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Objectives: To describe the typical clinical course of reversible persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) from perinatal etiologies and compare that with the clinical course of PPHN due to underlying fetal developmental etiologies., Study Design: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of liveborn newborns either born or transferred to our facility for higher level of care between 2015 and 2020 with gestational age ≥35 weeks and a clinical diagnosis of PPHN in the electronic health record. Newborns with complex congenital heart disease and congenital diaphragmatic hernia were excluded. Using all data available at time of collection, newborns were stratified into 2 groups by PPHN etiology - perinatal and fetal developmental causes. Primary outcomes were age at initiation, discontinuation, and total duration of extracorporeal life support, mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, inhaled nitric oxide, inotropic support, and prostaglandin E1. Our secondary outcome was age at echocardiographic resolution of pulmonary hypertension. Groups were compared by t-test. Time-to-event Kaplan Meier curves described and compared (log-rank test) discontinuation of each therapy., Results: Sixty-four (72%) newborns had perinatal etiologies whereas 24 (28%) had fetal developmental etiologies. The resolution of perinatal PPHN was more rapid compared with fetal developmental PPHN. By 10 days of age, more neonates were off inotropes (98% vs 29%, P < .01), decannulated from extracorporeal life support (100% vs 0%, P < .01), extubated (75% vs 37%, P < .01), and had echocardiographic resolution of PH (35% vs 7%, P = .02)., Conclusions: An atypical PPHN course, characterized by persistent targeted therapies in the second week of life, warrants further work-up for fetal developmental causes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Funding: Supported by the National Institutes of Health (T32HL160508-01A1 [S.M.T.], P01 HL146369 [J.R.F.]). The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mate recognition is paramount for sexually reproducing animals, and many insects rely on cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) for close-range sexual communication. To ensure reliable mate recognition, intraspecific sex pheromone variability should be low. However, CHCs can be influenced by several factors, with the resulting variability potentially impacting sexual communication. While intraspecific CHC variability is a common phenomenon, the consequences thereof for mate recognition remain largely unknown. We investigated the effect of CHC variability on male responses in a parasitoid wasp showing a clear-cut within-population CHC polymorphism (three distinct female chemotypes, one thereof similar to male profiles). Males clearly discriminated between female and male CHCs, but not between female chemotypes in no-choice assays. When given a choice, a preference hierarchy emerged. Interestingly, the most attractive chemotype was the one most similar to male profiles. Mixtures of female CHCs were as attractive as chemotype-pure ones, while a female-male mixture negatively impacted male responses, indicating assessment of the entire, complex CHC profile composition. Our study reveals that the evaluation of CHC profiles can be strict towards 'undesirable' features, but simultaneously tolerant enough to cover a range of variants. This reconciles reliable mate recognition with naturally occurring variability.

The structure and chemical state of heterogeneous catalysts are closely related to their operational stability. Knowing these relationships as precisely as possible is thus essential for further catalyst development. This work focuses on the deactivation of a Cu/ZnO/ZrO 2 -type catalyst for methanol synthesis. Experiments were performed in a parallel setup, with which time-dependent changes in the catalyst material can be observed. Elucidation of potential deactivation pathways is described for catalyst aging at different times on stream (0, 50, 935 h). Data from X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N 2 physisorption, and transmission electron microscopy measurements reveal that sintering of Cu 0 domains and restructuring within ZnO domains mainly contribute to deactivation. Subsequent reactivation by reduction (in H 2 /N 2 ) reverts the observed structural changes only to a limited extent. Moreover, this work highlights the participation of ZrO 2 as a promoter and reveals redispersion of zirconia after initial reduction.

Background: Neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) can present with hypoxia and right ventricular dysfunction with resultant inadequate oxygen delivery and end-organ damage. This study describes the use of prostaglandin-E1 (PGE) for ductal patency to preserve right ventricular systolic function and limit afterload in newborns with PPHN., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that follows the hemodynamics, markers of end-organ perfusion, length of therapeutics, and echocardiographic variables of 57 newborns who used prostglandin-E1 in the setting of PPHN., Results: Tachycardia, lactic acidosis, and supplemental oxygen use improved following PGE initiation. Fractional area change (FAC), to assess right ventricular systolic function, and pulmonary arterial acceleration time indexed to right ventricular ejection time (PAAT/RVET), to assess right ventricular afterload, also improved over three time points relative to PGE use (before, during, and after)., Conclusions: Overall, we described the safety and utility of PGE in newborns with severe PPHN for stabilization while allowing natural disease progression., (© 2023 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)