Sustainable Carbon as Efficient Support for Metal-Based Nanocatalyst: Applications in Energy Harvesting and Storage.

Sustainable activated carbon can be obtained from the pyrolysis/activation of biomass wastes coming from different origins. Carbon obtained in this way shows interesting properties, such as high surface area, electrical conductivity, thermal and chemical stability, and porosity. These characteristics among others, such as a tailored pore size distribution and the possibility of functionalization, lead to an increased use of activated carbons in catalysis. The use of activated carbons from biomass origins is a step forward in the development of more sustainable processes enhancing material recycling and reuse in the frame of a circular economy. In this article, a perspective of different heterogeneous catalysts based on sustainable activated carbon from biomass origins will be analyzed focusing on their properties and catalytic performance for determined energy-related applications. In this way, the article aims to give the reader a scope of the potential of these tailor-made sustainable materials as a support in heterogeneous catalysis and future developments needed to improve catalyst performance. The selected applications are those related with H2 energy and the production of biomethane for energy through CO2 methanation.

Identification of new SNPs associated with severe toxicity to capecitabine.

Predicting individual risk of chemotherapy-induced severe adverse reaction is a critical issue when selecting the best treatment for cancer patients. SNPs have been identified in genes involved in the pharmacodynamics of fluoropyrimidines, and guidelines even recommend genotyping some DPYD variants in order to estimate the risk of toxicity. However, the predictive value of this approach remains insufficient, thus limiting its clinical implementation. The aim of the present study was to identify new genetic variants by selecting a group of tag SNPs in genes associated with the pharmacodynamics of fluoropyrimidines (CDA, DPYD, ENOSF1, CES1, TYMS, SLC22A7, TYMP, and UMPS). For this purpose, 23 selected SNPs were genotyped on an OpenArray™ platform in a cohort of 301 colorectal cancer patients receiving capecitabine-based chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis by logistic regression revealed 10 SNPs associated with severe adverse reactions to capecitabine (P<0.05): rs1048977, rs12726436, and rs2072671 in CDA; rs12119882 in DPYD; rs2853741 in TYMS; rs699517 in TYMS/ENOSF1; rs2270860 and rs4149178 in SLC22A7; and rs2279199 and rs4678145 in UMPS. Except for rs2072671, no association had previously been reported between these SNPs and the risk of capecitabine-induced toxicity. The use of tag SNPs to find new polymorphisms related to adverse reactions to capecitabine was successful. These new variants could increase the predictive power of currently available tests and thus prevent severe adverse reactions to capecitabine.

The role of psychosocial risks in burnout, psychosomatic disorders, and job satisfaction: lineal models vs a QCA approach in non-university teachers.

This study aims to assess the effect of psychosocial risks and resources on burnout, psychosomatic disorders, and job satisfaction using Hierarchical Regression Modelling (HRM) and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). METHOD: The sample consisted of 9020 non-university public education teachers (Mage = 45.33 years, SD = 9.15; 72.5% women). RESULTS: Demands variables (Workload, Emotional labour, Imbalance, and Interpersonal conflict) were better predictors than resources variables (Job autonomy, Social support, and Resources at work). Resources also significantly improved the model's predictive capacity, except in the case of Indolence. In the QCA results, none of the conditions seems to be necessary. Regarding sufficiency, the combination of the different conditions explains between 44-49% of high levels of Burnout and between 40-47% of low levels of Burnout; between 44-47% of high levels of Psychosomatic disorders and 40-47% of low levels of Psychosomatic disorders; 49% of high Job satisfaction levels and 45-56% of low Job satisfaction levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that QCA models have better explanatory capacity than HRM. Some variables were not significant in HRM, but they were present in combination with other QCA model variables. The findings contribute to understanding how psychosocial risks affect workers' health and job satisfaction.

Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Spanish Burnout Inventory Among Professionals Across 17 Countries and Regions.

Studies on the prevalence of burnout in professionals in service organizations who work in direct contact with the clients or users of the organization have concluded that burnout is a serious health disorder that has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant advantage of the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI) over other instruments is that it provides a broader conceptualization of burnout by including feelings of guilt as a dimension of burnout to explain its development. However, the measurement invariance of the SBI across countries has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to test the measurement invariance of the SBI among professionals across 17 countries and regions in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, and in different languages. All the countries showed a good fit to the four-factor model, except the Indian sample, which was excluded from the measurement invariance study. Using the alignment method, it was possible to verify the scalar measurement invariance of the four SBI factors across 15 countries and one Spanish region (16 samples). The comparison of estimated latent means indicates that France is the country with the lowest scores on the Enthusiasm factor and the highest scores on the negative factors (Exhaustion, Indolence, and Guilt). In contrast, the Andean countries, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, show the highest latent means on the Enthusiasm factor and the lowest means on the negative factors. These results support the validity of the SBI in the countries and regions in Europe and Latin America included in this study.

Influence of some psychosocial factors on mobbing and its consequences among employees working with people with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: The problem of mobbing has attracted a great deal of attention over the past few years. This concern has increased the study of the phenomena, which has resulted in many scientific publications. Mobbing has been characterized as an emerging risk at work. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of some psychosocial factors at work - role clarity, interpersonal conflicts and social support - on mobbing and its consequences - that is, inclination towards absenteeism and psychosomatic disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 422 employees working with people with intellectual disabilities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: The Hypothesized model showed an adequate fit to data, and all hypothesized relationships were significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide support for the mediator role of mobbing in the relationship between high role ambiguity, low social support and high interpersonal conflicts and psychosomatic disorders and inclination towards absenteeism.

[Psychometric validation of the UNIPSICO questionnaire in Valencian/Catalan language: analysis of the scales evaluating psychosocial demand variables]. / Validación psicométrica de la batería UNIPSICO en valenciano/catalán: análisis de las escalas que evalúan las variables psicosociales de demanda.

AIM: To analyse the psychometric properties of the demand scales of the UNIPSICO questionnaire in in Valencian / Catalan language. METHOD: The sample consisted of 2114 participants from public administration centres of Generalitat Valenciana in Valencia. Data were collected using the UNIPSICO questionnaire, which is grouped into six scales that measure psychosocial risk factors related to job demands (33 items): role conflict (5 items), role ambiguity (5 items), workload (6 items), interpersonal conflicts (6 items), inequity in social exchanges (5 items), and work-family and family-work conflict (6 items). We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and measured Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega coefficients for the scales. RESULTS: All items had adequate statistical and psychometric values. The six-factor model that reproduces the original structure of the questionnaire presented an adequate fit to the data, and gender invariance. The Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega coefficients were acceptable for the six scales of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to the psychometric validation of the questionnaire and allow us to conclude that the demand scales of the UNIPSICO questionnaire translated to Valencian / Catalan language are reliable and possess construct validity for the assessment of psychosocial risk factors in government employees.

OBJETIVO: Analizar las propiedades psicométricas de las escalas de demandas de la batería UNIPSICO del contexto de trabajo en valenciano/catalán. Método: La muestra la constituyen 2114 trabajadores de centros públicos de la Generalitat Valenciana, de la provincia de Valencia. La recogida de datos se realizó mediante las escalas de la batería UNIPSICO que evalúan factores psicosociales de demandas en el trabajo (33 ítems), que se agrupan en 6 escalas: Conflicto de rol (5 ítems), ambigüedad de rol (5 ítems), carga de trabajo (6 ítems), conflictos interpersonales (6 ítems), inequidad en los intercambios sociales (5 ítems), y conflicto trabajo-familia/familia-trabajo (6 ítems). Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y se calcularon los valores alfa de Cronbach y omega de McDonald para las escalas. RESULTADOS: Todos los ítems presentaron valores estadísticos y psicométricos adecuados. El modelo de seis factores que reproduce la estructura original del cuestionario presentó un ajuste adecuado a los datos, con invarianza de sexo. El valor del alfa de Cronbach y omega de McDonald resultó aceptable para las seis escalas del instrumento. CONCLUSIONES: Estos resultados contribuyen a la validación psicométrica del cuestionario, permitiendo concluir que las escalas de demandas de la batería UNIPSICO, en valenciano/catalán resulta un instrumento fiable y con consistencia interna para evaluar los riesgos psicosociales en personal que trabaja en la administración.

Influence of the Specific Surface Area of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Capacity of Lithium-Ion Batteries.

In order to understand the influence of the morphological properties of graphene materials on the electrochemical performance of electrodes for lithium-ion batteries, three different graphene nanoplatelets with the increasing specific surface area (NP1: 296 m2 g-1, NP2: 470 m2 g-1, and NP3: 714 m2 g-1) were added in the electrode formulation in different ratios. Higher specific surface area graphene nanoplatelets (NP3) exhibit reversible capacity up to 505 mA h g-1 in the first discharge cycle (29.5% higher than that of graphite). Although significant irreversible capacity is shown for NP3, still higher reversible capacity is obtained compared to that of graphite electrode. The presence of micropores in the graphene structure benefits the lithiation. C-rate capability tests also show better performance of the graphene-based electrode. In this work, we demonstrate that graphene nanoplatelets with high specific surface area (714 m2 g-1) improve the electrochemical performance of Li-ion battery electrodes. The relationship between specific surface area, the presence of defects, and porosity is discussed.

Development of Burnout Syndrome in Non-university Teachers: Influence of Demand and Resource Variables.

Psychosocial risks at work are an important occupational problem since they can have an impact on workers' health, productivity, absenteeism, and company profits. Among their consequences, burnout stands out for its prevalence and associated consequences. This problem is particularly noteworthy in the case of teachers. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of some psychosocial factors (demand and resource variables) and risks in burnout development, taking into consideration the levels of burnout according to the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI). This paper contributes to advancing knowledge on this issue by analyzing the influence of work characteristics and personal characteristics on the progress of burnout. The sample consisted of 8,235 non-university teachers (2,268 men 27.5% and 5,967 women 72.5%), aged 22 to 70 (M = 45.16, SD = 9.18). For this purpose, statistical modeling by logistic regression was used. The results of this study showed that No burnout level was positively related with resources variables and negatively with demand variables. In the Medium-High levels and the higher levels of burnout (i.e., Profile 1 and Profile 2), there is a positive relation with demand variables and a negative one with resource variables. In conclusion, demand variables cause an increase in the burnout levels, influencing positively the movements between the levels of No burnout to Medium-High levels of burnout and Medium-High levels to Profile 1. At the same time, resource variables had a negative influence on burnout. However, the results in the movement between Profile 1 and Profile 2 were not expected. The variable Imbalance had a negative relationship with the movement between Profile 1 to Profile 2, and Social support and Autonomy at work had a positive relationship with this movement. Therefore, when professionals feel higher levels of burnout, lack of imbalance together with social support and autonomy could contribute to increased feelings of guilt and risk of higher burnout.

Flexible and Conductive Bioelectrodes Based on Chitosan-Carbon Black Membranes: Towards the Development of Wearable Bioelectrodes.

Wearable sensors for non-invasive monitoring constitute a growing technology in many industrial fields, such as clinical or sport monitoring. However, one of the main challenges in wearable sensing is the development of bioelectrodes via the use of flexible and stretchable materials capable of maintaining conductive and biocompatible properties simultaneously. In this study, chitosan-carbon black (CH-CB) membranes have been synthesized using a straightforward and versatile strategy and characterized in terms of their composition and their electrical and mechanical properties. In this sense, CH-CB membranes showed good conductivity and mechanical resistance thanks to the presence of carbon black, which decreases the insulating behavior of chitosan, while flexibility and biocompatibility are maintained due to the dual composition of the membrane. Thus, flexible and biocompatible conductive bioelectrodes have been developed by the combined use of CH and CB without the use of toxic reagents, extra energy input, or long reaction times. The membranes were modified using the enzymes Glucose Oxidase and Laccase in order to develop flexible and biocompatible bioelectrodes for enzymatic glucose biofuel cells (BFCs) and glucose detection. A BFC assembled using the flexible bioelectrodes developed was able to deliver 15 µW cm-2, using just 1 mM glucose as biofuel, and up to 21.3 µW·cm-2 with higher glucose concentration. Additionally, the suitability of the CH-CB membranes to be used as a glucose sensor in a linear range from 100 to 600 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 76 µM has been proven. Such demonstrations for energy harvesting and sensing capabilities of the developed membrane pave the way for their use in wearable sensing and energy harvesting technologies in the clinical field due to their good mechanical, electrical, and biocompatible properties.

Enzymatic Glucose-Based Bio-batteries: Bioenergy to Fuel Next-Generation Devices.

This article consists of a review of the main concepts and paradigms established in the field of biological fuel cells or biofuel cells. The aim is to provide an overview of the current panorama, basic concepts, and methodologies used in the field of enzymatic biofuel cells, as well as the applications of these bio-systems in flexible electronics and implantable or portable devices. Finally, the challenges needing to be addressed in the development of biofuel cells capable of supplying power to small size devices with applications in areas related to health and well-being or next-generation portable devices are analyzed. The aim of this study is to contribute to biofuel cell technology development; this is a multidisciplinary topic about which review articles related to different scientific areas, from Materials Science to technology applications, can be found. With this article, the authors intend to reach a wide readership in order to spread biofuel cell technology for different scientific profiles and boost new contributions and developments to overcome future challenges.

Síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (burnout) y sus consecuencias entre personal forense. Relación con vergüenza y culpa / Burnout and its consequences among forensic personnel. Relationship with shame and guilt

Background: The work of forensic personnel is a source of daily exposure to very stressful situations, and a potential risk for employee burnout. Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence of burnout and its consequences in a sample of 79 workers from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) of Valencia (Spain). Method: Data collection measurements used were the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI), and questionnaires to evaluate health and job satisfaction, as well as feelings of guilt and shame. Results: IML staff showed a moderate risk of professional burnout, with psychological exhaustion as the strongest predictor of health consequences. Regarding the role of emotions in burnout, the highest prevalence was found for guilt and shame, and both were associated with health problems. Conclusions: The IML staff requires labor plans and programs that take into account the high level of their job demands, in order to avoid the development of employee burnout. Keywords: burnout; forensic personnel; guilt; shame; job satisfaction; health problems.

Antecedentes: El trabajo del personal forense es una fuente de exposición diaria a situaciones muy estresantes y un potencial riesgo a presentar el Síndrome de Quemarse por el Trabajo (SQT). Objetivos: El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la prevalencia del SQT y sus consecuencias en una muestra de 79 trabajadores del Instituto de Medicina Legal (IML) de Valencia (España). Método: Para la recogida de información se aplicó el Cuestionario para la Evaluación del Síndrome de Quemarse por el Trabajo (CESQT) y cuestionarios para evaluar la salud y satisfacción laboral, así como los sentimientos de culpa y vergüenza. Resultados: Se encontró al personal del IML en un riesgo moderado de SQT, siendo la variable desgaste psíquico la que predijo de manera más intensa las consecuencias para la salud. En referencia al papel de las emociones dentro del SQT, se encontraron las prevalencias más elevadas para culpa y vergüenza, asociándose con la aparición de problemas de salud. Conclusiones: El personal del IML requiere de planes y programas de trabajo que contemplen su alto nivel de demanda, para evitar la aparición del SQT. Palabras clave: síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo; personal forense; culpa; vergüenza; satisfacción laboral; problemas de salud.

Use of exome sequencing to determine the full profile of genetic variants in the fluoropyrimidine pathway in colorectal cancer patients affected by severe toxicity.

AIM: To identify genetic variants associated with capecitabine toxicity in fluoropyrimidine pathway genes using exome sequencing. PATIENTS & METHODS: Exomes from eight capecitabine-treated patients with severe adverse reactions (grade >2), among a population of 319, were sequenced (Ion Proton). SNPs in genes classified as potentially damaging (Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant and Polymorphism Phenotyping v2) were tested for association with toxicity in a validation cohort of 319 capecitabine-treated patients. RESULTS: A total of 17 nonsynonymous genetic variants were identified. Of these, five putative damaging SNPs in DPYD, ABCC4 and MTHFR were genotyped in the validation cohort. DPYD rs1801160 was associated with the risk of toxicity (p = 0.029) and MTHFR rs1801133 with delayed administration of chemotherapy due to toxicity (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Exome sequencing revealed two specific biomarkers of the risk of toxicity to capecitabine.