Mars Sample Return: From collection to curation of samples from a habitable world.

NASA's Mars 2020 mission has initiated collection of samples from Mars' Jezero Crater, which has a wide range of ancient rocks and rock types from lavas to lacustrine sedimentary rocks. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign, a joint effort between NASA and ESA, aims to bring the Perseverance collection back to Earth for intense scientific investigation. As the first return of samples from a habitable world, there are important challenges to overcome for the successful implementation of the MSR Campaign from the point of sample collection on Mars to the long-term curation of the samples on Earth.

Fundamental constraints and questions from the study of martian meteorites and the need for returned samples.

Physical materials from planetary bodies are crucial for understanding fundamental processes that constrain the evolution of the solar system, as samples can be analyzed at high precision and accuracy in Earth-based laboratories. Mars is the only planet outside of Earth from which we possess samples in the form of meteorites. Martian meteorites (n > 350) have enabled constraints to be placed on various aspects of the red planet's formation and evolution, notably: that Mars accreted and differentiated rapidly; that the planet has a complex volatile element evolution; and that it has always been volcanically active with a rich and diverse magmatic history.

Reconciling Archean organic-rich mudrocks with low primary productivity before the Great Oxygenation Event.

The organic carbon content of ancient rocks provides a fundamental record of the biosphere on early Earth. For over 50 y, the high organic content of Archean (>2.5 Ga) mudrocks has puzzled geologists and evolutionary biologists, because high biological primary productivity was unexpected for the nascent biosphere before the rise of O.

The value of returning a sample of the Martian atmosphere.

The elemental and isotopic abundances of major species in the Martian atmosphere have been determined, but analyses often lack sufficient precision, and those of minor and trace species are frequently not well known. Many important questions about the evolution and current state of Mars require the kind of knowledge that can be gained from analysis of a returned sample of the Martian atmosphere. Key target species include the noble gases, nitrogen, and various species containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, such as methane.

What we can learn about Mars from the magnetism of returned samples.

The Red Planet is a magnetic planet. The Martian crust contains strong magnetization from a core dynamo that likely was active during the Noachian period when the surface may have been habitable. The evolution of the dynamo may have played a central role in the evolution of the early atmosphere and the planet's transition to the current cold and dry state.

Proton Accumulation Modulated Surface Potential in Proton Conducting Ceramics Revealed by Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Proton conducting electrochemical cells (PCECs) are efficient and clean intermediate-temperature energy conversion devices. The proton concentration across the PCECs is often nonuniform, and characterizing the distribution of proton concentration can help to locate the position of rate-limiting reactions. However, the determination of the local proton concentration under operating conditions remains challenging.

Correlation of the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 With the University of Washington Quality of Life in Assessing Quality of Life in Sinonasal Malignancy Utilizing a Multicenter Prospective Observational Cohort Registry.

In this multi-center sinonasal malignancies (SNM) cohort, the Sino-nasal Outcome Test has a correlation with the University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQOL) for assessing QOL. The use of both instruments remains recommended to provide complete and complementary information. Future design of an easy-to-use tool specific to SNM is needed to encompass all aspects of QOL.

Patient Factors Influence Minimal Clinically Important Difference for the SNOT-22 in Medically Treated Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Background: The present study explores the effect of sociodemographics and comorbidities on the calculated minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores in patients with medically treated chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The importance of delineating a threshold to indicate clinically meaningful changes perceived by a patient is well acknowledged, yet the influence of patient-specific factors on MCID has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Patients with CRS (n = 221) presenting to a tertiary care practice reported their change in disease burden with anchor questions following CRS-directed medical treatment.

Estimating the accumulation and re-accumulation of commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis waste based on a stratified random sample of census blocks.

We investigated the amount and distribution of waste generated by commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis (TEC) use to inform policy options aimed at mitigating the environmental harm caused by these products. Using disproportionate stratified random sampling, we selected 60 census blocks from the eight largest cities in San Diego County, California. We twice surveyed publicly accessible areas in these blocks to quantify TEC waste accumulation and its re-accumulation.

Terminology in ecology and evolutionary biology disproportionately harms marginalized groups.

The discipline of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) has long grappled with issues of inclusivity and representation, particularly for individuals with systematically excluded and marginalized backgrounds or identities. For example, significant representation disparities still persist that disproportionately affect women and gender minorities; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); individuals with disabilities; and people who are LGBTQIA+. Recent calls for action have urged the EEB community to directly address issues of representation, inclusion, justice, and equity.

Parenting Self-Efficacy Moderates the Association Between Unmet Parenting Expectations and NICU-Related PTSD Symptoms Reported by Mothers 1-5 Years Post-Infant NICU Hospitalization.

Infant neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization increases maternal risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which may negatively impact mother-child attachment and infant growth and development. Prior studies have documented positive associations between unmet parenting expectations and adverse maternal psychological outcomes, including post-NICU discharge. However, no studies have yet explored how unmet parenting expectations may be associated with maternal NICU-related PTSD symptoms.

Engineering the Ratios of Nanoparticles Dispersed in Triphasic Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications.

Polymer/ceramic nanocomposites integrated the advantages of both polymers and ceramics for a wide range of biomedical applications, such as bone tissue repair. Here, we reported triphasic poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA, LA/GA = 90:10) nanocomposites with improved dispersion of hydroxyapatite (HA) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using a process that integrated the benefits of ultrasonic energy and dual asymmetric centrifugal mixing. We characterized the microstructure and composition of the nanocomposites and evaluated the effects of the HA/MgO ratios on degradation behavior and cell-material interactions.

Gut-brain Axis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome During the Lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Survey-based Study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is influenced by various factors, including socioemotional stressors. The COVID-19 lockdown created a unique environment characterized by reduced social interactions, potentially impacting IBS symptoms.

Aim: To assess how lockdown measures affected symptoms related to the gut-brain axis in IBS patients in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Performance of Ulcer Features in Predicting Malignancy Among Gastric Ulcers Diagnosed on Upper Endoscopy.

Objective: Even though the prevalence of malignancy within gastric ulcers is low, surveillance endoscopy is routinely performed after gastric ulcer diagnosis resulting in unnecessary costs and risks. Endoscopic appearance may be used to identify ulcers with malignant features and guide decisions regarding the need for surveillance endoscopy. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of several endoscopic ulcer features with the risk of prevalent malignancy in patients diagnosed with gastric ulcers.

Fragment-to-Lead Medicinal Chemistry Publications in 2023.

This Perspective summarizes successful fragment-to-lead (F2L) studies that were published in 2023 and is the ninth installment in an annual series. A tabulated summary of the relevant articles published in 2023 is provided (17 entries from 16 articles), and a comparison of the target classes, screening methods, and overall fragment or lead property trends for 2023 examples and for the combined entries over the years 2015-2023 is discussed. In addition, we identify several trends and innovations in the 2023 literature that promise to further increase the success of fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), particularly in the areas of NMR and virtual screening, fragment library design, and fragment linking.

What Matters When Providing Conversational Recast Treatment? A Multilevel Modeling Analysis.

Purpose: Conversational recasting treatment is generally effective. However, different versions of this treatment and different targets may yield different outcomes for children. Here, we directly compare multiple variations of conversational recasting to determine how modifications to delivery and target impact treatment outcomes.

Microelectronic Structure and Doping Nonuniformity of Phosphorus-Doped CdSeTe Solar Cells.

Optimizing group-V doping and Se alloying are two main focuses for advancing CdTe photovoltaic technology. We report on nanometer-scale characterizations of microelectronic structures of phosphorus (P)-doped CdSeTe devices using a combination of two atomic force microscopy-based techniques, namely, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM). KPFM on device cross-section images distribution of the potential drop across the device.