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The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have significant influence on the global economic and environmental trajectories. They have carbon intensive economic systems, which contribute significantly to total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to climate change. However, BRICS have joined the race to net-zero emissions by 2050 in the quest for a climate neutral and sustainable global economy. The journey, however, is not without challenges and opportunities. The proliferation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had mixed reactions from scientists regarding its implications on net-zero trajectories. While statistical data show a correlation between COVID-19 and a decrease in total emissions, it is envisaged that COVID-19 compromised the efforts to develop carbon neutral economies. Hence, there is still need for more scientific examination of COVID-19’s impact on net-zero ambitions, especially in the emerging economies. This study focuses on India and South Africa’s trajectories. Statistical analysis of secondary data from authentic interactive web-based dashboards for COVID-19 data repositories, namely Our World in Data and Climate Action Tracker was performed in conjunction with the document analysis approach following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Some of the COVID-19 challenges as indicated by the results of the study include curtailing the technology transfer staircase in the energy sector, retaliatory emissions for recovery and resource diversion. The opportunities presented by COVID-19 in the quest for carbon neutrality include behavioral changes in investment, production and consumption patterns with a focus on low carbon options. Governments and stakeholders need to focus on addressing the barriers whilst riding on the opportunities presented by the pandemic to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Oral-facial-digital syndromes (OFD) are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders characterized by malformations of the face and oral cavity, and digit anomalies. To date, mutations in 12 ciliary-related genes have been identified that cause several types of OFD, suggesting that OFDs constitute a subgroup of developmental ciliopathies. Through homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing of two families with variable OFD type 2, we identified distinct germline mutations inINTS13, a subunit of the Integrator complex. This 14-component complex associates with RNAPII and can cleave nascent RNA to modulate gene expression. We determined that INTS13 utilizes a discrete domain within its C-terminus to bind the Integrator cleavage module, which is disrupted by the identified germlineINTS13mutations. Depletion ofINTS13disrupts ciliogenesis in human cultured cells and causes dysregulation of a broad collection of ciliary genes. Accordingly, its knockdown inXenopusembryos lead to motile cilia anomalies. Altogether, we show that mutations inINTS13cause an autosomal recessive ciliopathy, which reveals key interactions within Integrator components.

The present report deals with the syntheses, crystal structures, dc/ac magnetic properties and DFT/ab initio CASSCF calculations of two isomorphous bis((1):(2):(2)-acetate)GdIII2/DyIII2 compounds of the formula [LnIII2L(2)(acetate)(4)(MeOH)(2)] (1, Ln = Gd; 2, Ln = Dy), where HL is (E)-N-(3-ethoxysalicylidene)acetohydrazide. The two lanthanide(iii) centres in each compound are symmetry-related owing to the presence of an inversion centre. Both compounds exhibit intramolecular ferromagnetic exchange interactions. The DyIII2 analogue is a single-molecule magnet (SMM) with U-eff = 52.8 cm(-1) and (0) = 1.52 x 10(-6) s. DFT calculations for 1 and ab initio calculations for 2 also reveal ferromagnetic interactions. Ab initio calculations of the SMM behaviour of 2 and two other reported and structurally related compounds reveal the importance of the weak exchange interaction present between the two Dy-III ions, and a relaxation mechanism has been developed to take into account the magnetic exchange interaction and to rationalize the observed difference in the U-eff values.

Molecular refrigeration is found to be of great interest in the field of coordination chemistry, and Gel ion based complexes are particularly attractive, as they exhibit a large magneto-caloric effect (MCE). As the magnetic coupling in Gd-III clusters is difficult to control, other avenues to enhance the MCE values have been explored and incorporation of 3d metal ions in the cluster aggregation with Gd-III yielding {3d-Gd} clusters are targeted. Among the transition-metal ions, the Cull ion is particularly attractive, as it does not possess any anisotropy, and in this regard, several di- and polynuclear {Cu-Gd} clusters are reported to yield attractive MCE values. While the role of near-neighbor {Cu-Gd} interactions in the MCE has been explored in detail, how the next nearest-neighbor interaction influences the MCE has not been explored. To explore the importance of next-nearest-neighbor (1,3) {Cu-Cu) interaction, we have undertaken detailed density functional studies on five trinuclear {Cu-II-Ud(III)-Cu-II} complexes that are reported in the literature. In addition, we also report the synthesis and magnetic and EPR studies of a novel complex [(CuSALen)(2)Gd(NO3)(3)} (6; where SALen is N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylaldiminato)). Both magnetic and EPR studies reveal an S = 9/2 ground state for 6 with a very small zero-field splitting parameter (+0.01 cm(-1)), which aid in the achievement of a large MCE value for this molecule. Magnetization data collected for 6 yield a magnetic entropy change (-Delta S-m) of 17 J Kg(-1) K-1 at 3.5 K by employing a 7 T magnetic field. Our calculations on all six complexes reveal that {Cu-Gd} exchange is ferromagnetic in nature, while the next-nearest-neighbor {Cu-Cu} exchange is found to vary from a weak ferromagnetic to a moderate antiferromagnetic interaction. In all of the cases studied, simulated susceptibility data are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, offering confidence in the computed] values. In addition, we have developed a mechanism of magnetic coupling for {Cu-II-Gd-III-Cu-II} trinuclear complexes, where the role of formally empty 5d, 6s, and 6p orbitals of Gel ion is established. In particular, our studies reveal that the next-nearest-neighbor {Cu-Cu} interaction is strongly correlated to Cu-Gd-Cu angle, with both smaller and larger angles yielding stronger antiferromagnetic exchange. The antiferromagnetic {Cu-Cu} interaction diminishes the gap between the ground S = 9/2 state and first excited S = 7/2 state, leading to enhancement of MCE values. In contrast to the general belief that weak interactions are desired for large MCE, our study advocates targeting a stronger antiferromagnetic {Cu-Cu} interaction to obtain larger MCE values in this class of clusters.

Thyroid abscesses are rare as the gland has a rich blood supply, well-developed capsule and is high in iodine. However, clinicians must be aware of this fact and make an early diagnosis as it can lead to serious morbidity if left untreated. Infection may involve one or both lobes of the thyroid gland, although the left lobe is more often affected and is successfully treated with surgery and antibiotics. This case study involves a 22-year-old woman with a history of painful swelling over the neck accompanied by low-grade fever without any underlying cause. Both the ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous mass within the left lobe of the thyroid gland. Fine needle aspiration revealed an abscess collection and culture Staphylococcus aureus had grown. She was successfully treated with intravenous and oral amoxicillin clavulanate and no surgical treatment was carried out. In conclusion, thyroid abscesses are rare as the gland is resistant to infection and must be differentiated from an infected branchial cleft cyst or sinus, infected thyroid tumour or lymphadenitis in the region of the thyroid in order to avoid serious morbidity if left untreated.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have identified behavioral phenotypes that predispose genetically vulnerable youth to a later onset of bipolar I or II disorder, but few studies have examined whether early psychosocial intervention can reduce risk of syndromal conversion. In a one-year open trial, we tested a version of family-focused treatment adapted for youth at high risk for bipolar disorder (FFT-HR). METHODS: A referred sample of 13 children (mean 13.4±2.69 years; 4 boys, 9 girls) who had a parent with bipolar I or II disorder participated at one of two outpatient specialty clinics. Youth met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder (n=8), cyclothymic disorder (n=1), or bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (n=4), with active mood symptoms in the past month. Participants were offered FFT-HR (12 sessions in four months) with their parents, plus psychotropic medications as needed. Independent evaluators assessed depressive symptoms, hypomanic symptoms, and global functioning at baseline and then every four months for one year, with retrospective severity and impairment ratings made for each week of the follow-up interval. RESULTS: Families were mostly adherent to the treatment protocol (85% retention), and therapists administered the FFT-HR manual with high levels of fidelity. Youth showed significant improvements in depression, hypomania, and psychosocial functioning scores on the Adolescent Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. They also showed significant improvements in Young Mania Rating Scale and Children's Depression Rating Scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: FFT-HR is a promising intervention for youth at high risk for BD. Larger-scale randomized trials that follow youth into young adulthood will be necessary to determine whether early psychosocial intervention can reduce the probability of developing bipolar I or II disorder among genetically vulnerable youth.

Clouds in the presence of absorbing aerosols result in their apparent darkening, observed at the top of atmosphere (TOA), which is associated with the radiative effects of aerosol absorption. Owing to the large radiative effect and potential impacts on regional climate, above-cloud aerosols have recently been characterized in multiple satellite-based studies. While satellite data are particularly useful in showing the radiative impact of above-cloud aerosols at the TOA, recent literature indicates large uncertainties in satellite retrievals of above-cloud aerosol optical depth (AOD) and single scattering albedo (SSA), which are among the most important parameters in the assessment of associated radiative effects. In this study, we analyze radiative characteristics of clouds in the presence of wildfire smoke using airborne data primarily from NASA's Cloud Absorption Radiometer, collected during the Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites campaign in Canada during the 2008 summer season. We found a strong positive reflectance (R) gradient in the UV-visible (VIS)-near infrared (NIR) spectrum for clouds embedded in dense smoke, as opposed to an (expected) negative gradient for cloud-free smoke and a flat spectrum for smoke-free cloud cover. Several cases of clouds embedded in thick smoke were found, when the aircraft made circular/spiral measurements, which not only allowed the complete characterization of angular distribution of smoke scattering but also provided the vertical distribution of smoke and clouds (within 0.5-5km). Specifically, the largest darkening by smoke was found in the UV/VIS, with R-0.34m reducing to 0.2 (or 20%), in contrast to 0.8 at NIR wavelengths (e.g., 1.27 mu m). The observed darkening is associated with large AODs (0.5-3.0) and moderately low SSA (0.85-0.93 at 0.53 mu m), resulting in a significantly large instantaneous aerosol forcing efficiency of 25447Wm(-2-1). Our observations of smoke-cloud radiative interactions were found to be physically consistent with theoretical plane-parallel 1-D and Monte Carlo 3-D radiative transfer calculations, capturing the observed gradient across UV-VIS-NIR. Results from this study offer insights into aerosol-cloud radiative interactions and may help in better constraining satellite retrieval algorithms.