Labor unions as transnational actors

This has been a macro-level qualitative study exploring low-level (nationally and locally) based labor unions’ transnational capabilities. To guide the research, I asked how national labor unions function as transnational actors, and my question was guided by questions regarding what characterizes labor unions’ transnational activities, and what possibilities or constraints they are faced with in the international world. To answer my research question, I firstly outlined the economic landscape which labor unions operate within, followed by a theoretical debate on what labor unions are, what they do, what their structure looks like, what solidarity means in a labor unions context, and what issues labor unions face internationally. I used the case of the Indian farmers’ movement, which began in September of 2020 with the introduction of three new farming-related bills, as an illustrative case to grasp at a contemporary labor issue or international scope.M-I

Combined thermochemical-biotechnological approach for the valorization of polyolefins into polyhydroxyalkanoates:Development of an integrated bioconversion process by microbial consortia

Waste management of persistent polymers such as polyolefins (PO)1 still represents a major challenge, often leading to material loss from the value chain and contributing to plastic pollution. This study investigated an integrated process to valorize PO pyrolysis side stream. PO wax was recovered and used as a feedstock for a microbial bioconversion process. A modified emulsification protocol (using two-surfactants system) allowed the successful dispersion and bioconversion of PO wax without the need of the extra oxidation step. Enrichment of plastic landfill inocula allowed to develop efficient mixed microbial consortia (MMC) able to grow on PO wax. Adaptive laboratory evolution improved 4 times cell growth, leading to 2.6–17.3 times shorter lag phase. The bioconversion process using the adapted MMC was performed in a 2 L-bioreactor with PO wax-emulsified media (10 g L−1) at neutral pH and 20% pO2. 87% of substrate was consumed within 12 h and complete consumption was achieved within 48 h (4 times faster than previously reported). A maximum of 2.95 gCDW L−1 of biomass was produced, while the intracellular triglycerides reached a maximum of 105.5 mg L−1 at 30 h. Moreover, the conversion of PO wax into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was demonstrated and the production was maximized by statistical optimization. Maximum PHA titer of 384 0.1 mg L−1 was achieved, which represents a 1.5–17 times improvement from previous reports. This integrated thermochemical-biotechnological approach might represent an interesting strategy to valorize and upcycle currently unrecyclable PO-rich mixed plastic waste streams, thus improving the circularity of the plastic sector

Lacustrine oxygen isotope records from biogenic silica (δ18OBSi) – a global compilation and review

Isotope records are crucial for proxy-model comparison in paleoclimatology because of their advantage of being directly comparable with isotope-enabled paleoclimate model outputs. Oxygen isotopes (δ18O) are commonly measured on carbonates (i.e. ostracods, authigenic carbonates) and biogenic silica (mainly diatoms). Oxygen isotopes in lacustrine carbonates (δ18OCaCO3) have been studied extensively for several decades, yet they are subject to complex species-dependent fractionation processes and not available globally. Lacustrine oxygen isotope records from biogenic silica (δ18OBSi), on the other hand, likely do not display species-dependent fractionation effects (or only very minor) and offer insight even in data-sparse regions devoid of carbonates, such as the Arctic. To date, more than 70 lacustrine δ18OBSi records have been published. These case studies have been complemented with additional efforts addressing climatic and hydrological backgrounds, laboratory techniques and possible species-dependent fractionation as well as deposition and dissolution effects. Here, we present the first comprehensive review and global compilation of lacustrine δ18OBSi records, with explicit regard to their individual lake basin parameters. With this work, we aim at contributing to bridging the gap between modelling and isotope geochemistry approaches regarding terrestrial archives in paleoclimatology. Departing from hitherto prevalent case studies, we assess what we can learn from lacustrine δ18OBSi records globally, considering lake basin characteristics, spatial and temporal coverage as well as hydrological background information. This improves both the usability of δ18OBSi for proxy-model comparison and our understanding of the general constraints for interpreting lacustrine δ18OBSi records

Paleo-environmental gateways in the eastern Canadian arctic – Recent isotope hydrology and diatom oxygen isotopes from Nettilling Lake, Baffin Island, Canada

Nettilling Lake is located on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada between the areas of past warming (Canadian High Arctic to the North) and climatic stability (Northern Quebec and Labrador region to the South). Despite being the largest lake in the Nunavut region with a postglacial marine to lacustrine transition history only a few paleo-environmental investigations were completed in this area. The oxygen isotope composition of diatoms (d18O diatom) can provide valuable insights into paleo-environmental conditions. Here, the recent (isotope) hydrology and hydrochemical data from the lake are presented to facilitate the interpretation of a d18O diatom record from an 82 cm sediment core (Ni-2B). The well-mixed lake (d18O water = -17.4‰) is influenced by a heavier (less negative) isotope composition (-18.80‰) from Amadjuak River draining Amadjuak Lake to the South and water of lighter (more negative) isotopic composition (-16.4‰) from the Isurtuq River originating from Penny Ice Cap in the North-East. From the d18O water and d18O diatom of the topmost sample of core Ni-2B a D18O silica-water of 1000 ln alpha(silica-water) = 40.2‰ for sub-recent diatoms of Nettilling Lake was calculated matching the known water-silica fractionation for fossil sediments well and thereby showing the general applicability of this proxy for paleo-reconstructions in this region. Extremely large d18O diatom variations in the core of more than 13‰ are mainly induced by changes in the isotopic composition of the lake water due to a shift from glaciomarine (d18O diatom = +34.6‰) through brackish (+23.4 to +27.2‰) towards lacustrine (+21.5‰) conditions (transition zones glaciomarine to brackish at 69 cm/7300 yr cal. BP and brackish to lacustrine at 35 cm/6000 yr cal. BP) associated with a shift in the degree of salinity. Our study provides the first evidence that paleo-salinity can be reconstructed by d18O diatom. Additionally, for the lacustrine section it could be demonstrated that d18O diatom may serve as a proxy for past air temperature within the same core recording a late Holocene cooling of about 4°C being consistent with other published values for the greater Baffin region

THE VARIABILITY OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE ABCB1 GENE IN THE ROMA POPULATION FROM CROATIA

When overexpressed, a large transmembrane P-glycoprotein, the product of the ABCB1 gene, is a notable impediment to brain-targeted therapies (like antiepileptics) and chemotherapies. Some of the genetic biomarkers with evidence of multi-drug resistance in ABCB1 ― rs1045642, rs1128503, and rs3213619 ― were analyzed in 440 subjects, members of three socio-culturally different Roma (Gypsy) groups of Croatia. Minor allele frequencies (MAFs) of rs1045642 and rs1128503 were the highest in the Balkan Roma (63.6% and 69.4%, respectively) when compared to the Baranja (52.3% and 62.5%) and the Međimurje Roma (48.8% and 54.5%) (p=0.0005 and p=0.0011, respectively). rs3213619 was monomorphic in the Međimurje group, while its MAFs in other two Roma groups were very low (<1.9%). The distribution of five detected haplotypes (four in the Međimurje group) significantly differed between the Roma subpopulations (p<0.0001), just like the frequencies of diplotypes (p=0.0008). At a global scale, the positive relationship between genetic and geographic distances between the 21 investigated populations indicates isolation by spatial distance. However, this is not true for the relationship between Roma and other populations due to their population history. The analyzed ABCB1 loci indicate genetic distinctiveness of the Roma population

Common SNPs in FTO Gene Are Associated with Obesity Related Anthropometric Traits in an Island Population from the Eastern Adriatic Coast of Croatia

Multiple studies have provided compelling evidence that the FTO gene variants are associated with obesity measures. The objective of the study was to investigate whether FTO variants are associated with a broad range of obesity related anthropometric traits in an island population.We examined genetic association between 29 FTO SNPs and a comprehensive set of anthropometric traits in 843 unrelated individuals from an island population in the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia. The traits include 11 anthropometrics (height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, bicondilar upper arm width, upper arm circumference, and biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and abdominal skin-fold thicknesses) and two derived measures (BMI and WHR). Using single locus score tests, 15 common SNPs were found to be significantly associated with "body fatness" measures such as weight, BMI, hip and waist circumferences with P-values ranging from 0.0004 to 0.01. Similar but less significant associations were also observed between these markers and bicondilar upper arm width and upper arm circumference. Most of these significant findings could be explained by a mediating effect of "body fatness". However, one unique association signal between upper arm width and rs16952517 (P-value = 0.00156) could not be explained by this mediating effect. In addition, using a principle component analysis and conditional association tests adjusted for "body fatness", two novel association signals were identified between upper arm circumference and rs11075986 (P-value = 0.00211) and rs16945088 (P-value = 0.00203).The current study confirmed the association of common variants of FTO gene with "body fatness" measures in an isolated island population. We also observed evidence of pleiotropic effects of FTO gene on fat-free mass, such as frame size and muscle mass assessed by bicondilar upper arm width and upper arm circumference respectively and these pleiotropic effects might be influenced by variants that are different from the ones associated with "body fatness"

Seasonal contributions of water and pollutants to Lake St. Charles, a drinking water reservoir.

Les eaux de surface sont largement utilisées comme sources d’eau potable au Canada. L'identification des principales sources de polluants dans les eaux de surface, souvent associées à une urbanisation croissante, est nécessaire pour élaborer des stratégies de gestion améliorée. Nous avons utilisé des isotopes stables dans l’eau (δ18O et δD) et des charges en nutriments et coliformes fécaux pour estimer les contributions saisonnières de différents affluents vers le lac Saint-Charles (LSC). Nos résultats indiquent que parmi les six sources d'eau identifiées, les eaux souterraines (GW), la rivière des Hurons (HR) et les petits tributaires (SSTs) représentent les principaux contributeurs (en termes de volume d'eau). Les trois autres sources d'eau, dont deux stations d'épuration d’eaux usées (WWTPs), Lac Delage (DL) et les précipitations (pluie et neige), représentent une contribution saisonnière moins importante. Pendant les saisons de fort débit (printemps et automne), LSC reçoit de l’eau principalement des SSTs et HR, tandis que pendant la saison de faible débit (été), le lac dépend principalement de GW pour maintenir son niveau d’eau. Les estimations des sources ponctuelles (WWTPs) par rapport aux sources non ponctuelles (principalement des installations septiques) de nutriments et coliformes fécaux ont démontré que cette dernière source représente une contribution saisonnière variable, mais plus importante de polluants (5% des WWTPs contre 95% des installations septiques). HR et SSTs qui drainent les zones densément occupées par des maisons avec des installations septiques privées, sont classées comme des sources non ponctuelles et, à ce titre, sont considérées comme des contributeurs majeurs en nutriments et coliformes fécaux. Les précipitations plus abondantes au printemps et à l'automne ont entraîné une augmentation des flux de nutriments et coliformes fécaux en raison du débit plus élevé. La dynamique de débits saisonniers difficile à prévoir des SSTs et HR, représente une menace potentiellement plus grande pour la qualité de l'eau du LSC que d'autres sources. Nous préconisons que l'amélioration de la gestion nécessite de réduire le nombre d'installations septiques privées dans le bassin versant du LSC.AbstractSurface waters are widely used as sources of drinking water in Canada. The identification of the main sources of pollutants to surface waters, often associated with increasing urbanization, is needed to improve management strategies. We used stable water isotopes (δ18O and δD), and nutrient and fecal coliform mass fluxes to estimate the seasonal contributions of water and pollutants of different inflows to Lake St. Charles (LSC). Our results indicate that out of six identified LSC water sources, groundwater (GW), Hurons River (HR) and small stream tributaries (SSTs) represent the major contributors (in terms of water volume). The three other water sources, including two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), Delage Lake (DL) and precipitation (rain and snow), represent smaller seasonal contributions. During the high-flow seasons (spring and fall), LSC receives water mainly from SSTs and HR, while during the low-flow season (summer), the lake relies mainly on GW inflows. Estimates of point source (WWTPs) versus non-point source (primarily septic installations) concentrations of nutrients and fecal coliforms show that the latter represents a seasonally variable and greater source of pollutants (5% WWTPs vs. 95% septic installations). HR and SSTs, draining densely occupied areas of single housing units with individual septic installations, are categorized as non-point sources, and as such are considered major nutrient and fecal coliform contributors. The higher precipitation in spring and fall caused increased fluxes of nutrients and fecal coliforms through higher stream discharge. Due to the seasonally variable and difficult to predict discharge dynamics of SSTs and HR, these two sources represent a potentially larger threat to LSC water quality. We advocate that improved management requires reducing the number of individual septic installations in the LSC watershed.</p