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Technological approaches which enable the effective utilization of CO2 for manufacturing value-added chemicals and fuels can help to solve environmental problems derived from large CO2 emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels. One of the most interesting products that can be synthesized from CO2 is methanol, since it is an industrial commodity used in several chemical products and also an efficient transportation fuel. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the development of heterogeneous catalysts and processes for the direct hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. The main efforts focused on the improvement of conventional Cu/ZnO based catalysts and the development of new catalytic systems targeting the specific needs for CO2 to methanol reactions (unfavourable thermodynamics, production of high amount of water and high methanol selectivity under high or full CO2 conversion). Major studies on the development of active and selective catalysts based on thermodynamics, mechanisms, nano-synthesis and catalyst design (active phase, promoters, supports, etc.) are highlighted in this review. Finally, a summary concerning future perspectives on the research and development of efficient heterogeneous catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2 will be presented.

When C. elegans hermaphrodites are deprived of food during the mid-L4 larval stage and throughout adulthood, they enter an alternative stage termed \"adult reproductive diapause (ARD)\" in which they halt reproduction and extend their lifespan. During ARD, germ cell proliferation stops; oogenesis is slowed; and the gonad shrinks progressively, which has been described as the \"oogenic germline starvation response\". Upon refeeding, the shrunken gonad is regenerated, and animals recover fertility and live out their remaining lifespan. Little is known about the effects of ARD on oocyte quality after ARD. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine how oocyte quality is affected after ARD by measuring brood size and embryonic lethality as a reflection of defective oocyte production. We found that ARD affects reproductive capacity. The oogenic germline starvation response protects oogenic germ cells by slowing oogenesis to prevent prolonged arrest in diakinesis. In contrast to a previous report, we found that germ cell apoptosis is not the cause of gonad shrinkage; instead, we propose that ovulation contributes to gonad shrinkage during the oogenic germline starvation response. We show that germ cell apoptosis increases and continues during ARD via lin-35/Rb and an unknown mechanism. Although apoptosis contributes to maintain germ cell quality during ARD, we demonstrated that apoptosis is not essential to preserve animal fertility. Finally, we show that IIS signaling inactivation partially participates in the oogenic germline starvation response.

In this work, we present an approach to cross-link cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with various metallic cations (Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ) to produce inks suitable for three-dimensional (3D) printing application. The printability of each hydrogel ink was evaluated, and several parameters such as the optimal ratio of M n+ :TOCNF:H 2 O were discussed. CNF suspensions were produced by mechanical disintegration of cellulose pulp with a microfluidizer and then oxidized with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO). Finally, metal cations were introduced to the deprotonated TEMPO-oxidized CNF (TOCNF) suspension to cross-link the nanofibrils and form the corresponding hydrogels. The performances of each gel-ink were evaluated by rheological measurements and 3D printing. Only the gels incorporated with divalent cations Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were suitable for 3D printing. The 3D printed structures were freeze-dried and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The better interaction of the TOCNFs with the divalent metallic cations in terms of printability, the viscoelastic properties of the inks, and the variation trends owing to various metal cations and ratios are discussed.

Minimally invasive caries-removal procedures remove only caries-infected dentin and preserve caries-affected dentin that becomes remineralized. Dental cements containing calcium phosphate promote remineralization. This study evaluated the in vivo remineralization capacity of resin-based calcium-phosphate cement (Ca-P) used for indirect pulp-capping. Carious and sound teeth indicated for extraction were randomly restored with the Ca-P base or without base (control), followed by adhesive restoration. Study teeth were extracted after three months, followed by elemental analysis of the cavity floor. Mineral content of affected or sound dentin at the cavity floor was quantified by electron probe micro-analysis to 100-μm depth. After three months, caries-affected dentin underneath the Ca-P base showed significantly increased calcium and phosphorus content to a depth of 30 μm. Mineral content of treated caries-affected dentin was in the range of healthy dentin, revealing the capacity of Ca-P base to promote remineralization of caries-affected dentin.

Growth modulation leads to large, high-quality covalent organic framework crystals Diamonds consist of an ordered array of tetrahedral carbon atoms, held together by strong covalent bonds. Despite this simple structure, making diamond crystals is difficult, requiring extremely high pressures and temperatures that can only be achieved deep in Earth's crust or through sophisticated experiments. Building covalent organic frameworks (COFs) similarly involves the ordered spatial arrangement, in a two- or three-dimensional crystalline network, of organic units linked together by strong covalent bonds. Growing single crystals of robust COFs is challenging because it requires the dynamic formation and cleavage of strong covalent bonds. On page 48 of this issue, Ma et al. ( 1 ) report a simple method for growing large, high-quality single crystals of COF networks held together by strong imine covalent bonds.

Insecticide use continues as the main strategy to control Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. In the city of Tapachula, Mexico, mosquito control programs switched from pyrethroids to organophosphates for outdoor spatial spraying in 2013. Additionally, the spraying scheme switched from total coverage to focused control, prioritizing areas with higher entomological-virological risk. Five years after this strategy had been implemented, we evaluated the status and variability of insecticide resistance among Ae. aegypti collected at 26 sites in Tapachula. We determined the lethal concentrations at 50% of the tested populations (LC50) using a bottle bioassay, and then, we calculated the resistance ratio (RR) relative to the susceptible New Orleans strain. Permethrin and deltamethrin (pyrethroids), chlorpyrifos and malathion (organophosphates), and bendiocarb (carbamate) were tested. The frequencies of the substitutions V1016I and F1534C, which are in the voltage-gated sodium channel and confer knockdown-resistance (kdr) to pyrethroid insecticides, were calculated. Despite 5 years having passed since the removal of pyrethroids from the control programs, Ae. aegypti remained highly resistant to permethrin and deltamethrin (RR > 10-fold). In addition, following 5 years of chlorpyrifos use, mosquitoes at 15 of 26 sites showed moderate resistance to chlorpyrifos (5- to 10-fold), and the mosquitoes from one site were highly resistant. All sites had low resistance to malathion (< 5-fold). Resistance to bendiocarb was low at 19 sites, moderate at five, and high at two. Frequencies of the V1016I ranged from 0.16-0.71, while C1534 approached fixation at 23 sites (0.8-1). Resistance profiles and kdr allele frequencies varied across Tapachula. The variability was not associated with a spatial pattern at the scale of the sampling. Mosquito populations respond to selection pressure at a focal scale in the field. Spatial variation across sites highlights the importance of testing multiple sites within geographical regions.

Textbook outcome is a multidimensional quality management tool that uses a set of traditional surgical measures to reflect an \"ideal\" surgical result for a particular pathology. Retrospective study of all patients undergoing scheduled for adrenal tumors surgery at an endocrine surgery unit from January 2010-December 2022. The definition of Textbook Outcome were: R0 resection, no Clavien–Dindo ≥ IIIa complications, no prolonged stay (< P75), no readmissions, and no mortality in the first 30 days. The main objective was to analyze the rate of Textbook Outcome obtained. One hundred and five patients were included in the study. Textbook Outcome was achieved in 71.4%. Surgical approach (p < 0.001), Charlson scale (p = 0.031), American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (p = 0.047) and surgical time (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with the achievement of Textbook Outcome. The laparoscopic approach was associated as an independent factor with obtaining Textbook Outcome (OR:5.394; p = 0.016), as was surgical time (OR:0.986; p = 0.004). Textbook Outcome is a novel, useful, easy-to-interpret tool for measuring results in adrenal surgery. The laparoscopic approach is associated with a higher rate of \"ideal\" surgical results. The study was registered in the public accessible database clinicaltrials.gov with the ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05888753.

(1) Background: Given the autoimmune nature of Alopecia Areata (AA) and the immunomodulatory properties of probiotics, this trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a probiotic mixture, consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum strains, as an adjuvant treatment in a group of AA patients. (2) Method: This study was a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Twenty-six patients with AA were included in this study, and their clinical progression, along with changes in gut and skin microbiota, were analyzed. (3) Results: A higher proportion of AA patients treated with the probiotic formula showed improvement compared to the placebo group, based on both the reduction in the number of AA plaques (56% vs. 30%) and the affected scalp surface area (45% vs. 20%). For “activity”, “inactivity”, and “regrowth”, an improvement in 55%, 67%, and 55% of patients was, respectively, observed in the probiotic group, compared to 50%, 40%, and 30% in the placebo group. No changes were observed in the gut microbiota during the intervention period. Regarding skin microbiota, changes were detected in the probiotic group, with reductions in characteristic genera during the study. (4) Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial assessing the efficacy of a probiotic product in patients with AA. This probiotic mixture in a routine clinical practice setting appears to improve the course of patients. In addition, the skin microbiota of scalp lesions was modified using the probiotic treatment.

Calcium-independent phospholipase A 2 γ (iPLA 2 γ) is localized in glomerular epithelial cells (GECs)/podocytes at the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and can mediate release of arachidonic acid and prostanoids. Global knockout (KO) of iPLA 2 γ in mice did not cause albuminuria, but resulted in mitochondrial structural abnormalities and enhanced autophagy in podocytes. In acute glomerulonephritis, deletion of iPLA 2 γ exacerbated albuminuria and podocyte injury. This study addresses the role of iPLA 2 γ in diabetic nephropathy. Hyperglycemia was induced in male mice with streptozotocin (STZ). STZ induced progressive albuminuria in control mice (over 21 weeks), while albuminuria did not increase in iPLA 2 γ KO mice, remaining comparable to untreated groups. Despite similar exposure to STZ, the STZ-treated iPLA 2 γ KO mice developed a lower level of hyperglycemia compared to STZ-treated control. However, there was no significant correlation between the degree of hyperglycemia and albuminuria, and even iPLA 2 γ KO mice with greatest hyperglycemia did not develop significant albuminuria. Mortality at 21 weeks was greatest in diabetic control mice. Sclerotic glomeruli and enlarged glomerular capillary loops were increased significantly in diabetic control compared to diabetic iPLA 2 γ KO mice. Glomerular matrix was expanded in diabetic mice, with control exceeding iPLA 2 γ KO. Glomerular autophagy (increased LC3-II and decreased p62) was enhanced in diabetic iPLA 2 γ KO mice compared to control. Treatment of cultured GECs with H 2 O 2 resulted in increased cell death in control GECs compared to iPLA 2 γ KO, and the increase was slightly greater in medium with high glucose compared to low glucose. H 2 O 2 -induced cell death was not affected by inhibition of prostanoid production with indomethacin. In conclusion, mice with global deletion of iPLA 2 γ are protected from developing chronic glomerular injury in diabetic nephropathy. This is associated with increased glomerular autophagy.

The Younger Dryas (YD) impact hypothesis posits that fragments of a large, disintegrating asteroid/comet struck North America, South America, Europe, and western Asia ~12,800 years ago. Multiple airbursts/impacts produced the YD boundary layer (YDB), depositing peak concentrations of platinum, high-temperature spherules, meltglass, and nanodiamonds, forming an isochronous datum at >50 sites across ~50 million km² of Earth’s surface. This proposed event triggered extensive biomass burning, brief impact winter, YD climate change, and contributed to extinctions of late Pleistocene megafauna. In the most extensive investigation south of the equator, we report on a ~12,800-year-old sequence at Pilauco, Chile (~40°S), that exhibits peak YD boundary concentrations of platinum, gold, high-temperature iron- and chromium-rich spherules, and native iron particles rarely found in nature. A major peak in charcoal abundance marks an intense biomass-burning episode, synchronous with dramatic changes in vegetation, including a high-disturbance regime, seasonality in precipitation, and warmer conditions. This is anti-phased with northern-hemispheric cooling at the YD onset, whose rapidity suggests atmospheric linkage. The sudden disappearance of megafaunal remains and dung fungi in the YDB layer at Pilauco correlates with megafaunal extinctions across the Americas. The Pilauco record appears consistent with YDB impact evidence found at sites on four continents.