Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades.

Entomology is key to understanding terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems at a time of unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change and offers substantial untapped potential to benefit humanity in a variety of ways, from improving agricultural practices to managing vector-borne diseases and inspiring technological advances.We identified high priority challenges for entomology using an inclusive, open, and democratic four-stage prioritisation approach, conducted among the membership and affiliates (hereafter 'members') of the UK-based Royal Entomological Society (RES).A list of 710 challenges was gathered from 189 RES members.

Selective Recovery of Battery-Grade LiCO from Spent NCM Cathode Materials Using a One-Step Method of CO Carbonation Recovery Without Acids or Bases.

The recovery of spent lithium-ion batteries by traditional acid leaching is limited by serious pollution, complicated technology, and the low purity of LiCO. To address the problems of the traditional acid leaching process and increasing demand for decarbonization, a technique for the selective carbonation leaching of Li and the recovery of battery-grade LiCO by a simple concentration precipitation process without acids or bases was developed. The coupling of CO and reducing agents could effectively promote the precipitation of MCO (M=Ni/Co/Mn) and the selective leaching of Li by decreasing the reducing capability needed for transition metals and decreasing the pH of the solution.

Multi-activity 3D printed assistive technology in children: a case study.

Congenital limb defects occur when a limb does not develop normally during pregnancy. The quality of each person's everyday life is significantly impacted by any of these defects and there is no concrete treatment. 3D modeling and printing, enables the creation and customization of precise virtual and/or physical models, including models of the human anatomy.

Irreversible colorimetric bio-based curcumin bilayer membranes for smart food packaging temperature control applications.

Research into innovative food safety technologies has led to the development of smart packaging with embedded chemical sensors that can monitor food quality throughout the supply chain. Thermochromic materials (TM), which are able to dynamically change colour in response to temperature fluctuations, have proven to be reliable indicators of food quality in certain environments. Natural colourants such as curcumin are becoming increasingly popular for smart packaging due to their low toxicity, environmental friendliness and ability to change colour.

Influence of cooking methods and storage time on colour, texture, and fatty acid profile of a novel fish burger for the prevention of cognitive decline.

Western diets are poor in healthy n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), namely eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), iodine (I), and other nutrients that may protect against cognitive ageing. Given DHA richness in chub mackerel (), high vitamin B9 levels in quinoa (), and I abundance in the seaweed , a functional hamburger rich in these nutrients by using these ingredients was developed. This research focused on the factors affecting its quality by examining the impact of cooking (steaming at 100 °C, roasting at 180 °C, grilling at 180 °C) and storage time (after 4 and 6 months at -20 °C) upon the product's properties.

Environmental sustainability assessment of biodegradable bio-based poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) from agro-residues: Production and end-of-life scenarios.

In the context of a circular bio-based economy, more public attention has been paid to the environmental sustainability of biodegradable bio-based plastics, particularly plastics produced using emerging biotechnologies, e.g. poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV.

An optimized short-term steroid therapy for chronic drug-induced liver injury: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Background And Aims: The use of corticosteroids in chronic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important issue. Our previous randomized controlled trial showed that patients with chronic DILI benefited from a 48-week steroid stepwise reduction (SSR) regimen. However, it remains unclear whether a shorter course of therapy can achieve similar efficacy.

Biological action of bleaching agents on tooth structure: A review.

The use of bleaching agents to remove stains is one of the main dental procedures to improve the aesthetics of teeth. This review presents the main agents used for tooth whitening, existing clinical protocols, and the structural changes that may occur through their use. The main bleaching agents consist of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, which are used in bleaching techniques for vital teeth.

Cardiolipin Membranes Promote Cytochrome Transformation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their In Vivo Metabolites.

The catalytic properties of cytochrome (C) have captured great interest in respect to mitochondrial physiology and apoptosis, and hold potential for novel enzymatic bioremediation systems. Nevertheless, its contribution to the metabolism of environmental toxicants remains unstudied. Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with impactful diseases, and animal models have unveiled concerning signs of PAHs' toxicity to mitochondria.

Simultaneous Purification of Human Interferon Alpha-2b and Serum Albumin Using Bioprivileged Fluorinated Ionic Liquid-Based Aqueous Biphasic Systems.

Interferon alpha-2b (IFN-α2b) is an essential cytokine widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and hairy cell leukemia, and serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein with numerous physiological functions. Effective single-step aqueous biphasic system (ABS) extraction for the simultaneous purification of IFN-α2b and BSA (serum albumin protein) was developed in this work. Effects of the ionic liquid (IL)-based ABS functionalization, fluorinated ILs (FILs; [C​2C​1Im][C​4F​9SO​3] and [N​1112(OH)][C​4F​9SO​3]) vs.

New Biodegradable Copolymers Based on Betulin and Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Derivatives.

In this study, we propose an approach to the synthesis of new biodegradable polymer materials based on renewable raw feedstock (betulin) and derivatives of hydroxycarboxylic acids using a catalyst/catalytic system (γ-AlO, γ-AlO/TBHP) that is safe for health and the environment. The resulting polymers are linear thermoplastic polymers that undergo collapse upon melting in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. Moreover, these polymers demonstrate non-toxicity towards a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

An alternative hybrid lipid nanosystem combining cytotoxic and magnetic properties as a tool to potentiate antitumor effect of 5-fluorouracil.

Aims: Colorectal cancer is the third most frequent type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of cases are diagnosed at a later stage, leading to the need for more aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), known for its high cytotoxic properties has emerged as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Tailoring Mesoporous Silica-Coated Silver Nanoparticles and Polyurethane-Doped Films for Enhanced Antimicrobial Applications.

The global increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a challenge to public health and requires the development of new antibacterial materials. In this study, we examined the bactericidal properties of mesoporous silica-coated silver nanoparticles, varying the core sizes (ca. 28 nm and 51 nm).

Catalysis by Metal-Oxide Nanostructures.

Catalysis is an important field dealing with innovation, sustainability, and materials science that has been witnessing remarkable advancements through nanotechnology [...

Progress and Application of Halide Perovskite Materials for Solar Cells and Light Emitting Devices.

Halide perovskite materials have attracted worldwide attention in the photovoltaic area due to the rapid improvement in efficiency, from less than 4% in 2009 to 26.1% in 2023 with only a nanometer lever photo-active layer. Meanwhile, this nova star found applications in many other areas, such as light emitting, sensor, etc.

Selective Ring-Opening Amination of Isochromans and Tetrahydroisoquinolines.

The molecular structure-editing through selective C-C bond cleavage allows for the precise modification of molecular structures and opens up new possibilities in chemical synthesis. By strategically cleaving C-C bonds and editing the molecular structure, more efficient and versatile pathways for the synthesis of complex compounds could be designed, which brings significant implications for drug development and materials science. o-Aminophenethyl alcohols and amines are the essential key motifs in bioactive and functional material molecules.

Weak Electrostatic Force on K in Gel Polymer Electrolyte Realizes High Ion Transference Number for Quasi Solid-State Potassium Ion Batteries.

Quasi-solid-state potassium-ion batteries (SSPIBs) are of great potential for commercial use due to the abundant reserves and cost-effectiveness of resources, as well as high safety. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) with high ionic conductivity and fast interfacial charge transport are necessary for SSPIBs. Here, the weak electrostatic force between K and electronegative functional groups in the ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) polymer chains, which can promote fast migration of free K, is revealed.

extracts' GC-MS profiles and antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens (MRSA).

The extracts of offer promising potential as renewable resources for various chemical derivative products aimed at addressing antibiotic resistance. These extracts exhibited significant activity against methicillin-resistant (MRSA), a strain known for its resistance to multiple antibiotics. The extracts were found to be effective against several common antibiotics, including Imipenem, Ampicillin, Penicillin G, Oxacillin, and Amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Molecular Interactions between Ionic Liquid Lubricants and Silica Surfaces: An MD Simulation Study.

The unique physicochemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) attracted interest in their application as lubricants of micro/nano-electromechanical systems. This work evaluates the feasibility of using the protic ionic liquids [4-picH][HSO], [4-picH][CHSO], [MIMH][HSO], and [MIMH][CHSO] and the aprotic ILs [Cmim][HSO] and [Cmim][CHSO] as additives to model lubricant poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200) to lubricate silicon surfaces. Additives based on the cation [4-picH] exhibited the best tribological performance, with the optimal value for 2% [4-picH][HSO] in PEG200 (w/w).

Utilizing the oxygen-atom trapping effect of CoO with oxygen vacancies to promote chlorite activation for water decontamination.

Heterogeneous high-valent cobalt-oxo [≡Co(IV)=O] is a widely focused reactive species in oxidant activation; however, the relationship between the catalyst interfacial defects and ≡Co(IV)=O formation remains poorly understood. Herein, photoexcited oxygen vacancies (OVs) were introduced into CoO (OV-CoO) by a UV-induced modification method to facilitate chlorite (ClO) activation. Density functional theory calculations indicate that OVs result in low-coordinated Co atom, which can directionally anchor chlorite under the oxygen-atom trapping effect.

Coronary Artery Calcium Score Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Stable Chest Pain.

Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) has prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic individuals, whereas its role in symptomatic patients is less clear. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of CAC scoring for MACE in participants with stable chest pain initially referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Materials and Methods This prespecified subgroup analysis from the Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients With Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) trial, conducted between October 2015 and April 2019 across 26 centers in 16 countries, focused on adult patients with stable chest pain referred for ICA.

Resilience in patients and family caregivers living with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG): a quantitative study using the brief resilience coping scale (BRCS).

Background: Patients and family caregivers living with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) experience a heavy burden, which can impact their resiliency and quality of life. The study's purpose was to measure the resilience levels of patients and family caregivers living with CDG using the brief resilience coping scale.

Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study with 23 patients and 151 family caregivers living with CDG.