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Dittmarite-group NH 4 (Co 1- x Mn x )PO 4 ·H 2 O particles were prepared via a hydrothermal route. Single-phase platelike NH 4 (Co 1- x Mn x )PO 4 ·H 2 O particles were obtained from aqueous solutions containing MnCl 2 ·4H 2 O, CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O, and (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 , where the [Mn 2+ ]/([Co 2+ ] + [Mn 2+ ]) mole ratios in the products were controlled by changing the MnCl 2 and CoCl 2 concentrations of the precursor solutions. The vivid violet colour of the ammonium cobalt phosphate (NH 4 CoPO 4 ·H 2 O) particles was maintained upon substitution of Co 2+ with Mn 2+ ions up to x = 0.8, thus achieving an 80% saving of cobalt in the preparation of violet pigments., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The therian-specific gene paternally expressed 10 (Peg10) plays an essential role in placenta formation: Peg10 knockout mice exhibit early embryonic lethality as a result of severe placental defects. The PEG10 protein exhibits homology with long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon GAG and POL proteins; therefore, we generated mice harboring a mutation in the highly conserved viral aspartic protease motif in the POL-like region of PEG10 because this motif is essential for the life cycle of LTR retrotransposons/retroviruses. Intriguingly, frequent perinatal lethality, not early embryonic lethality, was observed with fetal and placental growth retardation starting mid-gestation. In the mutant placentas, severe defects were observed in the fetal vasculature, where PEG10 is expressed in the three trophoblast cell layers that surround fetal capillary endothelial cells. Thus, Peg10 has essential roles, not only in early placenta formation, but also in placental vasculature maintenance from mid- to late-gestation. This implies that along the feto-maternal placenta interface an interaction occurs between two retrovirus-derived genes, Peg10 and retrotransposon Gag like 1 (Rtl1, also called Peg11), that is essential for the maintenance of fetal capillary endothelial cells., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2021. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)