Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by DEP mediates upregulation of IL-33, IL-25, and TSLP with Th2 activation, potentially linking environmental pollution and allergic severe asthma.

These data suggest that a combined evaluation of the Z-score and day 3 embryo morphology is highly predictive of embryo outcome after IVF/ICSI. The Z-score could be of great help in the selection of embryos for cultures extended to later stages. The Z-score alone, or preferably in combination with day 3 embryo morphology, is useful in the determination of the most suitable embryos and the number of embryos for transfer, thus achieving the optimal chance of conception while reducing the risk of high order multiple pregnancy.

The study aimed to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on infant neurodevelopment. PBDEs levels in 36 cord blood samples were analyzed with a high-resolution-gas-chromatograph/high-resolution-mass-spectrometer and infant neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. The mean and median of Σ(11)PBDEs were 6.63 and 4.63 ng/g lipid, respectively. As compared to the lower PBDEs group (Σ(11)PBDEs < 4.63 ng/g lipid), the higher PBDEs group (Σ(11)PBDEs > 4.63 ng/g lipid) had a significantly higher actual odds ratio (OR = 1.13, p < 0.05) of the cognition score as well as a lower odds ratio (OR = 0.904, p < 0.01) of the adaptive behavior score, suggesting that prenatal PBDEs exposure may potentially affect infant neurodevelopment.

A unique spatial arrangement of amide groups for CO2 adsorption is found in the open-ended channels of a zinc(II)-organic framework {[Zn4(BDC)4(BPDA)4]·5DMF·3H2O}n (1, BDC = 1,4-benzyl dicarboxylate, BPDA = N,N'-bis(4-pyridinyl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide). Compound 1 consists of 4(4)-sql [Zn4(BDC)4] sheets that are further pillared by a long linker of BPDA and forms a 3D porous framework with an α-Po 4(12)·6(3) topology. Remarkably, the unsheltered amide groups in 1 provide a positive cooperative effect on the adsorption of CO2 molecules, as shown by the significant increase in the CO2 adsorption enthalpy with increasing CO2 uptake. At ambient condition, a 1:1 ratio of active amide sites to CO2 molecules was observed. In addition, compound 1 favors capture of CO2 over N2. DFT calculations provided rationale for the intriguing 1:1 ratio of amide sorption sites to CO2 molecules and revealed that the nanochamber of compound 1 permits the slipped-parallel arrangement of CO2 molecules, an arrangement found in crystal and gas-phase CO2 dimer.