One possible solution to the issue of excessive use of natural resources is the use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of new products. Aside from the extent to which recycled materials are ...integrated into industrial processes, a key question to investigate is whether consumers actually value such efforts and products. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to create and test a instrument to measure customer acceptance of recycled products. A pilot test with a sample totalling 168 individuals was conducted to achieve this goal. By using an exploratory factor analysis, a final structure of three factors describing consumers' acceptance of recycled products was discovered: 1) perceived environmental benefit, 2) perceived credibility of 3) price perception.
Burn injury augments monocyte commitment and abrogates DC differentiation through increased MCSF‐receptors and decreased GATA‐1 expressions orchestrated by high MafB in hematopoietic ...granulocyte‐monocyte progenitor cells.
We have previously shown that perturbed bone marrow progenitor development promotes hyporesponsive monocytes following experimental burn sepsis. Clinical and experimental sepsis is associated with monocyte deactivation and depletion of mDCs. Decrease in circulating DCs is reported in burn patients who develop sepsis. In our 15% TBSA scald burn model, we demonstrate a significant reduction in the circulating MHC‐II+ population and mDCs (Gr1negCD11b+CD11c+) with a corresponding decrease in bone marrow MHC‐II+ cells and mDCs for up to 14 days following burn. We explored the underlying mechanism(s) that regulate bone marrow development of monocytes and DCs following burn injury. We found a robust bone marrow response with a significant increase in multipotential HSCs (LSK) and bipotential GMPs following burn injury. GMPs from burn mice exhibit a significant reduction in GATA‐1, which is essential for DC development, but express high levels of MafB and M‐CSFRs, both associated with monocyte production. GMPs obtained from burn mice differentiated 1.7 times more into Mφ and 1.6‐fold less into DCs compared with sham. Monocytes and DCs expressed 50% less MHC‐II in burn versus sham. Increased monocyte commitment in burn GMPs was a result of high MafB and M‐CSFR expressions. Transient silencing of MafB (siRNA) in GMP‐derived monocytes from burn mice partially restored DC differentiation deficits and increased GATA‐1 expression. We provide evidence that high MafB following burn plays an inhibitory role in monocyte‐derived DC differentiation by regulating M‐CSFR and GATA‐1 expressions.
Long‐term stimulation with isoproterenol augments macrophage CD14 expression and increases E. coli phagocytosis by cAMP‐dependent protein kinase signaling mechanism.
CD14 is a glycoprotein that binds ...bacterial LPS in MØ. It is an essential component of the phagocytic system and is increased in septic shock. Critical injury and sepsis result in elevated endogenous CA levels. CAs have a significant impact on MØ inflammatory functions. We tested the hypothesis that β‐adrenergic stimulation regulates CD14 expression and bacterial phagocytosis in BMØ. Murine BMØ stimulated with isoproterenol (>8 h) induced a dose‐dependent increase in cell surface CD14 expression. Specific PKA inhibitor (H‐89) and gene‐silencing (siRNA) studies demonstrated the role of cAMP‐dependent PKA in mediating this response. In addition, we observed a correlation between an isoproterenol‐mediated increase in CD14 expression and live Escherichia coli uptake in BMØ. Further, the essential role of CD14 in an isoproterenol‐mediated increase in E. coli uptake was highlighted from experiments using CD14−/− mice. Moreover, the dose response of isoproterenol stimulation to CD14 expression and E. coli phagocytosis overlapped with similar EC50. Additionally, isoproterenol‐mediated E. coli phagocytosis was prevented by H‐89, suggesting that β‐adrenergic stimulus in BMØ increases CD14 expression and live E. coli phagocytosis through a common signaling pathway. Our studies indicate the potential impact of β‐adrenergic agents on important innate immune functions.
The innate immune system differentially regulates the expression of host defense peptides to combat infection during wound healing. We enhanced the expression of a host defense peptide, human beta ...defensin‐3 (hBD‐3), in keratinocytes to generate a three‐dimensional biologic dressing to improve healing of infected wounds. The NIKS human keratinocyte cell line was stably transfected ex vivo with a construct containing an epidermis‐specific promoter driving hBD‐3 (NIKShBD‐3) using nonviral methods. Levels of hBD‐3 mRNA and protein in three‐dimensional skin tissue produced from NIKShBD‐3 were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Tissue architecture was characterized by hematoxylin and eosin staining and by indirect immunofluorescence using proliferation and keratinocyte differentiation markers. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using an in vitro bacterial growth assay and in vivo using a murine burn infection model. Three‐dimensional full thickness skin tissues containing epidermal NIKShBD‐3 or control NIKS possessed histologic features of interfollicular epidermis and exhibited normal tissue growth and differentiation. NIKShBD‐3 tissue contained approximately fivefold more hBD‐3 protein than tissue containing unmodified control NIKS. In vitro studies showed that NIKShBD‐3 tissue produced a significant reduction in the growth of Staphylococcus aureus multiple peptide resistance factor (mprF) compared with control tissue. In an in vivo infected murine burn model, NIKShBD‐3 tissue resulted in a 90% reduction in bacterial growth. These results demonstrate that sustained delivery of hBD‐3 by a bioengineered skin tissue results in a therapeutically relevant reduction in growth of a S. aureus strain in an animal model of infected third‐degree burn wounds.
Currently, there are many different interpretations in the literature of what a circular economy is and how it functions. As cities are still facing challenges to become fully sustainable, the need ...for a comprehensive analysis of how the circular economy can be implemented in urban areas is increasing. This article aims at outlining circular cities by their key characteristics and to further explore and provide a framework for fostering circularity at the city level. In order to achieve this goal, we performed a systematic review and analyzed key papers published in the field of circular economy to determine how circular economy practices form circular cities. We discovered that cities play a focal role in facilitating the transition towards circularity through the closing of the loops, recirculation, technical innovation, policy elaboration and citizens’ support. However, city policymakers are still uncertain about how a circular city looks like and what its purpose is, as views are ranging from a strategic ambition to a niche concept of a smart city. Such uncertainty brings challenges, especially in the transition phase that many cities are in at the moment. This further implies that circular economy applied at the urban level still needs effort and innovation to successfully pass the transition phase from the linear economy. Therefore, lastly, we developed a framework model that can be adapted in other cities to facilitate their transition to circular cities.
How Should We Measure? A Review of Circular Cities Indicators Bîrgovan, Andreea Loredana; Lakatos, Elena Simina; Szilagyi, Andrea ...
International journal of environmental research and public health,
04/2022, Letnik:
19, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
As the world continues to urbanize, it is necessary to identify and implement new urban development models and strategies in order to meet the challenges of sustainable development. As cities ...continue to face challenges in becoming fully circular, the need to establish a framework to measure the circular economy in urban areas grows. Many definitions for circular cities have been developed and addressed in recent years, as have numerous indicators. To make the transition to a circular city, we must integrate the findings and develop a general definition and measurement framework. This article aims at outlining a framework for circular cities indicators based on their key characteristics, as well providing directions for fostering circularity at the city level. To accomplish this goal, we conducted a systematic review and analyzed key papers published in the field of circular economy to determine how circular cities are measured. Choosing the right indicators to use for developing, monitoring, and evaluating circular cities is a difficult task for urban policymakers, managers, and planners. This highlights the significance of standardized frameworks for urban indicators. As a result, the authors propose a framework and highlight some key points about circular cities and smart urban metabolism.
Anemia of critical illness is resistant to exogenous erythropoietin. Packed red blood cells transfusions is the only treatment option, and despite related cost and morbidity, there is a need for ...alternate strategies. Erythrocyte development can be divided into erythropoietin-dependent and erythropoietin-independent stages. We have shown previously that erythropoietin-dependent development is intact in burn patients and the erythropoietin-independent early commitment stage, which is regulated by β1/β2-adrenergic mechanisms, is compromised. Utilizing the scald burn injury model, we studied erythropoietin-independent late maturation stages and the effect of β1/β2, β-2, or β-3 blockade in burn mediated erythropoietin-resistant anemia.
Burn mice were randomized to receive daily injections of propranolol (nonselective β1/β2 antagonist), nadolol (long-acting β1/β2 antagonist), butoxamine (selective β2 antagonist), or SR59230A (selective β3 antagonist) for 6 days after burn. Total bone marrow cells were characterized as nonerythroid cells, early and late erythroblasts, nucleated orthochromatic erythroblasts and enucleated reticulocyte subsets using CD71, Ter119, and Syto-16 by flow cytometry. Multipotential progenitors were probed for MafB expressing cells.
Although propranolol improved early and late erythroblasts, only butoxamine and selective β3-antagonist administrations were positively reflected in the peripheral blood hemoglobin and red blood cells count. While burn impeded early commitment and late maturation stages, β1/β2 antagonism increased the early erythroblasts through commitment stages via β2 specific MafB regulation. β3 antagonism was more effective in improving overall red blood cells through late maturation stages.
The study unfolds novel β2 and β3 adrenergic mechanisms orchestrating erythropoietin resistant anemia after burn, which impedes both the early commitment stage and the late maturation stages, respectively.
One of the major obstacles to the adoption of the circular economy is the lack of consumer interest and awareness. Despite this, the unique role of consumers in the circular economy is an ...understudied topic, as the literature tends to focus rather on the application of circular practices in the organizational and industrial sectors. This paper aims to examine the individual-level factors that have an influence over circular purchasing behavior. Specifically, this paper elaborates an explicative path model of purchasing circular products that takes into account environmental concern, climate skepticism, and the attitudinal factor towards circular products. The final sample consisted of 566 respondents from Romania. Our findings showed that environmental concern has a positive significant impact on circular purchase behaviour and this relationship is mediated by the attitude towards circular products. Moreover, those with high levels of climate skepticism showed an increased level of perceived greenwashing among organizations.
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