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Light pollution is a global threat to biodiversity, especially migratory organisms, some of which traverse hemispheric scales. Research on light pollution has grown significantly over the past decades, but our review of migratory organisms demonstrates gaps in our understanding, particularly beyond migratory birds. Research across spatial scales reveals the multifaceted effects of artificial light on migratory species, ranging from local and regional to macroscale impacts. These threats extend beyond species that are active at night - broadening the scope of this threat. Emerging tools for measuring light pollution and its impacts, as well as ecological forecasting techniques, present new pathways for conservation, including transdisciplinary approaches.

Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy is a rare multisystemic disease characterised by onset during adulthood and associated with poor prognosis if untreated. A set of signs and symptoms, commonly known as "red flags," have been proposed to assist in early detection of the disease; presence of red flags may suggest underlying hATTR amyloidosis in patients with progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy.We analysed the frequency of red flags at the time of diagnosis in 30 patients with hATTR amyloidosis in a non-endemic area of Spain; onset was late in the majority of patients.The frequencies of the red flags were as follows: bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in 15 patients (50%), early autonomic dysfunction in 17 (56%), gastrointestinal problems in 14 (46.6%), unexplained weight loss in 8 (26.6%), heart disease in 12 (40%), asymptomatic cardiac findings in 13 (43.3%), kidney disease in one (3.3%), vitreous opacities in none, family history of neuropathy in 21 (70%), family history of heart disease in 15 (50%), and family history of gastrointestinal problems in 3 (10%). All patients presented at least one red flag at diagnosis, with a median of 4 red flags.Red flags were common at the time of diagnosis, even in patients with late-onset hATTR amyloidosis. Presence of red flags in a patient with symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy should serve as a warning sign, and lead to targeted diagnosis to rule out hATTR amyloidosis, independently of age of onset.

The conventional treatment for irreversibly inflamed or necrotic teeth is root canal treatment or apexification. Regenerative endodontics aims to regenerate the damaged "pulp-like" tissue, which can preserve the teeth' vitality and sensitivity while avoiding necrosis. The main clinical benefit is root maturation. The "pulp-like" tissue does not refer to regenerated pulp tissue with an odontoblastic layer or the formation of pulp-dentin complexes. The cell homing technique is built on endogenous stem cells and their capacity to regenerate tissue. Cell homing refers to endogenous cells' migration or infiltration into the cite when stimulated by physiochemical or biological stimuli or by passive flow with a blood clot from the apical tissue. Its Regenerative Endodontic Procedures success criteria are defined by the American Association of Endodontists. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of vital pulp tissue and various strategies to promote regeneration of damaged pulp tissue. The cell homing technique will be reviewed through clinical trials.We performed a comprehensive literature review on a total of nine clinical trials of regenerative endodontics using the cell-homing technique based on three databases and duplicate manuscripts were removed.Regenerative endodontics using the cell-homing technique shows promising results that can be translated into clinical practice. However, a favorable result was observed in immature teeth, and the results are contradictory in mature teeth.Regeneration therapy is an attractive new alternative to conventional endodontic treatments. Preservation of vitality and continuation of root development in damaged teeth would be a clear advantage.

Background: Macrophages are the major resident immune cells in human airways coordinating responses to infection and injury. In cystic fibrosis (CF), neutrophils are recruited to the airways shortly after birth, and actively exocytose damaging enzymes prior to chronic infection, suggesting a potential defect in macrophage immunomodulatory function. Signaling through the exhaustion marker programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) controls macrophage function in cancer, sepsis, and airway infection. Therefore, we sought to identify potential associations between macrophage PD-1 and markers of airway disease in children with CF. Methods: Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected from 45 children with CF aged 3 to 62 months and structural lung damage was quantified by computed tomography. The phenotype of airway leukocytes was assessed by flow cytometry, while the release of enzymes and immunomodulatory mediators by molecular assays. Results: Airway macrophage PD-1 expression correlated positively with structural lung damage, neutrophilic inflammation, and infection. Interestingly, even in the absence of detectable infection, macrophage PD-1 expression was elevated and correlated with neutrophilic inflammation. In an in vitro model mimicking leukocyte recruitment into CF airways, soluble mediators derived from recruited neutrophils directly induced PD-1 expression on recruited monocytes/macrophages, suggesting a causal link between neutrophilic inflammation and macrophage PD-1 expression in CF. Finally, blockade of PD-1 in a short-term culture of CF BALF leukocytes resulted in improved pathogen clearance. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that in early CF lung disease, PD-1 upregulation associates with airway macrophage exhaustion, neutrophil takeover, infection, and structural damage.

We sought to determine if soluble levels of C5b-9, the terminal complement complex, correlate with end-organ injury in preeclampsia.Project COPA (Complement and Preeclampsia in the Americas), a multi-center observational study in Colombia from 2015 to 2016, enrolled hypertensive pregnant women into four groups: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with severe features. Trained coordinators collected clinical data, blood and urine. End-organ injury was defined by serum creatinine ≥ 1.0 mg/dl, aspartate transaminase ≥ 70U/L, platelet count 150,000/µl, or lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 500 U/L. Data were analyzed by χC5b-9 concentrations in plasma and urine, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays.In total, 298 hypertensive participants were enrolled. Plasma and urine C5b-9 levels were measured in all participants and stratified by quartile (Q1-4), from lowest to highest C5b-9 concentration. Participants with low plasma C5b-9 levels (Q1) were more likely to have end-organ injury compared to those with higher levels (Q2-Q4) [platelet count 150,000/μl (20.8% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.01); elevated serum creatinine ≥ 1.0 mg/dl (14.9% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.009)]. In contrast, participants with high urinary C5b-9 levels (Q4) were more likely to have end-organ injury compared to those with lower levels (Q1-Q3) [platelet count 150,000/μl (19.7% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.003); elevated serum creatinine ≥ 1.0 mg/dl (12.3% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.025)].We identified a pattern of increased urine and low plasma C5b-9 levels in patients with preeclampsia and end-organ injury. Soluble C5b-9 levels may be used to identify complement-mediated end-organ injury in preeclampsia.

espanolEl registro de lupus de la Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia (RELESSER) es un registro multicentrico de pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistemico seguidos en servicios de reumatologia espanoles, que contiene cuantiosa informacion sobre 4.024 pacientes. Hasta la fecha han sido publicados 14 analisis sobre la fase transversal del registro. Se describen los resultados mas relevantes, a criterio de los autores, concernientes a las caracteristicas clinicas acumuladas, nivel de actividad, tratamientos, refractariedad, dano y mortalidad. Se revisan asimismo los resultados de analisis especificos sobre el lupus incompleto, la nefritis lupica, las manifestaciones respiratorias, los eventos cardiovasculares, las infecciones graves, las neoplasias, la fibromialgia, el lupus en varones, el lupus en latinoamericanos y el lupus de inicio juvenil, comparando los diferentes subgrupos con el total de la cohorte. RELESSER se ha constituido como uno de los registros clinicos de lupus eritematoso sistemico mas importantes del mundo, resultando altamente productivo en terminos de generacion de conocimiento de la enfermedad en pacientes espanoles, util tambien para toda la comunidad cientifica. EnglishThe lupus register of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (RELESSER) is a multicentre register of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under follow-up by Spanish Rheumatology Services. It contains data on a total of 4024 patients with SLE. So far, 14 studies have been published from the transversal phase of RELESSER. Here we report the more relevant contributions of those studies, according to the authors’ perspective, concerning cumulative clinical characteristics, level of activity, treatments, refractory disease, damage and mortality. We also review the main results of the analysis regarding incomplete SLE, lupus nephritis, respiratory manifestations, cardiovascular disease, serious infection, malignancies, fibromyalgia, SLE in males, SLE in Hispanics and juvenile-onset SLE, comparing the main characteristics of each subgroup to the global cohort. RELESSER has become one of the most important clinical SLE registers around the world, with a high yield in terms of knowledge generation about the disease in Spain, also useful for the entire scientific community.

Objective Anatomical risk factors predisposing to ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and/or avulsion fractures of tibial spines (AFET) have been reported in paediatric patients with controversial results. Our aim is to compare morphometric parameters in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with immature skeleton presenting AFET or ACL rupture versus healthy controls. Methods Observational study of a transverse cohort where all those patients with immature skeleton presenting ACL rupture or AFET were collected consecutively. A control group of patients with open physis and MRI reported without lesions was added. A trained observer measured in each MRI with previously standardized technique: (A) the width of the intercondylar femoral notch, (B) the opening angle of the intercondylar femoral notch. Results The sample was composed of 11 patients with ACL rupture, 11 patients with TEA and 11 normal controls. The opening angle of the intercondylar femoral notch, measured in axial and coronal sections, was significantly lower in those patients with ACL rupture versus healthy controls (p = .0256 and p = .0097). The rest of the variables studied did not present significant differences between groups. Conclusion In patients with an immature skeleton, a narrower femoral intercondylar notch is associated with ACL rupture, while those with an ETF do not present a distinctive bone anatomy versus healthy controls. These findings suggest that bone morphometric parameters are associated with a lesional or other pattern in open-knee.

The lupus register of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (RELESSER) is a multicentre register of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under follow-up by Spanish Rheumatology Services. It contains data on a total of 4024 patients with SLE. So far, 14 studies have been published from the transversal phase of RELESSER. Here we report the more relevant contributions of those studies, according to the authors' perspective, concerning cumulative clinical characteristics, level of activity, treatments, refractory disease, damage and mortality. We also review the main results of the analysis regarding incomplete SLE, lupus nephritis, respiratory manifestations, cardiovascular disease, serious infection, malignancies, fibromyalgia, SLE in males, SLE in Hispanics and juvenile-onset SLE, comparing the main characteristics of each subgroup to the global cohort. RELESSER has become one of the most important clinical SLE registers around the world, with a high yield in terms of knowledge generation about the disease in Spain, also useful for the entire scientific community.

Despite several theoretically proposed two-dimensional (2D) diamond structures, experimental efforts to obtain such structures are in initial stage. Recent high-pressure experiments provided significant advancements in the field, however, expected properties of a 2D-like diamond such as sp3 content, transparency and hardness, have not been observed together in a compressed graphene system. Here, we compress few-layer graphene samples on SiO2/Si substrate in water and provide experimental evidence for the formation of a quenchable hard, transparent, sp3-containing 2D phase. Our Raman spectroscopy data indicates phase transition and a surprisingly similar critical pressure for two-, five-layer graphene and graphite in the 4–6 GPa range, as evidenced by changes in several Raman features, combined with a lack of evidence of significant pressure gradients or local non-hydrostatic stress components of the pressure medium up to ≈ 8 GPa. The new phase is transparent and hard, as evidenced from indentation marks on the SiO2 substrate, a material considerably harder than graphene systems. Furthermore, we report the lowest critical pressure ( ≈ 4 GPa) in graphite, which we attribute to the role of water in facilitating the phase transition. Theoretical calculations and experimental data indicate a novel, surface-to-bulk phase transition mechanism that gives hint of diamondene formation.

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease has been subjected to laboratory-based surveillance in Latin American and Caribbean countries since 1993. Invasive pneumococcal diseases remain a major cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in children. We therefore aimed to assess the direct effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in children younger than 5 years before and after PCV introduction.We did a multicentre, retrospective observational study in eight countries that had introduced PCV (ie, PCV countries) in the Latin American and Caribbean region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Cuba and Venezuela were also included as non-PCV countries. Isolate data for Streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained between 2006 and 2017 from children younger than 5 years with an invasive pneumococcal disease from local laboratories or hospitals. Species' confirmation and capsular serotyping were done by the respective national reference laboratories. Databases from the Sistema Regional de Vacunas (SIREVA) participating countries were managed and cleaned in a unified database using Microsoft Excel 2016 and the program R (version 3.6.1). Analysis involved percentage change in vaccine serotypes between pre-PCV and post-PCV periods and the annual reporting rate of invasive pneumococcal diseases per 100 000 children younger than 5 years, which was used as a population reference to calculate percentage vaccine type reduction.Between 2006 and 2017, 12 269 isolates of invasive pneumococcal disease were collected from children younger than 5 years in the ten Latin American and Caribbean countries. The ten serotypes included in ten-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) decreased significantly (p0·0001) after any PCV introduction, except for the Dominican Republic. The percentage change for the ten vaccine serotypes in PCV10 countries was -91·6% in Brazil (530 [72·9%] of 727 before, 27 [6·1%] of 441 after); -85·0% in Chile (613 [72·6%] of 844 before, 44 [10·9%] of 404] after); -84·7% in Colombia (231 [63·1%] of 366 before, 34 [9·7%] of 352 after); and -73·8% in Paraguay (127 [77·0%] of 165 before, 22 [20·2%] of 109 after). In the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) countries, the percentage change for the 13 vaccine serotypes was -59·6% in Argentina (853 [85·0%] of 1003 before, 149 [34·3%] of 434 after); -16·5% in the Dominican Republic (95 [80·5%] of 118 before, 39 [67·2%] of 58 after); -43·7% in Mexico (202 [73·2%] of 276 before, 63 [41·2%] of 153 after); and -45·9% in Uruguay (138 [80·7%] of 171 before, 38 [43·7%] of 87 after). Annual reporting rates showed a reduction from -82·5% (6·21 before vs 1·09 after per 100 000, 95% CI -61·6 to -92·0) to -94·7% (1·15 vs 0·06 per 100 000, -89·7 to -97·3) for PCV10 countries, and -58·8% (2·98 vs 1·23 per 100 000, -21·4 to -78·4) to -82·9% (7·80 vs 1·33 per 100 000, -76·9 to -87·4) for PCV13 countries. An increase in the amount of non-vaccine types was observed in the eight countries after PCV introduction together with an increase in their percentage in relation to total invasive strains in the post-PCV period.SIREVA laboratory surveillance was able to confirm the effect of PCV vaccine on serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in the eight PCV countries. Improved monitoring of the effect and trends in vaccine type as well as in non-vaccine type isolates is needed, as this information will be relevant for future decisions associated with new PCVs.None.For the Portuguese and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Background Some traditional single-leg squat tests focused on number of repetitions may not demand precise control of lower limb dynamic alignment, especially in the frontal and transverse planes. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate test–retest reliability and construct validity of a novel single-leg squat test – the ‘precision-squat test’ (PST) – designed to assess performance under varying task demands that can impact the execution of lower limb movements. A secondary objective was to investigate whether musculoskeletal factors predict performance in the PST in healthy individuals. Methods Thirty healthy participants were assessed to verify test–retest reliability. To verify the test’s construct validity, we compared the performance of 21 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) individuals and 21 matched controls. Finally, 36 healthy individuals were assessed to verify the musculoskeletal factors related to PST performance. All participants performed the PST: they executed single-leg squats while moving a laser pointer (attached to the thigh) between two targets. We varied target size and distance between targets to manipulate the task difficulty. Results Reliability of the PST was excellent at all demand levels (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)(3,2) > 0.93). Squat time increased under test conditions involving higher task difficulty (P Conclusions PST is a valid and reliable tool to assess performance of healthy and ACLR individuals. In addition, hip and knee strength are associated with performance during the test.

Funding Information: The scientific work was funded by the Project WHO Collaborating Centre funded by the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge , I.P. Lisbon, Portugal ( 2013DAN850 ), by the METROFOOD-PP project, funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 871083 and by Project UIDB/04292/2020 granted to MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre , and project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET - Aquatic Research Network . Funding Information: The scientific work was funded by the Project WHO Collaborating Centre funded by the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, I.P. Lisbon, Portugal (2013DAN850), by the METROFOOD-PP project, funded by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 871083 and by Project UIDB/04292/2020 granted to MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, and project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET - Aquatic Research Network. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors Iodine is an essential trace element, and its nutritional importance is well established. The iodine content of school meals of Portuguese children aged between 6 and 10 years (collected in the metropolitan area of Lisbon) was analyzed by ICP-MS. The samples were cooked with and without iodized salt and additionally some complementary foods were purchased as supplements to the main meals or to the other meal along the day. The results report six meals per day and they suggest that at least one main meals (lunch or dinner) prepared with iodized salt is enough to reach the recommended daily iodine intake (AI), 90 µg/day, not exceeding the tolerable upper intake (UL) level of 300 µg/day. When both main meals are cooked without iodized salt, 11 % of the hypotheses present an iodine content less than 90 µg/day. However, when lunch and dinner are prepared with iodized salt, 1 % exceeds the value of the UL. The food groups with the highest levels of iodine are daily products and fish. These results presuppose a balanced diet without any dietary restrictions. So, for ideological or medical reasons, special attention must be paid to diets with some limitations, such as vegetarian, lactose or high content of proteins free diets. publishersversion published

Molecular electrochemistry is closely linked to life sciences. Electron transfers play important roles in the bioactivation of redox-active drugs, in their metabolism/catabolism, and in their targeted release at precise destinations and frequently promote their ligand–target interactions. Altogether, this rich chemistry and the complexity of cellular environments and biocompartmentation often impede full investigation in situ of the whole chain of processes that sustain their therapeutic applications. Conversely, electrochemical ex situ investigations of drug properties and interactions performed in aqueous/aprotic/micellar/membrane/cell-mimetic media, combined with in vitro and in vivo data, are expected to provide extremely useful information on these processes. Therein, considering the ubiquitous case of quinones, we exemplified how such strategies allow controlling their beneficial or negative impact on cellular environments.

On the Ground • We surveyed residents across Oklahoma about their awareness of prescribed fire. • Most respondents expressed support for prescribed fire for managing rangelands. • Although there was support for prescribed fire, few individuals implemented it. • Of the several reasons given for not burning, the most common were lack of training, lack of equipment, and choosing not to burn.

The MCM-41 silica possesses a structure characterized by a hexagonal mesoporous organization with a unidimensional system of pores. This as-synthesized silica contains cations (usually C16TA+) in the pores and catalytic sites that are basic due to the presence of the siloxy ions ( SiO−) associated with the cations. This work investigates the effects of the use of cationic alkyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants (CnTABr, where n = 10, 12, 14, or 16) on the catalytic properties of silicas containing these occluded cations. The hybrid silicas were synthesized at a temperature of 30 °C, using a synthesis time of 2 h, and were subsequently characterized by X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The basicity of the siloxy sites modified by the cations used in the synthesis of the hybrid silicas was evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results obtained using a model monoester transesterification catalytic reaction showed that the TOF0 value increased with the size of the hydrophobic tail of the surfactant and was highest for the catalyst prepared with C16TABr. In addition, the hybrid silicas presented increased relative intensity (RI%) and smaller particle size.

A metrological framework for statistical analysis of number of layers and stacking order in mass-produced graphene using Raman spectroscopy is presented. The method is based on two complementary protocols, denominated by 2D and G. The 2D–protocol is based on the parameterized principal component analysis of the two-phonon 2D band, and it measures interlayer coupling. A neural-network algorithm for spectral denoising was also developed to improve the outcome. The G–protocol explores the intensity of the bond-stretching G band, and provides information about the number of layers. The method is suitable for automated statistical analysis of heterogeneous graphene-based systems with relatively low computational cost, as shown here for graphene flakes prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite.

This work describes the synthesis of silicas containing cetyltrialkylammonium and alkyltripropylammonium (CnPr3Br, n = 14–22) surfactants in their mesopores. The aqueous dispersions of these surfactants were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The hybrid silicas synthesized from the dispersions were evaluated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen physisorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as in terms of their catalytic properties. The mesoporous silicas synthesized using cetyltrialkylammonium surfactants showed increases in pore diameter and decreases in structural order as the head group of the surfactant became larger. An increase of the alkyltripropylammonium tail also resulted in silicas with larger pore diameters, but with better structural order. The mesoporous silica with the largest pore diameter (3.60 nm), which was synthesized with C22Pr3Br surfactant, exhibited a narrower pore diameter distribution and a hexagonal organization characteristic of MCM-41 silica. The catalytic properties of the hybrid silicas synthesized using the cetyltrialkylammonium surfactants were evaluated in the transesterification reaction, in which the silica containing C16Et3+ cations showed the highest catalytic performance.

Vinasse has been successfully used as carbon and non-metals precursor for the synthesis of N-S-doped nanoporous carbon materials. The procedure involves the hydrothermal treatment of vinasse (HTV), and subsequent physical activation with CO2 in absence (VP) and presence of cobalt (VPCo). The N2 physisorption and SEM images showed the development of porous in the material, with BET surface area values ranging from 7.17 (HTV) to 734 m2 g−1 (VPCo), and the formation of carbon-spheres. Spectroscopy techniques (FTIR and XPS) demonstrated the insertion of nitrogen and sulfur elements, as well as the presence of cobalt into the carbon lattice. The electrocatalytic activity experiments toward the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, and hydrazine oxidation reaction were superior for VPCo, which gave onset values of 0.91, 1.60 and 0.36 V vs. RHE, respectively. Additionally, VP was selective for H2O2, while VPCo catalyzed ORR via a four-electron pathway.

In this work we consider the following class of quasilinear coupled systems − Δ u + a ( x ) u − Δ ( u 2 ) u = g ( u ) + θ α λ ( x ) | u | α − 2 u | v | β , x ∈ R N , − Δ v + b ( x ) v − Δ ( v 2 ) v = h ( v ) + θ β λ ( x ) | v | β − 2 v | u | α , x ∈ R N , where N ≥ 3 and a , b : R N → R are positive potentials, λ : R N → R is a nonnegative continuous function, θ > 0 and α , β > 2 satisfying α + β 2 ⋅ 2 ∗ . On the nonlinear terms we assume that g , h are in C 1 class which are superlinear functions at infinity and at the origin. We deal with nonlinearities g and h being subcritical or critical. The coupling term is a subcritical function which is superlinear at infinity. Our main theorem is stated without the well known Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition at infinity. Using a change of variable, we turn the quasilinear coupled system into a nonlinear coupled system, where we establish a variational approach based on Nehari method.

The Wessex Basin (United Kingdom) includes hundreds of meters of Lower Cretaceous clays, silts, and sands deposited in a wide range of depositional environments. Studies have investigated these depositional systems from the organic matter (OM) perspective. However, questions remain concerning the composition, source, and the overall depositional constraints on the distribution of sedimentary OM in this area. Elemental (carbonate % and total organic carbon - TOC) and pyrolysis analyses were conducted on representative lithofacies of the Lower Cretaceous from the Wessex Basin at the Compton Bay and Atherfield sections, Isle of Wight. The highest TOC contents were determined in the upper part of the Ferruginous Sands and Sandrock formations. These elevated TOC intervals are associated with predominantly estuarine deposition. Except for one sample from the Vectis Formation, Hydrogen Index (HI) in all studied units is low and indicates Type IV kerogen assemblages, interpreted to be linked with strongly variable climates (with pronounced dry periods) and significant water table fluctuations in the source area and during transport. The one sample with a Type II-III kerogen assemblage from the lagoonal Vectis Formation supports previous studies which suggested that OM in the Vectis Formation varied vertically as a function of fluvial sediment and terrestrial organic matter input to the lagoonal environment with changes in salinity, sediment resuspension, and turbulence as a result controlling the abundance of dinoflagellate cysts.

The scope of the present research aims at demonstrating the 3D printing use in the manufacturing of microchannels for chemical process applications. A comparison among digital model processing applications for 3D print (slicers) and a print layer thickness analysis were performed. The 3D print fidelity was verified in several devices, including the microchannels' printing with and without micromixer zones. In order to highlight the 3D print potential in Chemical Engineering, the biodiesel synthesis was also carried out in a millireactor manufactured by 3D printing. The millireactor operated under laminar flow regime with a total flow rate of 75.25 ml ∙ min−1 (increment of about 130 times over traditional microdevices used for biodiesel production). The printed millireactor provided a maximum yield of Ethyl Esters of 73.51% at 40 °C, ethanol:oil molar ratio of 7 and catalyst concentration of 1.25 wt% and residence time about 10 s. As a result of flow rate increment attained in the millireactor, the number of required units for scaling-up the chemical processes is reduced. Using the approach described in the present research, anyone could produce their own millireactor for chemical process in a simple way with the aid of a 3D printer.