Uncovering Atomic‐Scale Stability and Reactivity in Engineered Zinc Oxide Electrocatalysts for Controllable Syngas Production

In this study, scalable, flame spray synthesis is utilized to develop defective ZnO nanomaterials for the concurrent generation of H₂ and CO during electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions (CO₂RR). The designed ZnO achieves an H₂/CO ratio of ≈1 with a large current density (j) of 40 mA cm^?2 during long‐term continuous reaction at a cell voltage of 2.6 V. Through in situ atomic pair distribution function analysis, the remarkable stability of these ZnO structures is explored, addressing the knowledge gap in understanding the dynamics of oxide catalysts during CO₂RR. Through optimization of synthesis conditions, ZnO facets are modulated which are shown to affect reaction selectivity, in agreement with theoretical calculations. These findings and insights on synthetic manipulation of active sites in defective metal‐oxides can be used as guidelines to develop active catalysts for syngas production for renewable power‐to‐X to generate a range of fuels and chemicals.     

Mimosa pigra in eastern and southern Africa: Distribution and socio‐ecological impacts

The semiaquatic weed Mimosa pigra has negative impacts on biodiversity, fishing, crop and livestock production, and tourism in most places where it has been introduced, established and proliferated. Many of the ecological impacts are well known, but its impacts on rural livelihoods are less well documented, especially in Africa. We mapped the distribution of M. pigra in eastern and southern Africa, and then compared that with its potential distribution based on an ecoclimatic niche model. Household interviews were conducted to assess the impacts of this weed on local livelihoods. Mimosa pigra was found to be invasive in western Ethiopia, around the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, and along the Tanzanian coastline, northern Malawi, parts of Mozambique and along the Kafue River and in the Barotse floodplain on the Zambezi River in Zambia. According to respondents living along the Kafue River floodplains in Zambia, it has a negative impact on biodiversity, wildlife, livestock, crop production, fishing and mobility. Dense stands prevented the movement of people and livestock, limiting access to croplands, grazing lands and fishing areas. Fish catches have been reduced and fishing equipment damaged. All respondents agreed that their livelihood options would be considerably enhanced if M. pigra was removed from the landscape. Based on its current and potential impact, we therefore recommend that an integrated management plan be developed and implemented, including the appropriate use of biological control agents to reduce the negative impacts of the weed.     

Neuroendocrinology and neurobiology of sebaceous glands

The nervous system communicates with peripheral tissues through nerve fibres and the systemic release of hypothalamic and pituitary neurohormones. Communication between the nervous system and the largest human organ, skin, has traditionally received little attention. In particular, the neuro‐regulation of sebaceous glands (SGs), a major skin appendage, is rarely considered. Yet, it is clear that the SG is under stringent pituitary control, and forms a fascinating, clinically relevant peripheral target organ in which to study the neuroendocrine and neural regulation of epithelia. Sebum, the major secretory product of the SG, is composed of a complex mixture of lipids resulting from the holocrine secretion of specialised epithelial cells (sebocytes). It is indicative of a role of the neuroendocrine system in SG function that excess circulating levels of growth hormone, thyroxine or prolactin result in increased sebum production (seborrhoea). Conversely, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency result in reduced sebum production and dry skin. Furthermore, the androgen sensitivity of SGs appears to be under neuroendocrine control, as hypophysectomy (removal of the pituitary) renders SGs largely insensitive to stimulation by testosterone, which is crucial for maintaining SG homeostasis. However, several neurohormones, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone and α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone, can stimulate sebum production independently of either the testes or the adrenal glands, further underscoring the importance of neuroendocrine control in SG biology. Moreover, sebocytes synthesise several neurohormones and express their receptors, suggestive of the presence of neuro‐autocrine mechanisms of sebocyte modulation. Aside from the neuroendocrine system, it is conceivable that secretion of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters from cutaneous nerve endings may also act on sebocytes or their progenitors, given that the skin is richly innervated. However, to date, the neural controls of SG development and function remain poorly investigated and incompletely understood. Botulinum toxin‐mediated or facial paresis‐associated reduction of human sebum secretion suggests that cutaneous nerve‐derived substances modulate lipid and inflammatory cytokine synthesis by sebocytes, possibly implicating the nervous system in acne pathogenesis. Additionally, evidence suggests that cutaneous denervation in mice alters the expression of key regulators of SG homeostasis. In this review, we examine the current evidence regarding neuroendocrine and neurobiological regulation of human SG function in physiology and pathology. We further call attention to this line of research as an instructive model for probing and therapeutically manipulating the mechanistic links between the nervous system and mammalian skin.     

Evolutionary processes of melanomas from giant congenital melanocytic nevi

Melanoma can develop in a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN). In fact, a large CMN is associated with a high risk of developing melanoma. Although melanomas arising from CMNs are thought to have a pathogenesis distinct from conventional melanomas, no studies have been conducted on the evolution or tumor heterogeneity of CMN melanomas. We applied multi‐region whole‐exome sequencing to investigate the clonal nature of driver events and evolutionary processes in CMNs and melanomas arising from CMNs. In two patients, we observed an independent subclonal evolution in cancerized fields of CMNs and chromosome 8q amplification in both melanomas arising from CMNs. The amplification of MYC, located in chromosome 8q, was correlated with the percentage of tumor cells expressing high levels of MYC protein detected in melanoma cells by immunohistochemistry. Our analysis suggests that each CMN cell may evolve sporadically and that amplification of MYC might be a key event for melanoma development in CMNs.     

Nanobiohybrid Material‐Based Bioelectronic Devices

Biomolecules, especially proteins and nucleic acids, have been widely studied to develop biochips for various applications in scientific fields ranging from bioelectronics to stem cell research. However, restrictions exist due to the inherent characteristics of biomolecules, such as instability and the constraint of granting the functionality to the biochip. Introduction of functional nanomaterials, recently being researched and developed, to biomolecules have been widely researched to develop the nanobiohybrid materials because such materials have the potential to enhance and extend the function of biomolecules on a biochip. The potential for applying nanobiohybrid materials is especially high in the field of bioelectronics. Research in bioelectronics is aimed at realizing electronic functions using the inherent properties of biomolecules. To achieve this, various biomolecules possessing unique properties have been combined with novel nanomaterials to develop bioelectronic devices such as highly sensitive electrochemical‐based bioelectronic sensing platforms, logic gates, and biocomputing systems. In this review, recently reported bioelectronic devices based on nanobiohybrid materials are discussed. The authors believe that this review will suggest innovative and creative directions to develop the next generation of multifunctional bioelectronic devices.     

A Site‐Specific Integration Reporter System That Enables Rapid Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9‐Mediated Genome Editing Strategies in CHO Cells

Targeted gene knockout and site‐specific integration (SSI) are powerful genome editing techniques to improve the development of industrially relevant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. However, past efforts to perform SSI in CHO cells are characterized by low efficiencies. Moreover, numerous strategies proposed to boost SSI efficiency in mammalian cell types have yet to be evaluated head to head or in combination to appreciably boost efficiencies in CHO. To enable systematic and rapid optimization of genome editing methods, the SSIGNAL (s ite‐s pecific i ntegration and g en ome al teration) reporter system is developed. This tool can analyze CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR‐associated protein 9)‐mediated disruption activity alone or in conjunction with SSI efficiency. The reporter system uses green and red dual‐fluorescence signals to indicate genotype states within four days following transfection, facilitating rapid data acquisition via standard flow cytometry instrumentation. In addition to describing the design and development of the system, two of its applications are demonstrated by first comparing transfection conditions to maximize CRISPR/Cas9 activity and subsequently assessing the efficiency of several promising SSI strategies. Due to its sensitivity and versatility, the SSIGNAL reporter system may serve as a tool to advance genome editing technology.