Organic materials, with low environmental impact and adaptable structures, are attractive for Hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). However, the scarcity of active sites and tendency to dissolve in water-based solutions remain significant challenges. Herein, we synthesized a polynaphthalenequinoneimine (PCON) polymer with stable long-range ordered framework and rough three-dimensional floral surface morphology, along with high-density active sites provided by C=O and C=N functional groups, enabling efficient redox reactions and achieving a high Na+ capture capability. The synthesized PCON polymer showcases outstanding electroadsorption characteristics and notable structural robustness, attaining an impressive specific capacitance of 500.45 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and maintaining 86.1% of its original capacitance following 5000 charge-discharge cycles. Benefiting from the superior pseudocapacitive properties of the PCON polymer, we developed an HCDI system that not only exhibits exceptional salt removal capacity of 100.8 mg g-1 and a remarkable rapid average removal rate of 3.36 mg g-1 min−1, but also maintains 97% of its initial desalination capacity after 50 cycles, thereby distinguishing itself with the comprehensive performance that significantly surpasses reported organic deionization materials. Prospectively, the synthesis paradigm of the double active-sites polymer may be extrapolated to other organic electrodes, heralding new avenues for the design of high-performance desalination systems.

With protoescigenin as starting material and through orchestrated application of Yu and Schmidt glyco-sylation protocols, the synthesis of acyl group-free escin derivatives were achieved for the first time. As the undesired non-specific toxicity, originated from the existence of acyl groups on aglycone, prohibits the wide application of escins, the established strategies toward non-acylated protoescigenin-type sap-onins would dramatically ease the access to escin derivatives dispense of acyl groups, thereby speeding up the pace of pharmaceutical use of these valuable compounds.

Pollen, a pivotal stage in the plant reproductive cycle, is highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, impacting seed quality and quantity. While the importance of understanding pollen temperature limtits (Tmin, Topt, Tmax – collectively PTLs) is recognized, a comprehensive synthesis of underlying drivers is lacking. Here, we examined PTLs, correlating them with vegetative tissue thermotolerance and assessing variability at the intra- and interspecific levels across 198 species with contrasting phylogeny, cultivation history, biology and ecology. At the species level, the PTLs range from 6.1 to 39.5 0C, with considerable differences among growth forms and cultivation histories. Positive correlations were found between PTLs and leaf/stem temperature tolerances. Notably, pollen cold tolerances varied significantly across species populations, while Topt and Tmax values remained stable. Phylogenetic analysis revealed family-level conservation in pollen cold tolerance, contrasting with heat tolerance’s independence from evolutionary history. Climate emerged as a significant PTL driver, with species at higher elevations and latitudes exhibiting enhanced cold and heat tolerance. Cultivated species displayed narrower temperature tolerances (10.3-39.9 °C) than their wild counterparts (5.2-42.3 °C), highlighting potential crop vulnerabilities to global warming. Herbaceous plants exhibited superior tolerance to both low and high temperatures compared to shrubs and trees, reflecting divergent thermal conditions during anthesis. This study illuminates complex relationships between pollen temperature limits, plant characteristics, and environmental factors, providing crucial insights into climate change impacts on plant reproduction.

Animals with different life-history types vary in their stress-coping styles, which can affect their fitness and survival in changing environments. We studied how chronic exposure to manganese sulfate (MnSO4), a common aquatic pollutant, affects life-history traits, physiology, and behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio) with two life-history types: fast (previously selected for fast juvenile growth, early maturation, and small adult body size) and slow life histories (selected for slow juvenile growth, late maturation, and large adult body size). We found that MnSO4 had negative effects on growth and condition factor, but the magnitude of these effects depended on the life-history type. Individuals with fast life histories were more susceptible to MnSO4 than fish with slow life histories as they had lower growth rate, condition factor and feeding probability in high MnSO4 concentrations. Our results demonstrate that MnSO4 can impair fish performance, and life-history variation can modulate the stress-coping ability of individuals.

Studies in evolution, ecology and conservation are increasingly based on genetic and genomic inferences. With increased focus on molecular approaches, ethical concerns about destructive or more invasive techniques need to be considered, with a push for minimally invasive sampling to be optimised. Buccal swabs have been increasingly used to collect DNA in a number of taxa, including amphibians. However, DNA yield and purity from swabs is often low, limiting its use. In this study we compare different types of swabs, preservation method and storage, and DNA extraction technique in three case studies to assess the optimal approach for recovering DNA in anurans. Out of the five different types of swab that we tested, Isohelix MS-02 and Rapidry swabs generated higher DNA yields than other swabs. When comparing storage buffers, ethanol is a better preservative than a non-alcoholic alternative. Dried samples resulted in similar or better final DNA yields than ethanol-fixed samples if kept cool. DNA extraction via a Qiagen™ DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit and McHale’s salting out extraction method resulted in similar DNA yields but the Qiagen™ kit extracts contained less contamination. We also found that samples produce better DNA recovery if frozen as soon as possible after collection. We provide recommendations for sample collection and extraction under different conditions, including budgetary considerations, size of individual sampled, access to cold storage facilities, and DNA extraction methodology. Maximising efficacy of all of these factors for better DNA recovery will allow buccal swabs to be used for genetic and genomic studies in a range of vertebrates.

Single-cell proteomics (SCP) has advanced significantly in recent years, with new tools that have been specifically designed for preparation and analysis of single cells now commercially available to researchers. The field is sufficiently mature to be broadly accessible to any lab capable of isolating single cells and performing bulk-scale proteomic analyses. In this review, we highlight recent work in the SCP field that has significantly lowered the barrier to entry, thus providing a practical guide for those who are newly entering the SCP field. We outline the fundamental principles and report multiple paths to accomplish the key steps of a successful SCP experiment including sample preparation, separation and mass spectrometry data acquisition and analysis. We recommend that researchers start with a label-free SCP workflow, as achieving high-quality and quantitatively accurate results is more straightforward than label-based multiplexed strategies. By leveraging these accessible means, researchers can confidently perform SCP experiments and make meaningful discoveries at the single-cell level.

Object: To investigate the association between Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a representative cohort of US adults. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III; 1988-1994) were analyzed, including 13,993 participants aged 18-90 years who underwent KSHV serology evaluations. Mortality outcomes were ascertained through December 2019 using the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to examine the association between KSHV seropositivity and mortality, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, and smoking status. Results: Over a median follow-up period of 26.5 years, 5,503 deaths were recorded. KSHV seropositivity was associated with an increased hazard of all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.32, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.03-1.69) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.00-2.50) after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and body mass index. However, further adjustment for smoking status attenuated these associations. Notably, the association between KSHV infection and all-cause mortality persisted among women (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.72) after adjusting for all confounders, whereas the association with cardiovascular mortality was only statistically significant for men (HR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.53). Conclusions: KSHV infection may represent an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among US adults. These findings highlight the need for further research to validate these associations in independent populations and to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the observed increased mortality associated with KSHV infection.

A new method has been developed to improve the detection of norovirus (NoV) in complex fecal samples using nanomaterials-based immunoassays. The method involves using multifunctional trimetallic nanoparticles, known as Ag@Fe3O4@Au NPs. These nanoparticles consist of a core of silver (Ag) and a shell of iron oxide (Fe3O4) decorated with isolated gold (Au) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have enhanced catalytic activity, making them an ideal nanocatalyst for reducing substrate molecules. The developed Ag@Fe3O4@Au NPs-based immunoassay achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.9 pg/mL for norovirus-like particles (NoV-LP) and 6.97 fecal NoV copy number/mL. Achieving a LOD under 10 copy numbers is important for detailed protein analysis. The study also found that heat treatment of fecal suspension at 65°C was necessary to prevent the degradation of the target analyte for sensitive NoV detection. This work successfully combined multifunctional nanocatalysts for advanced immunoassays, which could contribute to developing nano-biosensing platforms.

Objective: This study aims to enhance the management of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infections by analyzing the correlation between laboratory indicators and clinical manifestations in children, thereby proposing more precise diagnostic and treatment strategies. Methods: In this retrospective study included 163 pediatric patients with EBV infections treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University from December 2017 to December 2019. Data collected through retrospective analysis included gender, age, clinical symptoms, signs, liver function tests, T-cell subset distribution, EBV-DNA copy numbers in plasma and whole blood, and treatment outcomes. Patients were grouped based on EBV copy numbers and hospital stay duration to compare clinical indicators across different groups. Results: The dichotomous results of EBV plasma level showed that the two groups of children were significantly different in the number of days of fever (p= 0.0373), platelet count (p= 0.018), ALT (p= 0.0299), immunoglobulin IgM (p= 0.0323), IgG (p= 0.0299), TBiL (p= 0.0037), LDH (p< 0.001), number of CD19+ cells (p= 0.0204) and length of hospital stay (p< 0.001) were significantly different, indicating that EBV plasma levels may be correlated with these characteristic variables.The dichotomous results of the length of hospital stay showed that the two groups were significantly increased in tonsil enlargement (p= 0.0024), platelet count (p= 0.00449), LDH (p= 0.0394), CD3+ cell count (p= 0.0383), and ferritin (p= 0.0106) and EBV plasma levels (p< 0.001) were significantly different, This suggests a potential correlation between EBV plasma levels and these clinical indicators. Conclusion: Variations in platelet counts and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in children with EBV infections may serve as indicators of clinical outcomes.

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Climate change can influence populations of monogamous species by affecting pair-bond dynamics. This study examined the impact of climate on widowhood and divorce, and the subsequent effects on individual vital rates and life-history outcomes over 54 years in a snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) population. We found that environmental conditions can affect pair-bond dynamics both directly and indirectly. Divorce was adaptive, occurring more frequently after breeding failure and leading to improved breeding success. Divorce probabilities also increased under severe climatic conditions, regardless of prior breeding success, supporting the ”Habitat-mediated” mechanisms. Generally, pair-bond disruptions reduced subsequent vital rates and lifetime outcomes. Climate forecasts from an Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model projected increased male widowhood rates due to decreased sea ice negatively affecting female survival, despite considerable uncertainty. These findings highlight the importance of environmentally induced changes in demographic and pair-bond disruption rates as crucial factors shaping demographic responses to climate change.

IntroductionTuberculosis (TB), which is caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans and a leading cause of death worldwide (1).Approximately one-third of the global population is infected with a lifetime risk of 10% for developing tuberculosis (TB) disease. In 2017, there were 10.4 million reported cases of TB worldwide, corresponding to an incidence rate of 133 cases per 100,000 individuals. Among these cases, 90% were adults over the age of 15, and 64% were male. (2).Iran is considered a high-burden country for tuberculosis, with a notable incidence rate. The endemicity of TB in this region increases the pretest probability of the disease in patients presenting with compatible symptoms and radiological findings (3). Pulmonary TB is usually a disease having a gradual onset. Fever is the most common observed constitutional symptom which characteristically develops in the late afternoon. There may be other manifestations in up to 75% of cases of pulmonary TB, such as malaise, weakness, unusual fatigue, headache, night sweats and weight loss. This is usually accompanied by caseous necrosis and concomitant caseous liquefaction and cough and purulent sputum which is often associated with mild hemoptysis (4).Sputum smear microscopy and culture are commonly used for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. However, it’s essential to recognize the limitations of these tests (5, 6). Smear microscopy has a sensitivity ranging from 36.9% to 55.6% and specificity of around 99%, while culture has higher sensitivity (approximately 80-90%) but takes longer for results (7, 8). Importantly, negative smear and culture results do not exclude the diagnosis of TB, especially in cases of paucibacillary disease or extrapulmonary involvement (8).

Changes in groundwater recharge in areas where irrigated agriculture has increased despite low precipitation and surface water allocation are a big concern. The increasing water demand has raised global drought intensities by 10-500%, worsening hydrological drought. Agriculture accounts for 69% of total groundwater abstraction worldwide, and South America expects to face unprecedented hydrological drought conditions within the next 30 years with uncertain impacts (UNESCO 2022, Wada 2016, Wanders & Wada 2015, Siebert et al. 2015). This study compares coupled and non-coupled versions of PCR-GLOBWB2.0 with MODFLOW regarding model selection and scenario comparison. Natural and human scenarios are presented to understand the effects of groundwater depletion and drought recovery. The scenario comparison evaluation of groundwater fluxes, drought characteristics, and recovery reveals changes in the water cycle due to anthropogenic impacts. This is valuable for identifying drought vulnerability in regions where water management is critical for human consumption and ecosystems.

Actions are rarely devoid of emotional content. Thus, a more complete picture of the neural mechanisms underlying mental simulation of observed actions requires more research using emotion information. The present study used high-density electroencephalography to investigate mental simulation associated with facial emotion categorisation. Alpha-mu rhythm modulation was measured at each frequency, from 8 Hz to 13 Hz, to infer the degree of sensorimotor simulation. Results suggest the sensitivity of the sensorimotor activity to emotional information, because (1) categorising static images of neutral faces as happy or sad was associated with stronger suppression in the central region than categorising clearly happy faces, (2) there was preliminary evidence indicating that the strongest suppression in the central region was in response to neutral faces, followed by sad and then happy faces, and (3) in the control task, which required categorising images with the head oriented right, left, or forward as right or left, differences between conditions showed a pattern more indicative of task difficulty rather than sensorimotor engagement. Dissociable processing of emotional information in facial expressions and directionality information in head orientations was further captured in beta band activity (14-20 Hz). Stronger mu suppression to neutral faces indicates that sensorimotor simulation extends beyond crude motor mimicry. We propose that mu rhythm responses to facial expressions may serve as a biomarker for empathy circuit activation. Future research should investigate whether atypical or inconsistent mu rhythm responses to facial expressions indicate difficulties in understanding or sharing emotions.

Aim: During the last decades mussels have shown a poleward shift in the distribution along the Atlantic coast conceivably driven by elevated sea-surface temperatures. We aimed to determine the baseline for the Northeast Atlantic (58 – 70° N) Mytilus species complex, and to compare the present distribution to surveys conducted 60 years ago. Location: Northeast Atlantic Methodology: Baseline was obtained by investigating a total of 509 stations in the intertidal zone, in four regions comprising the environmental gradient from head of fjord to coast, and distributed over the latitudinal gradient from 58 – 70° N. Results: The baseline shows a range in continuous abundance of mussels from 12 to 36 %, patchy abundance from 26 to 57 % and no or very limited mussel abundance from 26 to 46 % between the four regions. The presence of mussels in the southeast and west region was compared to previous surveys conducted 60 years ago. The data points to similar past and present presence of mussels in both regions, yet past major mussel fields in the inner section of region Southeast was not detected in this study. Main conclusions: The baseline of Mytilus spp. in the Northeast Atlantic (58 – 70° N) is now available for future reference. The baseline, compared to surveys conducted 60 years ago, points to awareness of the population situated in the southeast section of the investigated region. Continued monitoring and modelling are needed to clarify drivers of temporal and spatial variation in the mussel populations along the Northeastern Atlantic coast.

Background: Subcutaneous immunotherapy has emerged as an effective option for treating allergic diseases. Here, we assessed the clinical impact of the mannan-conjugated birch pollen polallergoid T502 in birch pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled phase III trial, 298 birch pollen–allergic adult patients were treated across 28 trial sites in Germany. Patients received either placebo or 23,000 mTU T502 subcutaneously over five pre-seasonal visits. Efficacy was assessed by comparing the combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) between placebo and T502 during the peak birch pollen season 2022. Safety, tolerability and immunologic effects were also analysed. Results: During the peak birch pollen season, the median CSMS of the T502 group was reduced by 33.00% (p=0.002) compared to placebo. The median daily symptom score and daily medication score were reduced by 30.43% (p<0.001) and 56.25% (p=0.045), respectively. Health related quality of life improved as reflected by reduction of RQLQ values by 31.54% (p<0.0001). Production of Bet v 1 sIgG4 and sIgG increased up to 6.2-fold and 3-fold respectively in the T502 group (p<0.0001). The sIgE/sIgG4 ratio was strongly reduced in the T502 group at V7 (-62.90%, p<0.0001). No fatalities nor serious adverse events were reported. In total, 16 systemic allergic reactions occurred (Grade I/II). Conclusions: Treatment with T502 significantly reduced symptoms and medication need in rhinoconjunctivitis patients. The treatment is well tolerated and safe.

Microorganisms play a key role in maintaining the stability of vegetation-soil-microbial systems and terrestrial geochemical processes in alpine meadows. To investigate the effects of different management practices on the structure and function of microbial communities, the present study used metagenomic sequencing to investigate the structure and function of soil microbial communities in the southern Qilian Mountains of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in response to the management practices of fenestration (FE), winter grazing (WG), transition zone between natural and artificial grasslands (TZ), and artificial unicast oats (AU). The management measures significantly changed vegetation diversity and soil physicochemical properties. The prokaryotic community structure was considerably similar in FE and WG, as well as in TZ and AU. Near-natural (FE) and artificial establishment (AU) disturbances changed the fungal community structure. Enzymes related to carbon metabolism did not respond significantly to the management measures, whereas those related to nitrogen metabolism did not respond significantly in TZ and AU. The relative abundance of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism was higher under TZ and AU than under FE and WG. We concluded that grassland management measures altered the structure of aboveground graminoid and leguminous vegetation communities and belowground biomass allocation, resulting in changes in K uptake, causing significant changes in the structure of fungal communities and nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes; moderate disturbance (WG) was beneficial for maintaining the stability of microbial communities in alpine grasslands.

Background and purpose Currently, the clinical benefits of liver cancer treatment are still limited. Emerging evidences have highlighted that paraptosis may be an effective strategy to threapy liver cancer. In our previous studies, compound 4a was found to induce paraptosis in cancer cells. Here, the characteristics of compound 4a induced paraptosis were further revealed, and for the first time, the target and related molecular mechanisms of compound 4a induced paraptosis in liver cancer were explored. Study design and methods The effect and mechanism of compound 4a on liver cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. And the targets of compound 4a that triggering paraptosis, were identified and confirmed by using the technology of mass spectrometry-based drug affinity responsive target stability(DARTS), siRNA, and Cellular thermal Shift Assay(CETSA). Intracellular calcium concentration and protein distribution were detected by Cal520-AM and immunofluorescence, respectively. Results We found that compound 4a can effectively induce paraptosis-like cell death in liver cancer both in vitro and in vivo, and its effect is comparable to the first-line anti-liver cancer drugs oxaliplatin while with higher safety. We identified that Calreticulin(CRT) protein as a target of compound 4a, which causing cellular endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress and calcium overload. CRT knockdown increased cell proliferation and reduced cytoplasmic vacuoles, which was associated with inhibited ER stress and paraptosis. Conclusions Our study provides a potential safe and effective agent for the treatment of liver cancer. Moreover, we have clarified characteristics of compound 4a-triggered paraptosis and revealed a unique function of CRT in paraptosis.