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The performance of pellets of unsupported and silica-supported Co 3 O 4 in the ammonia oxidation was investigated as a function of the particle size to investigate the utilization of the catalytically active phase in these materials. The obtained activity in terms of ammonia conversion over the silica-supported Co 3 O 4 is higher compared to the conversion over the unsupported Co 3 O 4 , despite a lower cobalt oxide loading and more severe diffusional limitations. The effectiveness factor for the silica-supported catalyst is slightly lower than the effectiveness factor for the unsupported catalyst in the form of pellets of similar size. However, the effective utilization of cobalt within the catalyst is higher for the silica-supported catalyst, mainly due to the higher dispersion of the catalytically active phase. Graphical Abstract Increased observed rate constant for silica-supported Co 3 O 4 despite lower cobalt loading, and stronger diffusional constraints.

IntroductionPseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) is the most commonly isolated gram-negative bacterium after lung transplantation. PsA post-transplant isolation is associated with an increased incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) (Vos et al., 2008) and its treatment may improve pulmonary function, prevent CLAD progression and improve survival (Muynck et al., 2020). This study compared the short-term outcomes of bilateral lung transplant recipients with and without PsA.MethodAll patients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation at Royal Papworth Hospital from 31/03/2018 to 01/04/2021 were included. Positive PsA isolates were identified in respiratory samples (sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage) obtained during routine surveillance and symptom-directed sampling. Patient demographics and outcomes (including hospital stay duration, peak FEV1, quality of life (EQ5D score)) were compared between PsA-positive and PsA-negative recipients. Statistical analyses included the chi-square test (dichotomous data), Mann U Whitney test (continuous data), multiple linear regression, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.ResultsFrom a total of 76 transplant recipients, 29 (38.2%) isolated PsA in ≥1 respiratory culture post-transplant. The median time to the first PsA isolate was 43 days (range: 1–916 days). Antibiotic susceptibility varied, with 41% (n=12) having fully susceptible isolates and 59% (n=17) exhibiting resistance. PsA was most commonly isolated in patients with cystic fibrosis (34%). 13 out of the 29 positive patients isolated PsA pre-transplant. Patients with pre-transplant PsA demonstrated earlier isolation of PsA post-transplant (p= 0.039) and higher antibiotic resistance (p=0.018) compared to patients with de novo PsA.Hospital stay duration, acute rejection episode, 1-year mortality rate, pulmonary function, airway complication, CMV viraemia, and quality of life did not significantly differ between the two groups. Patients with PsA both pre- and post-transplant reported a lower quality of life, averaging an EQ-5D score of 9.53, vs 4.84 for patients with de novo PsA (p=0.015). No confounding effect by age or gender were found.Abstract P83 Table 1Patient demographics and outcomes of PsA positive and PsA negative group Pseudomonas aeruginosa POSITIVE Pseudomonas aeruginosa NEGATIVE P value Number of Patients (%) 29 (38.2%) 47 (61.8%) Mean age at transplant 45.2 (SD=11.5) 52.1 (SD=12.4) <0.05 Percentage of female (%) 51.7% (n=15) 38.3% (n=18) >0.05 Indication for transplant Obstructive: COPD/A1AT def/chronic asthma/LCH 12 (41.4%) 18 (38.3%) Restrictive: IPF/HP/CTD-ILD/sarcoidosis/PPFE/unclassified fibrosis 4 (13.8%) 13 (27.7%) CPFE (combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema) 1 (3.44%) 0 CF/bronchiectasis 11 (37.9%) 5 (10.6%) Pulmonary hypertension 0 4 (8.51%) Outcome Median hospital stay (days) 34 (range = 15–222) 35 (range = 3–168) 0.634 Acute rejection episode 6 13 0.052 1 year mortality rate 13.8% (n=4) 21.3% (n=10) 0.414 Any episode of airway complication 18/29 7/47 0.129 Peak FEV1 as% predicted (mean) 77.78% 75.04% >0.05 Any episode of CMV viraemia 5/29 3/47 0.139 Quality of life (EQ-5D score) 9.59 9.22 0.591 ConclusionPre-transplant PsA is associated with an earlier occurrence of post-transplant PsA and increased antibiotic resistance. However, short-term patient outcomes do not significantly differ between PsA-positive and PsA-negative lung transplant recipients. Further research is required to define the role of PsA treatment and eradication in longer term outcomes.

This paper examines the firm-level carbon intensity of 83 constituent stocks in the Hang Seng Index, constructs two distinct indexes from the 20 firms with the highest and lowest carbon intensities, and analyzes the connectedness of their annualized daily volatilities with four key external factors over the past 15 years. Our findings reveal that low-carbon stocks—often represented by high-tech and financial firms—tend to exhibit higher volatility, reflecting their more dynamic business environments and greater sensitivity to changes in revenue and profitability. In contrast, high-carbon companies, such as those in the utilities and energy sectors, display more stable demand patterns and are generally less exposed to abrupt market shocks. We also find that oil price shocks result in greater volatility spillovers for low-carbon stocks. Among external influences, the U.S. stock market and Treasury yield exert the most significant spillover effects, while crude oil prices and the U.S. dollar–Chinese yuan exchange rate act as net volatility recipients.

C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp) and fibrinogen (Fbgn) are acute phase reactants (APRs), the blood levels of which increase during acute inflammation. However, although the levels of these APRs are used to monitor inflammation in man, their usefulness and sensitivity as markers of inflammation in rodents are less clear. We therefore wished to evaluate, in a comparative fashion, a prototype immunoassay for serum CRP, a commercial assay for serum Hp, and an automated assay for Fbgn, using a model of acute inflammation in the rat. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines and serum protein fractions were also measured. The model of inflammation used was the intraperitoneal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). In a concluding experiment, findings with Hp in the FCA rat model were validated in a toxicologically relevant study involving the induction of acute hepatic inflammation using the model hepatotoxicant carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). Female Wistar Han rats were treated with a single injection of FCA in a dose-response study (1.25-10.0 ml/kg, sampling at 36 h) and two time-course studies (over 40 h and 21 days). In a final experiment, rats were dosed with CCl(4) at 0.8 ml/kg and sampled over a 17-day period. In FCA and CCl(4) experiments, serum/plasma was prepared and tissues taken at autopsy for histological assessment (CCl(4) study only). In the dose-response study, serum CRP, Hp and plasma Fbgn were increased at all FCA dose levels at 36 h post-dosing. Serum alpha(2) and beta(1) globulin fractions were also increased, while albumin levels were decreased. In the 40-h time-course study, CRP levels peaked at 25-40 h post-dosing, to approximately 120% of control (as 100%). Hp levels increased to a maximum at 25 and 40 h post-dosing with values greater than 400% of control, and alpha(2) and beta(1) globulin fractions peaked at 30 and 40 h post-dosing to 221 and 187% of control, respectively. Increased serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels peaked at 20 h (11-fold) and 25 h (19-fold), respectively. In a 21-day time-course study, no increased CRP levels were measured despite elevated levels of Hp, which peaked at 36 h (approximately 7-fold above control), and remained elevated up to 21 days. IL-6 and IL-1beta levels peaked at 12 h (19-fold) and 24 h (28-fold), respectively. Liver histopathology of animals treated with CCl(4) showed centrilobular hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis (most significant at 36 h) with an inflammatory response (most significant at 48 h). Resolution of the lesion was complete by 4 days post-dosing. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase levels peaked at 36 h post-dosing. Hp levels increased maximally at 48 h (426% of control). We conclude that serum CRP is a poor marker of acute inflammation in the rat in comparison with serum Hp and plasma Fbgn. Between Hp and Fbgn, serum Hp is shown to be the most sensitive and useful marker of acute inflammation.

The study examines the return performance and resilience to market volatility of the recently introduced environment, social/sustainable, and governance (ESG) weight-tilted Hang Seng index compared to its parent, the Hang Seng index. The ESG-infused index has a higher mean return and lower return volatility than the parent index, although the differences are statistically and economically insignificant, a result consistent with the high correlation between the two index returns. Most importantly, the ESG weight-tilted index is more resilient to volatility spikes than the parent index and, therefore, has lower downside risks. The overall results show that stocks with high ESG ratings are less susceptible to trading pressures triggered by volatility-induced turnovers. The paper contributes to the literature by providing significant incremental information on the emerging market for ESG-related equity products in Hong Kong.