The Mystery of Homochirality on Earth.

Homochirality is an obvious feature of life on Earth. On the other hand, extraterrestrial samples contain largely racemic compounds. The same is true for any common organic synthesis.

Global fertility in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2021, with forecasts to 2100: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Accurate assessments of current and future fertility-including overall trends and changing population age structures across countries and regions-are essential to help plan for the profound social, economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges that these changes will bring. Estimates and projections of fertility are necessary to inform policies involving resource and health-care needs, labour supply, education, gender equality, and family planning and support. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 produced up-to-date and comprehensive demographic assessments of key fertility indicators at global, regional, and national levels from 1950 to 2021 and forecast fertility metrics to 2100 based on a reference scenario and key policy-dependent alternative scenarios.

Unravelling highly oxidized nickel centers in the anodic black film formed during the Simons process by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy.

The Simons process is an electrochemical fluorination method to prepare organofluorine compounds. Despite the wide application, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. We report the investigation of the black film formed on the surface of the anodes in aHF by an Ni K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) investigation.

Exploring Simple Particle-Based Signal Amplification Strategies in a Heterogeneous Sandwich Immunoassay with Optical Detection.

Heterogeneous sandwich immunoassays are widely used for biomarker detection in bioanalysis and medical diagnostics. The high analyte sensitivity of the current "gold standard" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) originates from the signal-generating enzymatic amplification step, yielding a high number of optically detectable reporter molecules. For future point-of-care testing (POCT) and point-of-need applications, there is an increasing interest in more simple detection strategies that circumvent time-consuming and temperature-dependent enzymatic reactions.

Brownian Motion Governs the Plasmonic Enhancement of Colloidal Upconverting Nanoparticles.

Upconverting nanoparticles are essential in modern photonics due to their ability to convert infrared light to visible light. Despite their significance, they exhibit limited brightness, a key drawback that can be addressed by combining them with plasmonic nanoparticles. Plasmon-enhanced upconversion has been widely demonstrated in dry environments, where upconverting nanoparticles are immobilized, but constitutes a challenge in liquid media where Brownian motion competes against immobilization.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Quantum dots.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Aleksey I. Ekimov (prize share 1/3), Louis E. Brus (prize share 1/3), and Moungi G.

Fundamental Structural and Electronic Understanding of Palladium Catalysts on Nitride and Oxide Supports.

The nature of the support can fundamentally affect the function of a heterogeneous catalyst. For the novel type of isolated metal atom catalysts, sometimes referred to as single-atom catalysts, systematic correlations are still rare. Here, we report a general finding that Pd on nitride supports (non-metal and metal nitride) features a higher oxidation state compared to that on oxide supports (non-metal and metal oxide).

Comparison of the In Vitro and In Vivo Behavior of a Series of NIR-II-Emitting Aza-BODIPYs Containing Different Water-Solubilizing Groups and Their Trastuzumab Antibody Conjugates.

The development of new fluorescent organic probes effective in the NIR-II region is currently a fast-growing field and represents a challenge in the domain of medical imaging. In this study, we have designed and synthesized an innovative series of aza-boron dipyrromethenes emitting in the NIR-II region. We have investigated the effect of different water-solubilizing groups not only on the photophysical properties of the compounds but also on their in vitro and in vivo performance after bioconjugation to the antibody trastuzumab.

Development of an Online Isotope Dilution CE/ICP-MS Method for the Quantification of Sulfur in Biological Compounds.

We report an analytical methodology for the quantification of sulfur in biological molecules via a species-unspecific postcolumn isotope dilution (online ID) approach using capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled online with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (online ID CE/ICP-MS). The method was optimized using a mixture of standard compounds including sulfate, methionine, cysteine, cystine, and albumin, yielding compound recoveries between 98 and 105%. The quantity of sulfur is further converted to the quantity of the compounds owing to the prior knowledge of the sulfur content in the molecules.

Comparative study of the vibrating capillary nebulizer (VCN) and commercially available interfaces for on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis with ICP-MS.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful and sensitive tool for speciation analysis when combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); however, the performance of this technique can be limited by the nature of pneumatic nebulizers. This study compares two commercially available pneumatic nebulizers to a newly introduced vibrating capillary nebulizer (VCN) for on-line coupling of CE with ICP-MS. The VCN is a low-cost, non-pneumatic nebulizer that is based on the design of capillary vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization.

Microcarrier-based fluorescent yeast estrogen screen assay for fast determination of endocrine disrupting compounds.

The presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in water poses a significant threat to human and animal health, as recognized by regulatory agencies throughout the world. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay is an excellent method to evaluate the presence of these compounds in water due to its simplicity and capacity to assess the bioaccessible forms/fractions of these compounds. In the presence of a compound with estrogenic activity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, containing a lacZ reporter gene encoding the enzyme β-galactosidase, are induced, the enzyme is synthesised, and released to the extracellular medium.

Liquid reagents are not enough for liquid assisted grinding in the synthesis of [(AgBr)(-pica)].

This study investigates the mechanochemical reactions between AgBr 3-picolylamine and 4-picolylamine. The use of different stoichiometry ratios of the reagents allows [(AgBr)(-pica)] and [(AgBr)(-pica)] to be obtained, and we report the new structures of [(AgBr)(3-pica)] and [(AgBr)(4-pica)] which are characterized by the presence of the following: (a) infinite inorganic chains, (b) silver atom coordinated only by bromide atoms and (c) argentophilic interactions. Furthermore, we studied the interconversion of [(AgBr)(-pica)]/[(AgBr)(-pica)] by mechanochemical and thermal properties.

Investigation of pH-dependent extraction methods for PFAS in (fluoropolymer-based) consumer products: A comparative study between targeted and sum parameter analysis.

Here, we report a comparative study of different sum parameter analysis methods for the extraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from manufactured consumer products, which can be measured by combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Therefore, a hydrolysis-based extraction method was further developed, which accounts for the addition of hydrolyzable covalently bound polyfluoroalkylated side-chain polymers (SFPs) to the extractable organic fluorine portion of the mass balance proposed as "hydrolyzable organically bound fluorine" (HOF). To test this hypothesis, the method was applied to 39 different consumer products containing fluoropolymers or monomeric PFAS taken from four different categories: outdoor textiles, paper packaging, carpeting, and permanent baking sheets.

Luminescence Lifetime-Based Sensing Platform Based on Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes for the Detection of Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Aqueous Samples.

Luminescence lifetimes are an attractive analytical method for detection due to its high sensitivity and stability. Iridium probes exhibit luminescence with long excited-state lifetimes, which are sensitive to the local environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is listed as a chemical of high concern regarding its toxicity and is classified as a "forever chemical".

Enhancing the Performance of a Large Aperture Ultrasound System (LAUS): A Combined Approach of Simulation and Measurement for Transmitter-Receiver Optimization.

The Large Aperture Ultrasound System (LAUS) developed at BAM is known for its ability to penetrate thick objects, especially concrete structures commonly used in nuclear waste storage and other applications in civil engineering. Although the current system effectively penetrates up to ~9 m, further optimization is imperative to enhance the safety and integrity of disposal structures for radioactive or toxic waste. This study focuses on enhancing the system's efficiency by optimizing the transducer spacing, ensuring that resolution is not compromised.

Particulate iron oxide food colorants (E 172) during artificial digestion and their uptake and impact on intestinal cells.

Iron oxide of various structures is frequently used as food colorant (E 172). The spectrum of colors ranges from yellow over orange, red, and brown to black, depending on the chemical structure of the material. E 172 is mostly sold as solid powder.

Embedding and cross-sectioning as a sample preparation procedure for accurate and representative size and shape measurement of nanopowders.

Reliable measurement of the size of polydisperse, complex-shaped commercial nanopowders is a difficult but necessary task, e.g., for regulatory requirements and toxicity risk assessment.

Influence of artificial digestion on characteristics and intestinal cellular effects of micro-, submicro- and nanoplastics.

The production of plastics is rising since they have been invented. Micro, submicro- and nanoplastics are produced intentionally or generated by environmental processes, and constitute ubiquitous contaminants which are ingested orally by consumers. Reported health concerns include intestinal translocation, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity.

Oligomerization and tyrosine nitration enhance the allergenic potential of the birch and grass pollen allergens Bet v 1 and Phl p 5.

Protein modifications such as oligomerization and tyrosine nitration alter the immune response to allergens and may contribute to the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases. In this mini-review, we summarize and discuss relevant findings for the major birch and grass pollen allergens Bet v 1 and Phl p 5 modified with tetranitromethane (laboratory studies), peroxynitrite (physiological processes), and ozone and nitrogen dioxide (environmental conditions). We focus on tyrosine nitration and the formation of protein dimers and higher oligomers via dityrosine cross-linking and the immunological effects studied.

Defensive behavior is linked to altered surface chemistry following infection in a termite society.

The care-kill response determines whether a sick individual will be treated or eliminated from an insect society, but little is known about the physiological underpinnings of this process. We exploited the stepwise infection dynamics of an entomopathogenic fungus in a termite to explore how care-kill transitions occur, and identify the chemical cues behind these shifts. We found collective responses towards pathogen-injected individuals to vary according to severity and timing of pathogen challenge, with elimination, via cannibalism, occurring sooner in response to a severe active infection.

Metaproteogenomic analysis of saliva samples from Parkinson's disease patients with cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is very common in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and progressively develops on a spectrum from mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) to full dementia (PDD). Identification of PD patients at risk of developing cognitive decline, therefore, is unmet need in the clinic to manage the disease. Previous studies reported that oral microbiota of PD patients was altered even at early stages and poor oral hygiene is associated with dementia.

Understanding the hot isostatic pressing effectiveness of laser powder bed fusion Ti-6Al-4V by in-situ X-ray imaging and diffraction experiments.

In the present study, in-situ observation of Hot Isostatic Pressure (HIP) procedure of laser powder bed fusion manufactured Ti-6Al-4V parts was performed to quantitatively estimate the densification rate of the material and the influence of the defect initial size and shape on such rate. The observations were performed in-situ using the Ultrafast Tomography Paris-Edinburgh Cell and the combination of fast phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray tomography and energy dispersive diffraction. With this strategy, we could quantify how the effectiveness of HIP depends on the characteristics of a defect.

From watersheds to dinner plates: Evaluating PFAS exposure through fish consumption in Southeast Michigan.

Muscle tissue and organ samples of six different fish species were collected from ten locations in Southeast Michigan's Huron and Rouge watersheds. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analyzed in 36 samples comprising filets, liver, gut, and eggs using targeted analysis and the direct total oxidizable precursor (dTOP) assay on a subset of six samples. The median concentrations of the ∑PFAS in filets from the Huron and Rouge watersheds were 13 and 6.