing all rotational energy loss to gravitational radiation. In an additional search we look in O3 data for long-duration (hours-months) transient gravitational waves in the aftermath of pulsar glitches for six targets with a total of nine glitches. We report two marginal outliers from this search, but find no clear evidence for such emission either. The resulting duration-dependent strain upper limits do not surpass indirect energy constraints for any of these targets.
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the effects of EDCs across vertebrate species, including fish, anurans, birds, and mammals, is presented, and the potential mechanism(s) mediating such multigenerational and transgenerational effects are discussed.
TL;DR: This article found that per capita emissions are higher in Caucasian neighborhoods than in African-American neighborhoods, even though the former live in more energy-efficient homes (low energy use intensity) and floor area in these communities.
Abstract: Residential energy use represents roughly 17% of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States (U.S.). Studies show that legacy housing policies and financial lending practices have negatively impacted housing quality and home ownership in non-Caucasian and immigrant communities. Both factors are key determinants of household energy use. But to date there has been no national scale analysis of how race and ethnicity affect household energy use and related carbon emissions. In this paper, we estimate energy use and emissions of 60 million household to clarify how energy efficiency and carbon emissions vary by race, ethnicity, and home ownership. We find that per capita emissions are higher in Caucasian neighborhoods than in African-American neighborhoods, even though the former live in more energy-efficient homes (low energy use intensity). This emissions paradox is explained by differences in building age, rates of home ownership, and floor area in these communities. In African-American neighborhoods, homes are older, home ownership is lower (reducing the likelihood of energy retrofits), and there is less floor area per person compared to Caucasian neighborhoods. Statistical models suggest that historical housing policies, particularly “redlining”, partially explain these differences. We suggest three policies to address this emissions paradox: Government financing of home retrofits, particularly in rental units; Increased access to photovoltaics in disadvantaged communities; and Disincentivizes for high energy consumption and emissions. Addressing this emissions paradox provides an opportunity for an equitable decarbonization of the U.S. housing sector.