Localized Light-Induced Precipitation of Inorganic Materials.

The light-induced control in the fabrication of materials is a field in continuous development. So far, photo-induced processes have been used mostly for organic polymeric materials. However, there is a recent, increasing interest in exploring the possibility of using these techniques to induce the precipitation of inorganic materials.

Practical courses on advanced methods in macromolecular crystallization: 20 years of history and future perspectives.

The first Federation of European Biochemical Societies Advanced Course on macromolecular crystallization was launched in the Czech Republic in October 2004. Over the past two decades, the course has developed into a distinguished event, attracting students, early career postdoctoral researchers and lecturers. The course topics include protein purification, characterization and crystallization, covering the latest advances in the field of structural biology.

Anaplastic Plasma Cell Myeloma With Peritoneal Involvement.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell neoplasm that rounds 15% of all hematological malignancies. The typical clinical presentation of MM includes hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia and bone lesion (CRAB). Effusions due to MM may occur due to secondary involvement of other organs and rarely are present at the initial diagnosis.

The Evolution of Health Benefits Packages in Colombia: Thirty Years of Successes and Failures.

Health benefits packages in Colombia-what is covered, by whom, and at what cost-have evolved over the past thirty years. Coverage changed from two explicit health benefits packages (with benefits linked to ability to contribute) to an implicit approach that covers, in theory, everything for everyone, excluding a narrow negative list of services and health technologies. This article explores the evolution of priority setting in Colombia during two periods of major reform.

A fluctuating solution to the dolomite problem.

Episodes of dissolution and crystal growth stoke the formation of a common carbonate mineral.

Computational assessment of the potential of cross-catalytic coprecipitating systems for the bottom-up design of nanocomposites.

The production of nanocomposites is often economically and environmentally costly. Silica-witherite biomorphs, known for producing a wealth of life-like shapes, are nanocomposites entirely formed through self-organization processes. Behind these precipitates are two precipitation reactions that catalyze each other.

Localized Crystallization of Calcium Phosphates by Light-Induced Processes.

Medical treatment options for bones and teeth can be significantly enhanced by taking control over the crystallization of biomaterials like hydroxyapatite in the healing process. Light-induced techniques are particularly interesting for this approach as they offer tremendous accuracy in spatial resolution. However, in the field of calcium phosphates, light-induced crystallization has not been investigated so far.

Ipconazole Induces Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Proinflammation in SH-SY5Y Cells.

Ipconazole is an antifungal agrochemical widely used in agriculture against seed diseases of rice, vegetables, and other crops; due to its easy accumulation in the environment, it poses a hazard to human, animal, and environmental health. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of ipconazole on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells using cell viability tests (MTT), ROS production, caspase3/7 activity, and molecular assays of the biomarkers of cell death (Bax, Casp3, APAF1, BNIP3, and Bcl2); inflammasome (NLRP3, Casp1, and IL1β); inflammation (NFκB, TNFα, and IL6); and antioxidants (NRF2, SOD, and GPx). SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to ipconazole (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 µM) for 24 h.

101 contact twins in gypsum experimentally obtained from calcium carbonate enriched solutions: mineralogical implications for natural gypsum deposits.

Gypsum twins are frequently observed in nature, triggered by a wide array of impurities that are present in their depositional environments and that may exert a critical role in the selection of different twin laws. Identifying the impurities able to promote the selection of specific twin laws has relevance for geological studies aimed at interpreting the gypsum depositional environments in ancient and modern deposits. Here, the effect of calcium carbonate (CaCO) on gypsum (CaSO·2HO) growth morphology has been investigated by performing temperature-controlled laboratory experiments with and without the addition of carbonate ions.

Mechanisms shaping the gypsum stromatolite-like structures in the Salar de Llamara (Atacama Desert, Chile).

The explanation of the origin of microbialites and specifically stromatolitic structures is a problem of high relevance for decoding past sedimentary environments and deciphering the biogenicity of the oldest plausible remnants of life. We have investigated the morphogenesis of gypsum stromatolite-like structures currently growing in shallow ponds (puquíos) in the Salar de Llamara (Atacama Desert, Northern Chile). The crystal size, aspect ratio, and orientation distributions of gypsum crystals within the structures have been quantified and show indications for episodic nucleation and competitive growth of millimetric to centimetric selenite crystals into a radial, branched, and loosely cemented aggregate.

Mineralochemical Mechanism for the Formation of Salt Volcanoes: The Case of Mount Dallol (Afar Triangle, Ethiopia).

A genetic model is proposed for the formation and evolution of volcano-like structures from materials other than molten silicate rocks. The model is based on Mount Dallol (Afar Triangle, Ethiopia), currently hosting a conspicuous hydrothermal system with hot, hyper-acidic springs, forming a colorful landscape of unique mineral patterns. We reason that Mount Dallol is the last stage of the formation of a salt volcano driven by the destabilization of a thick sequence of hydrated minerals (the Houston Formation) after the emplacement of an igneous intrusion beneath the thick Danakil evaporitic sequence.

DANAMIC: Data analyzer of minimum inhibitory concentrations - Protocol to analyze antimicrobial susceptibility data.

This protocol describes an open-source software developed to analyze experimental data obtained using antimicrobial susceptibility assays. We first describe experimental procedures for testing the activity of antimicrobial agents based on reference standards (BS EN ISO 20776-1:2020). We then describe the software protocol to analyze and convert the data obtained using these procedures into minimum inhibitory concentrations.

expansion of a CD9 decidual-like NK cell subset following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHSCT) is a treatment option for hematological disorders and pediatric solid tumors. After an autoHSCT, natural killer (NK) cells are the first lymphocyte subset returning to normal levels. To uncover global changes during NK cell reconstitution after autoHSCT, we performed RNA-sequencing on NK cells before and after autoHSCT.

Investigations on the Role of Iron (III) and Silica-Iron (III) for DNA Protection Against Highly Intense UV Radiation: Tracking the Connection of Prebiotic Chemistry to Biology.

The mineral reaction pathways that yield organic compounds of increasing complexity would have required a means of protective screening against strong ultraviolet radiation for macromolecular assembly on early Earth. In this study, a bacterial chromosomal plasmid DNA was used as a model biomolecule that represents a complex polymeric nucleic acid containing genetic information. The plasmid DNA was exposed to UV radiation through a medium containing air, water, iron (Fe), or silica-iron rich aqueous solutions.