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We present a facile method to produce propylene sulphide (PS) homopolymers up to 100 kg mol−1 and PS-epoxide statistical, block, and ABA copolymers using inexpensive and versatile thio-aluminium (SAl) based initiators.

To compare first-line surgery with first-line assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) without colorectal involvement.A retrospective comparative cohort study with a propensity-score matching analysis, in four tertiary-care referral centers. The population was infertile women with DIE without colorectal involvement. The patients were managed either by first-line surgery followed by spontaneous conception attempts and/or ART, or by first-line ART. 284 patients were extracted from the databases. After matching, 92 patients were compared in each group. Clinical pregnancy rates (PR) and live-birth rates (LBR) were the primary outcomes, and cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) were the secondary outcomes.The mean number of IVF-ICSI cycles per patient was 1.4, with a significant difference between the groups: 1.6 in the first-line ART group and 1.2 in the first-line surgery group (p = 0.006). The PR was significantly higher in the first-line surgery group (72 % vs 35 %; p 0.001). In the first-line surgery group, non-ART pregnancies occurred in 18 % (17/92) while no non-ART pregnancies was noted in the first-line ART group. The LBR was significantly higher in the first-line surgery group (61 % vs 24 %; p 0.001). After ART, the CPR were 72 % (47/67) in the first-line surgery group, and 35 % (32/92) in the first-line ART group (p 0.001).After matching, our results support that first-line surgery offer higher pregnancy and live-birth rates than first-line ART in patients with DIE without colorectal involvement.

Ensuring global food security and environmental sustainability is dependent upon the contribution of the world's hundred million smallholder farms, but the contributions of smallholder farms to global agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been understudied. We developed a localized agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA) database to calculate GHG emissions and made the first extensive assessment of the smallholder farms' GHG emission reduction potentials by coupling crop and livestock production (CCLP), a redesign of current practices toward sustainable agriculture in China. CCLP can reduce the GHG emission intensity by 17.67%, with its own feed and manure returning to the field as an essential path. Scenario analysis verified that greater GHG emission reduction (28.09%-41.32%) will be achieved by restructuring CCLP. Therefore, this mixed farming is a mode with broader benefits to provide sustainable agricultural practices for reducing GHG emissions fairly. ispartof: ISCIENCE vol:26 issue:6 ispartof: location:United States status: accepted

This paper presents a review of established and emerging methods for detecting and quantifying the intravenous anaesthetic propofol in solution. There is growing evidence of numerous advantages of total intravenous anaesthesia using propofol compared to conventional volatile-based anaesthesia, both in terms of patient outcomes and environmental impact. However, volatile-based anaesthesia still accounts for the vast majority of administered general anaesthetics, largely due to a lack of techniques for real-time monitoring of patient blood propofol concentration. Herein, propofol detection techniques that have been developed to date are reviewed alongside a discussion of remaining challenges.

We present a new method for epoxide polymerizations utilizing aluminum-based initiators, which leverage the chemical versatility of thiol compounds to control the polymer end group. The homo- and c...

Lignin has an enormous valorization potential as a sustainable raw material. The most common source of industrial lignin is black liquor, a byproduct from the kraft process. However, the variabilit...

Despite the growing evidence of improved patient outcomes and of a substantially reduced environmental impact of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia when compared to volatile-based techniques, the vast majority of general anesthetics still use volatile agents for the maintenance phase. A significant reason for this is the lack of suitable point-of-care, real-time blood propofol measurement techniques. Here we present an enzyme-based electrochemical biosensor for the detection of propofol. Deactivated yeast cells expressing the enzyme cytochrome P450 2B6 are immobilized, alongside gold nanoparticles, within a chitosan film upon the surface of a screen printed electrode. In the presence of the cofactor NADPH, the enzyme converts propofol to a quinone/quinol redox pair that can be detected using simple electrochemistry. This approach avoids the issue of electrode fouling that commonly renders electrochemical propofol sensors impractical. The sensor has a limit of detection of 67 ± 7 ng/ml and a sensitivity of 4.2 ± 0.2 nA/ $\mu \text{g}$ /ml/mm $^{\mathbf {2}}$ . It has been successfully demonstrated in a serum-like solution and has shown a linear response across the therapeutic range of propofol (1 – $10~\mu \text{g}$ /ml). Additionally, the sensor has shown good specificity with regards to potential interfering compounds.

Dupilumab, an anti-IL-4ɑ monoclonal antibody, has shown a positive benefit-risk ratio when treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in clinical studies (1). High persistence on dupilumab has recently been reported in clinical-practice setting with 77% of patients remaining in treatment for 12 months in a retrospective study including 1,963 patients with AD but reasons for discontinuation were not investigated (2).

The Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), established in 2011, develops and commissions research projects, analysis and synthesis that directly informs ongoing water policy and regulatory processes in Scotland. The Centre is an established and trusted knowledge broker, informing policy, agency and other relevant stakeholders of current understanding and future expected changes across the water sector. All activities are supported by academic excellence and expertise from Scotland’s universities, research institutes and other UK centres. The “here-and-now” delivery within CREW is built around keeping pace with developing and emerging policy challenges, drawing on experts within the water community to deliver timely outcomes. Projects are co-constructed with relevant policy stakeholders to ensure cross-organisational priorities are met.

A set of copolymerization data at prescribed reactivity ratios was numerically generated and then fit using common methods of data analysis including the copolymer equation, Fineman–Ross, Kelen–Tud...

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is among the most commonly per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in environmental samples. Nevertheless, the effect of this legacy persistent organic contaminant has never been investigated on corals to date. Corals are the keystone organisms of coral reef ecosystems and sensitive to rising ocean temperatures, but it is not understood how the combination of elevated temperature and PFOS exposure will affect them. Therefore, the aims of the present study were (1) to evaluate the time-dependent bioconcentration and depuration of PFOS in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata using a range of PFOS exposure concentrations, and (2) to assess the individual and combined effects of PFOS exposure and elevated seawater temperature on key physiological parameters of the corals. Our results show that the coral S. pistillata rapidly bioconcentrates PFOS from the seawater and eliminates it 14 days after ceasing the exposure. We also observed an antagonistic effect between elevated temperature and PFOS exposure. Indeed, a significantly reduced PFOS bioconcentration was observed at high temperature, likely due to a loss of symbionts and a higher removal of mucus compared to ambient temperature. Finally, concentrations of PFOS consistent with ranges observed in surface waters were non-lethal to corals, in the absence of other stressors. However, PFOS increased lipid peroxidation in coral tissue, which is an indicator of oxidative stress and enhanced the thermal stress-induced impairment of coral physiology. This study provides valuable insights into the combined effects of PFOS exposure and ocean warming for coral's physiology. PFOS is usually the most prevalent but not the only PFAS defected in reef waters, and thus it will be also important to monitor PFAS mixture concentrations in the oceans and to study their combined effects on aquatic wildlife.

We describe the development of a new method for construction of highly substituted indole scaffolds through the strategic utilizing of the metathesis of Ar-X σ-bonds based on the dynamic nature of palladium-based oxidative addition/reductive elimination. A suitable and simple catalytic system has provided an appropriate platform for a productive ligand exchange and consecutive carbopalladation/C-H activation/amination of phosphine ligands with alkynes and aromatic/aliphatic amines for construction of structurally diverse indoles.

The microscopic origin of mechanical enhancement in polymer nanocomposite (PNC) melts is investigated through the combination of rheology and small-angle neutron scattering. It is shown that in the absence of an extensive particle network, the molecular deformation of polymer chains dominates the stress response on intermediate time scales. Quantitative analyses of small-angle neutron scattering spectra, however, reveal no enhanced structural anisotropy in the PNCs, compared with the pristine polymers under the same deformation conditions. These results demonstrate that the mechanical reinforcement of PNCs is not due to molecular overstraining, but instead a redistribution of strain field in the polymer matrix, akin to the classical picture of hydrodynamic effect of nanoparticles.

International audience

For a long time, priority has been given to urban development at the expense of agriculture and the rural economy, so widening the gap between urban and rural areas in China. The way rapid urbanization has brought threats to the surrounding environment, and the consequent changes have implications for both rural and urban livelihoods and well-being. Urbanization has increased the pressure on farmers and makes it less economic to farm in a traditional way, while it also provides opportunities for alternative, higher value agricultural enterprises to take advantage of urban market. With more rural people moving into cities, occupational hazards of the working environments，low awareness of health risk, and poor living conditions make them more vulnerable to health risks than other groups. Several strategies particularly relating to agricultural reform and rural-urban migration need to be considered at the national level for sustainable cities. We also suggest ways of handling the delicate rural-urban relationship for smooth social transformation.

A mono(μ-oxo)bis(alkylaluminum) (MOB) catalyst and initiator for epoxide polymerization, [(H3C)2NCH2CH2(μ2-O)Al(iBu)2·Al(iBu)3] (1), produced a ca. 170-fold enhancement in epoxide polymerization rate over previously reported MOB initiators demonstrated with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE). This discovery reduces polymerization times to minutes. 1 exhibited an exponential dependence of polymerization rate on concentration, rather than an expected low integer order relationship. A proposed polymerization intermediate was identified via direct synthesis, isolation, kinetic comparison, and corroborating in situ spectroscopic evidence to be a symmetric bis((μ-alkoxo)dialkylaluminum) (BOD) with a characteristic R3N·AlR′3 (N–Al) adduct. The N–Al adduct on the BOD intermediate is proposed to act as a catalyst, whereas the aluminoxane ring is proposed to be the site of monomer enchainment on the basis of mass spectrometry and spectroscopic analysis of resultant polymer structure. The distinct catalytic and initiation/p...

Pollution and climate change are among the most challenging issues for countries with developing economies, but we know little about the ecological risks that result when these pressures occur together. We explored direct effects of, and interactions between, environmental pollution and climate change on ecosystem health in the Bohai Sea region of Northern China. We developed an integrated approach to assess ecological risks to this region under four scenarios of climate change. Although ecological risks to the system from pollution alone have been declining, interactions between pollution and climate change have enhanced ecological risks to this coastal/marine ecosystem. Our results suggest that current policies focused strictly on pollution control alone should be changed to take into account the interactive effects of climate change so as to better forecast and manage potential ecological risks.

Polysulfide-shuttle has been a critical concern for the advancement of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Celgard membranes that are generally used in Li-S batteries exhibit a porous structure with a pore dimension generally on the micrometer scale. During cell operation, soluble lithium polysulfide species can easily migrate from the cathode through the porous separator and react with the lithium-metal anode. Such an unexpected chemical reaction induces a cascade of negative effects on the overall performance of Li-S batteries. Use of ion-selective membranes with reduced pore size provides a promising approach to suppress the migration of polysulfide species. In this study, a membrane based on a polymer with intrinsic nanoporosity (PIN) with a pore size of

Allergies are frequently implicated in ophthalmologic practice. These typically benign allergies can be potentially severe for the ocular surface and have an impact in everyday life. We relate, through a case of keratoconjunctivitis involving 2 types of hypersensitivity, the various triggers and therapeutic choices to allow a more effective treatment.

A combined theoretical and experimental investigation into the structure and mechanism of the classical Vandenberg catalyst for the isoselective polymerization of epoxides has led to a consistent mechanistic proposal. The most likely reaction pathway was based on a bis(μ-oxo)di(aluminum) (BOD) resting state that proceeded through a mono(μ-oxo)di(aluminum) (MOD) transition state. The isoselectivity of the Vandenberg catalyst was derived from the rigidity of the BOD structure and its bonding to the ultimate and penultimate oxygen heteroatoms along the polyether backbone. The energetic driving force for isoselectivity was the loss of an energetically favorable secondary Al–O interaction during enchainment of oppositely configured epoxides, providing a ca. 2 kcal/mol driving force for the emergent isoselectivity. Experimental spectroscopic and kinetic evidence based on model BOD and MOD complexes support the new mechanistic framework developed using density functional theory calculations. A purposefully synth...

A new method for oligonucleotide detection is presented based on oligonucleotide cross-linked polymer composites. Conductive carbon nanoparticles are incorporated into a DNA-functionalised polymer, containing partially complementary oligonucleotide cross-linkers, which is polymerised in situ upon interdigitated electrodes. In the presence of an aqueous solution of a specific analyte oligonucleotide sequence, the cross-linkers are cleaved, leading to increased swelling. As the polymer swells the relative density of the conductive particles decreases, leading to an easily measurable decrease in electrical conductivity. We demonstrate that such are capable of discriminating between analyte and control solutions, with single-base specificity, in under 3min. The lower detection limit of these composites is of the order of 10nM. The swelling characteristics of these composites is confirmed by optical imaging and the effects of varying temperature upon such composites are also reported. Keywords: Oligonucleotide sensor, DNA sensor, Bio-responsive, Nanocomposite, Hydrogel, Smart material

Because of the considerable parameter space, efficient theoretical and simulation methods are required to predict the morphology and guide experiments in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). Unfortunately, theoretical and simulation methods are restricted in their ability to accurately map to experiments based on necessary approximations and numerical limitations. In this study, we provide direct comparisons of two recently developed coarse-grained approaches for modeling polymer nanocomposites (PNCs): polymer nanocomposite field theory (PNC-FT) and dynamic mean-field theory (DMFT). These methods are uniquely suited to efficiently capture mesoscale phase behavior of PNCs in comparison to other theoretical and simulation frameworks. We demonstrate the ability of both methods to capture macrophase separation and describe the thermodynamics of PNCs. We systematically test how the nanoparticle morphology in PNCs is affected by a uniform probability distribution of grafting sites, common in field-based methods, vers...

China currently faces a water resource sustainability problem which is likely to worsen into the future. The Chinese government is attempting to address this problem through legislative action, but faces severe challenges in delivering its high ambitions. The key challenges revolve around the need to balance water availability with the need to feed a growing population under a changing climate and its ambitions for increased economic development. This is further complicated by the complex and multi-layered government departments, often with overlapping jurisdictions, which are not always aligned in their policy implementation and delivery mechanisms. There remain opportunities for China to make further progress and this paper reports on the outcomes of a science-to-policy roundtable meeting involving scientists and policy-makers in China. It identifies, in an holistic manner, new opportunities for additional considerations for policy implementation, continued and new research requirements to ensure evidence-based policies are designed and implemented and identifies the needs and opportunities to effectively monitor their effectiveness. Other countries around the world can benefit from assessing this case study in China.

Resume Objectifs L’un des objectifs majeurs de l’utilisation systematique de l’echographie obstetricale pendant la grossesse est le depistage des malformations fœtales. Notre objectif etait d’analyser l’efficience medico-economique de ce depistage. Methodes Nous avons realise une revue de la litterature a partir de Medline via PubMed, entre 1985 et 2015, sur l’aspect medico-economique du depistage par echographie des malformations fœtales. Resultats La litterature etait tres pauvre sur le sujet et nous n’avons pu retenir et analyser que 12 articles presentant des donnees interessantes pour notre revue, dont huit veritables etudes medico-economiques. Nous avons identifie des arguments en faveur du caractere economiquement pertinent d’un programme de depistage des malformations, ceci etant en grande partie lie a la pratique des interruptions medicales de grossesse et aux couts des handicaps « evites », mais sans pouvoir conclure d’un point de vue medico-economique. Nous avons surtout pu mettre en evidence plusieurs elements compliquant l’application de ces analyses dans ce domaine : le choix du type d’etude, la forte incertitude sur deux parametres essentiels (l’efficacite de l’echographie et le cout des procedures), la difficulte a comparer ou generaliser les resultats. Nous avons aussi constate l’heterogeneite methodologique des etudes et l’absence d’etude francaise. Conclusion Les donnees existantes de la litterature sont actuellement insuffisantes pour evaluer l’efficience medico-economique du depistage des malformations par echographie.

We report a new class of organoaluminum-based initiator for anionic ring-opening polymerization of epoxides that is simple to synthesize from readily available precursors. The resultant organometallic initiator was the triethylaluminum adduct of (2-dibenzylamino)ethoxydiethylaluminum (TAxEDA) [(AlEt3)·(O(AlEt2)CH2CH2N(Bn)2)], which was isolated by direct crystallization from the reaction medium and then compositionally and structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopy and XRD. We studied the reactivity and versatility of the new initiator through the polymerization of propylene oxide, butylene oxide, epichlorohydrin, and allyl glycidyl ether into homopolymer, statistical copolymer, and block copolymer architectures with heterobifunctional end-groups consisting of dibenzylamine and hydroxyl functionalities. The TAxEDA-initiated polymerizations were consistent with a controlled, living, anionic mechanism that was tolerant of chemical functionality and exhibited no chain transfer to monomer that limits the ...

Introduction L’hypereosinophilie (HE, taux d’eosinophiles sanguins (Eos) ≥ 1500/mm3) sous dupilumab dans la dermatite atopique (DA) semble plus importante dans notre etude de vraie vie menee par le GREAT (Groupe de Recherche sur l’Eczema ATopique) en 2019 que dans les essais cliniques. Toutefois, tres peu de donnees sont disponibles concernant la cinetique et l’impact clinique de cette HE. Materiel et methodes Nous avons conduit au sein du GREAT une etude retrospective incluant tous les patients avec DA moderee a severe et presentant une HE sous dupilumab, quel que soit le taux d’Eos avant traitement et la date de declaration de l’HE apres debut du dupilumab. Nous avons collecte les donnees demographiques, date d’introduction du dupilumab, score IGA (Investigator Global Assessment), taux d’Eos avant et pendant le traitement et l’impact clinique de ces eosinophiles. Resultats Sur 653 patients traites entre mars 2017 et mars 2020, 59 presentaient une HE sous dupilumab (prevalence de 9 %). 50/59 (85 %) presentaient des Eos entre 500–1500/mm3 avant traitement, et 4 une HE prealable. L’HE apparaissait rapidement apres introduction du dupilumab (delai moyen de 2,5 mois). Sur 15 patients chez lesquels le dupilumab etait arrete, l’HE etait le motif d’arret chez 10. Aucun ne presentait d’atteinte d’organe en lien avec l’HE. Les donnees evolutives disponibles a 6 mois montraient une persistance de l’HE chez 12/15 (80 %) patients ayant poursuivi le traitement, contre 5/8 (62,5 %) dans le groupe avec arret du dupilumab. Les donnees a plus long terme montraient une tendance vers la normalisation du taux d’Eos chez les patients pour lesquels des donnees etaient disponibles. Discussion La majorite des patients avec HE sous dupilumab presentait dans notre etude un taux d’Eos augmente avant traitement (500–1500/mm3), comme cela a ete rapporte dans l’asthme. Une augmentation rapide du taux d’Eos sous dupilumab etait observee mais le mecanisme physiopathologique n’est pas completement elucide. Il a ete montre que le blocage de l’IL-4 et de l’IL-13 par le dupilumab entraine une diminution rapide de la production d’eotaxine-3, chimiokine a l’origine de la migration des eosinophiles dans les tissus. Les eosinophiles se trouveraient donc « bloques » dans le sang, et ce jusqu’a regulation des taux de cytokines, expliquant ainsi le caractere transitoire de l’HE. A la difference de ce qui a ete decrit chez quelques patients dans les essais du dupilumab dans l’asthme, aucune atteinte d’organe severe en lien avec l’HE n’a ete rapportee dans notre etude. Ces donnees rassurantes nous incitent a ne pas arreter systematiquement le dupilumab lorsqu’il est responsable d’HE. Toutefois, en l’absence d’etudes prospectives et mecanistiques dediees, il est recommande de surveiller le taux d’Eos avant et au moins pendant les premieres semaines du traitement.

Introduction Les produits de contraste iodes (PCI) sont peu rapportes au cours des toxidermies severes, et les explorations allergologiques pas toujours realisees. Une imagerie sans PCI n’est pas toujours realisable, en particulier au cours des coronarographies or les allergies croisees entre PCI sont frequentes. Nous rapportons une serie de toxidermies severes, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) et pustulose exanthematique aigue generalisee (PEAG), aux PCI et detaillons leurs explorations allergologiques. Materiel et methodes Nous avons inclus dans cette etude multicentrique retrospective, tous les patients ayant eu un DRESS ou une PEAG avec test positif a 1 PCI vus entre 2010 et 2020 par les membres du FISARD (Groupe Toxidermie de la Societe francaise de dermatologie). Les donnees cliniques recueillies comprenaient : âge, sexe et detail de la toxidermie (score, delai d’apparition, atteinte d’organes). L’exploration allergologique comportait des patch-tests (PT) et/ou des tests intradermiques avec lectures tardives (IDRT) a differentes classes de PCI et dans certains cas des reintroductions. Resultats Trente et un patients (19 F, âge median 60) ont ete inclus, 19 PEAG et 12 DRESS. Tous ont ete hospitalises et des atteintes d’organes etaient presentes chez respectivement 6 et 11 d’entre eux. Le delai median entre l’administration de PCI et la toxidermie etait de 2 jours. Un patient avait fait plusieurs PEAG a des PCI avant qu’ils soient suspectes. Quatre PEAG avaient une re-administration d’un PCI teste negativement sans rechute. Pour 6 patients, les tests cutanes n’etaient positifs qu’au PCI incrimine, les autres patients etaient polysensibilises (par patient en moyenne 6 PCI positifs et 86 % des PCI testes positifs). Chez 26 patients, le PCI en cause etait en classe A ( Tableau 2 ). Quatorze patients n’avaient des tests positifs que dans une classe. Les reactions croisees entre PCI etaient plus frequentes au sein d’une meme classe qu’entre classes (82,9 %/42 %, p = 0,03). Les PT identifiaient le PCI responsable chez 72 % des patients et des allergies croisees chez 52 %. Les IDRT (realisees chez 6 DRESS et 16 PEAG) permettaient d’augmenter la sensibilite des tests (34 tests negatifs en PT mais positif en IDRT) tant pour les PCI responsables que pour des reactivites croisees, sans reactivation des toxidermies. Discussion Nous rapportons la plus grande serie de DRESS et de PEAG aux PCI avec exploration allergologique detaillee. Les PCI sont rarement suspectes aux cours des toxidermies severes, peut etre en raison du delai court, non classique pour le DRESS et de l’administration en injection unique pouvant les faire omettre de l’enquete etiologique. Les allergies croisees tant intra classes qu’entre les differentes classes etant frequentes, les explorations allergologiques sont donc indispensables pour choisir un PCI alternatif a utiliser en cas de necessite.

The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission landed in Elysium Planitia on Mars on 26 November 2018 and fully deployed its seismometer by the end of February 2019. The mission aims to detect, characterize and locate seismic activity on Mars, and to further constrain the internal structure, composition and dynamics of the planet. Here, we present seismometer data recorded until 30 September 2019, which reveal that Mars is seismically active. We identify 174 marsquakes, comprising two distinct populations: 150 small-magnitude, high-frequency events with waves propagating at crustal depths and 24 low-frequency, subcrustal events of magnitude Mw 3–4 with waves propagating at various depths in the mantle. These marsquakes have spectral characteristics similar to the seismicity observed on the Earth and Moon. We determine that two of the largest detected marsquakes were located near the Cerberus Fossae fracture system. From the recorded seismicity, we constrain attenuation in the crust and mantle, and find indications of a potential low-S-wave-velocity layer in the upper mantle. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited., We acknowledge NASA, CNES and its partner agencies and institutions (UKSA, SSO, DLR, JPL, IPGP-CNRS, ETHZ, IC and MPS-MPG) and the flight operations team at JPL, SISMOC, MSDS, IRIS-DMC and PDS for providing SEIS data. The Swiss co-authors were jointly funded by (1) the Swiss National Science Foundation and French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (SNF-ANR project 157133 ‘Seismology on Mars’), (2) the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF project 172508 ‘Mapping the internal structure of Mars’), (3) the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SEFRI project ‘MarsQuake Service-Preparatory Phase’) and (4) ETH Research grant no. ETH-06 17-02. Additional support came from the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) under project ID s922. The Swiss contribution in the implementation of the SEIS electronics was made possible by funding from the federal Swiss Space Office (SSO) and contractual and technical support from the ESA-PRODEX office. The French Team acknowledge the French Space Agency CNES, which has supported and funded all SEIS-related contracts and CNES employees, as well as CNRS and the French team universities for personal and infrastructure support. Additional support was provided by ANR (ANR-14-CE36-0012-02 and ANR-19-CE31-0008-08) and, for the IPGP team, by the UnivEarthS Labex programme (ANR-10-LABX-0023), IDEX Sorbonne Paris Cité (ANR-11-IDEX-0005-0). SEIS-SP development and delivery were funded by the UK Space Agency. A portion of the work was carried out at the InSight Project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The MPS SEIS team acknowledges funding for development of the SEIS leveling system by the DLR German Space Agency. We thank gempa GmbH for software development related to the MQS tools. This paper is InSight contribution number 102.

China is experiencing a decoupling of economic growth and environmental impacts., After 40 years of reform and “opening up,” China has made remarkable economic progress. Such economic prosperity, however, has been coupled with environmental degradation. We analyze diverse long-term data to determine whether China is experiencing a decoupling of economic growth and environmental impacts, and where China stands with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in terms of reducing regional division, urban-rural gap, social inequality, and land-based impacts on oceans. The results highlight that China’s desire to achieve “ecological civilization” has resulted in a decoupling trend for major pollutants since 2015, while strong coupling remains with CO2 emissions. Progress has been made in health care provision, poverty reduction, and gender equity in education, while income disparity continues between regions and with rural-urban populations. There is a considerable way to go toward achieving delivery of the SDGs; however, China’s progress toward economic prosperity and concomitant sustainability provides important insights for other countries.

International audience

We present an improvement in the rate, utility, and mechanistic understanding of mono-μ-oxo-dialuminum initiators for epoxide ring-opening polymerization based on investigation of a homologous series of trialkylaluminum adducts of (2-dibenzylamino)ethoxy-dialkylaluminum (TAxEDA) [(AlR3)·(O(AlR2)CH2CH2N(Bn)2), with R = Me, Et, iBu]. Using in situ FTIR spectroscopy of neat AGE polymerizations, we determined that the isobutyl-substituted TAxEDA (iBu-TAxEDA) exhibited a propagation rate constant (kp) of 1.100 ± 0.022 × 10−3 M−1 s−1, which was twice that of the methyl-functional TAxEDA (Me-TAxEDA) (kp = 0.500 ± 0.011 × 10−3 M−1 s−1) and four times that of ethyl-functional TAxEDA (Et-TAxEDA) (kp = 0.270 ± 0.003 × 10−3 M−1 s−1). The dative R3Al–O bond length in the mono-μ-oxo-dialuminum was longest for the iBu-TAxEDA (1.93 A) and shortest for the Et-TAxEDA (1.88 A). Consistent with a previously proposed mechanism for TAxEDA-initiated polymerization, the increased Al–O bond length may accommodate more-facile coordination and enchainment of the monomer by separation of the Al–O interaction leading to an increased polymerization rate. The generality of the improved iBu-TAxEDA was supported by polymerization of a range of monomer substrates such as propylene oxide (PO), butylene oxide (BO), epichlorohydrin (ECH), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), propargyl glycidyl ether (PGE), and adamantylmethyl glycidyl ether (AMGE). In all cases investigated, the triisobutyl-functional TAxEDA (iBu-TAxEDA) represented an improved initiator for epoxide polymerization.

A 34-year-old obese male (96.8 kg; BMI, 30.2 kg m−1) volitionally undertook a 50-day fast with the stated goal of losing body mass. During this time, only tea, coffee, water, and a daily multivitamin were consumed. Severe and linear loss of body mass is recorded during these 50 days (final 75.4 kg; BMI, 23.5 kg mT 1 ). A surprising resilience to effects of fasting on activity levels and physical function is noted. Plasma samples are suggestive of early impairment of liver function, and perturbations to cardiovascular dynamics are also noted. One month following resumption of feeding behavior, body weight was maintained (75.0 kg; BMI, 23.4 kg m−1). Evidence-based decision-making with the fasting or hunger striking patient is limited by a lack of evidence. This case report suggests that total body mass, not mass lost, may be a key observation in clinical decision-making during fasting and starvation.

Introduction L’utilisation d’huiles essentielles (HE) est de plus en plus repandue. Elles sont allergisantes et les fragrances mix (FM) I et II de la batterie standard europeenne (BSE) des patch tests ne sont pas suffisants pour deceler l’allergie aux HE. Les objectifs etaient de decrire les eczemas de contact prouves aux HE ou aux huiles (H) vegetales et d’evaluer la sensibilite d’une batterie huile essentielle (BHE) ajoutee a la BSE. Materiel et methodes Etude descriptive retrospective et prospective multicentrique menee par questionnaire, la BHE etant etablie grâce aux donnees de la litterature. Seuls les eczemas de contact prouves par patch tests positifs a l’HE ou vegetale ou par positivite d’un test d’application repetee etaient inclus. Resultats En 16 mois, 39 patients etaient inclus (77 % de femmes, âge median : 46 ans). Dans 54 % des cas, l’HE etait utilisee pure, 59 % des patients utilisaient plusieurs HE, 44 % preparaient leurs produits a base d’HE eux-memes et 10 patients ingeraient l’HE. L’usage d’HE etait limite au cadre professionnel chez 2/39 patients. Quatre-vingt-deux pour cent utilisaient les HE dans un but therapeutique dont 25/32 patients pour une cause dermatologique et 44 % dans un but cosmetique. Les 2/3 des patients n’etaient pas conseilles lors de l’achat, 1/3 des patients ne signalaient pas spontanement l’utilisation d’HE. Quarante-six pour cent des patients presentaient un eczema qui durait depuis plus de 6 semaines et l’allergie entrainait l’hospitalisation chez 11 patients. Cinquante-neuf pour cent des patients avaient au moins un FM positif. Dans la BHE, 79/844 tests etaient positifs. Les patch-tests les plus souvent positifs etaient : linalol HP (44 %), limonene HP (33 %), tea tree oil (26 %), geranium oil (19 %), ylang ylang (16 %), lavande (16 %), essence de terebenthine (12 %) et absolue de bois de Santal (11 %). Douze des 15 patients n’ayant aucun FM positif avaient une positivite dans la BHE. Les 2 patients sensibilises a l’H de Nigelle et un a l’H de Ravinstara n’avaient aucun test positif. Discussion Devant un eczema, il faut rechercher l’utilisation d’HE, en preciser les modalites d’utilisation et tester les HE apportees. La BHE augmente le nombre de cas deceles par les patch-tests. L’information souvent omise du consommateur sur les risques d’allergie lors de l’utilisation des HE semble indispensable afin de limiter la multiplication de cas d’eczema de contact devant l’engouement pour ces produits.

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) have two faces with differing physical or chemical characteristics which endow them with unique properties. This anisotropy can lead to phenomena like self-assembly or interfacial activity, and JNPs have been under intense scientific scrutiny since the 1990s. Since then, powerful synthetic techniques have been developed which allow for JNPs with near limitless combinations of materials, properties, and morphologies. As such, JNPs have been featured in a number of applications such as drug delivery, catalysis, interfacial engineering, and optics. This perspective discusses the synthesis of these important anisotropic materials. We will focus exclusively on JNPs that involve polymers. In particular, we outline the various classes of JNP synthetic techniques including some historical context, describe recent developments in this area, and weigh the pros and cons of the different methods with an eye on future directions and applications. We hope this perspective will help acclimate those new to the field who want to make and/or use JNPs.