Emerald ash borer (EAB) ( Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), an invasive, phloem-feeding beetle native to Asia, has killed millions of ash ( Fraxinus spp.) trees in North America since it was detected in southeast Michigan in 2002. Consistently high mortality of black ash ( Fraxinus nigra) and green ash ( F. pennsylvanica) which often occur in riparian forests is a concern given their role in regulating soil moisture and shallow groundwater levels. We monitored hydrologic processes in a riparian forest in southwest Michigan to assess impacts of EAB invasion and subsequent ash mortality. From 2018-2022, we recorded soil moisture, depth to groundwater and meteorological variables at 15-min intervals throughout the growing season in a canopy gap following EAB-caused ash mortality and in adjacent, unaffected forest in the Augusta Creek riparian zone. Groundwater contributions to evapotranspiration (ET G) were estimated using a groundwater level fluctuation (WLF) method. Significant differences in volumetric soil moisture content (16-26% higher in the gap than forest), average depth to water (10 cm in the gap vs 70 cm below land surface in the forest) and mean daily ET G (0.6 in the gap vs 3.0 mm per day in the forest) persisted across four growing seasons. Within the gap, prolonged saturation of the near surface may be contributing to a shift from a forested riparian ecosystem to herb and sedge-dominated wetland. These differences have implications for an array of riparian zone ecosystem services, a concern given the extent of ash mortality already sustained in much eastern North America.

Capercaillie in Scotland have declined in number and contracted in range since the 1970s, most remaining in Strathspey on the northwest flank of the Cairngorm mountains. Strathspey, however, is popular for recreation and suffers anthropogenic disturbance from visitors and their use of new forest tracks and remote, off-track areas. Disturbance reduces the area of forest available to Capercaillie. Refuge areas wherein the creation of new tracks is not allowed, and in which recreation is not encouraged, are a management option that might mitigate such effects. We simulate this possibility for the area covered by Forest and Land Scotland’s Strathspey Land Management Plan. Spatially explicit, stage-based matrix models assessed the potential of protecting this population with refuges under ‘optimistic’, ‘central’ and ‘pessimistic’ scenarios based on observed demographic data. Fifteen potential refuges comprised less-disturbed areas of forest still used by Capercaillie. We simulated population growth using combinations of 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and the full complement of 15 refuge areas. An increasing Capercaillie population could be sustained by a network of refuges, but refuges could not arrest a wider population decline due to causes other than disturbance. This suggests that refuges could play a role in mitigating the increasingly damaging effects of disturbance on Capercaillie in the Strathspey LMP but that the birds’ long-term prospects will depend upon improving their performance more widely.

Reactive oxygen species are important signaling molecules that influence many aspects of plant biology. One way in which ROS influence plant growth and development is by modifying intercellular trafficking through plasmodesmata (PD). Viruses have evolved to use plasmodesmata for their local cell-to-cell spread between plant cells, so it is therefore not surprising that they have found ways to modulate ROS and redox signaling to optimize plasmodesmata function for their benefit. This review examines how intracellular signaling via ROS and redox pathways regulate intercellular trafficking via PD during development and stress. The relationship between viruses and ROS-redox systems, and the strategies viruses employ to control PD function by interfering with ROS-redox in plants is also discussed.

High energy density Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05-xAlxO2 (x=0, 0.025, 0.05; NMC, NMCA, and NCA, respectively) are fabricated in two different microstructural forms: (i) nanoparticles (NP) and (ii) nanofibers (NF), to evaluate the morphology and compositional effect on the electrochemical properties using same precursors, with the latter fabricated by electrospinning process. Although all the cathodes exhibit a similar crystal structure as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, contrasting difference is observed in their electrochemical properties. XRD and XPS analyses indicate a higher amount of cationic disorder for the NP cathodes compared to their NF counterparts. Nanofibrous Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes exhibit higher discharge capacities at all C-rates in comparison to NP cathodes. When cycled at 1C-rate for 100 cycles, capacity retention of 81% is observed for NCA-NF, which is superior to all cathodes. Voltage decay as a function of the charge-discharge cycle is found to be low (0.2 mV/cycle) for nanofibrous cathodes compared to 1.5 mV/cycle for NP cathodes. The good rate capability and cyclic stability of nanofibrous Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes are attributed to a shorter pathway of Li+ diffusion and a large proportion of the active surface area.

A document by Guillermo Rodriguez-Nava. Click on the document to view its contents.

IntroductionLemierre’s syndrome is a systemic septic embolism caused by thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and presenting with various distantly infected abscesses. Various diagnostic criteria exist, but there is no standardized definition. Lemierre’s syndrome is generally believed to be caused by infection with anaerobic bacteria around the oropharynx. Delayed diagnosis can lead to dyspnea and deep neck infections due to acute airway constriction, which can lead to fatal outcomes. Ophthalmologic complications of Lemierre’s syndrome are relatively rare. In this study, we report our experience with a patient with Lemierre’s syndrome who lost her sight.

Abstract Background: Maternal mental health influences the metabolism and growth of fetal brain structures affecting their skills up to adulthood. Objective: Main objective is whether music interventions improve modifiable maternal health outcomes. Search Strategy: Up to July 2023, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating music during pregnancy were identified using MEDLINE, CENTRAL, WEB OF SCIENCE. Selection Criteria: Using COVIDENCE reviewers screened for RCTs with >3 interventions applying the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), or blood pressure (BP) as outcome measures. Data Collection and Analysis: The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB2) and the reversed Cohen’s d were applied to investigate the impact of target groups, frequency, type and selection of music programs. The review was registered via PROSPERO CRD42022299950. Main Results: From 251 records, 14 RCTs (16 intervention arms) and 2375 pregnancies were included. Music interventions varied from 3 to 84 active or passive music sessions per pregnancy or 10 to 60 minutes per day and significantly decreased PSS in 2/4, STAI in 8/9, EPDS in 3/4 and BP in 3/4 RCTs. RoB2 was high in 5/14, or “with concerns” in 9/14 studies. Stratifying the Cohen’s d in 14 interventions arms suggested a big effect in 234/469 mothers on BP, and in 244/489 mothers on maternal anxiety. Conclusion: The findings show the dretailed potential of music interventions on maternal BP, stress resilience or anxiety complementing our research on complex music interventions throughout pregnancy in times of pandemics, violent conflicts, or natural catastrophes. Funding: Clara Angela Foundation. Key words: Music in pregnancy, systematic review, maternal stress, anxiety, and depression.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals the alteration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in AR patient challenge by allergen

Influenza constitutes a critical respiratory infection that imposes significant public health burdens. The precise influence of these pollutants on influenza activity remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different air pollutants on the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI), influenza A (Flu A), and influenza B (Flu B) in China based on nationwide data on air pollution and the influenza data from 554 sentinel hospitals across 30 provinces and municipalities from 2014 to 2017. Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model (DLNM) was employed to discern the lagged effects amid the concentrations of six distinct air pollutants, namely PM2.5, PM10, O 3, CO, SO 2, and NO 2, and the incidence of ILI, Flu A, as well as Flu B. Our analysis indicated that there was generally no distinction in the effects of air pollutants on the incidence of ILI, Flu A, and Flu B, although variations existed in terms of the specific level of risk associated with each of these categories. Specifically, elevated levels of PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO 2, and NO 2 were predominantly associated with an increased risk of influenza. In contrast, the effect of O 3 concentration on influenza was bidirectional whereby it promoted influenza outbreaks at low and high levels.

Bioconversion of Rebaudioside D faces high-cost obstacles. Herein, a novel glycosyltransferase StUGT converting Rebaudioside A to Rebaudioside D was screened and characterized, which exhibits stronger affinity and substrate specificity for Rebaudioside A than previously reported enzymes. A whole-cell catalytic system was thus developed using the StUGT strain. The production of Rebaudioside D was enhanced significantly by enhancing cell permeability, and the highest production of 6.12 g/L (yield=98.08%) by cell catalyst was obtained by statistical-based optimization. A new cascade process utilizing this recombinant strain and E. coli expressing sucrose synthase was further established to reduce cost through replacing expensive UDPG with sucrose. A StUGT-GsSUS1 system exhibited high catalytic capability, and 5.27 g/L Rebaudioside D was achieved finally without UDPG addition by systematic optimization. This is the best performance reported in cell-cascaded biosynthesis, which paves a new cost-effective strategy for sustainable synthesis of scarce premium sweeteners from biomass.

A case of Berry syndrome: a rare congenital cardiac structural abnormality with one-stage surgical repair Shanshan Ma1, Bi Wen1, Qi An2, Xin Zhang1*1Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37th, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China*Corresponding Author: Dr. Xin Zhang, MBE-mail: [email protected]

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly affordable. Several research projects used 3D printing to create in vitro upper airways model. However, studies using a mainstream desktop 3D printer never performed geometric validation of their model. The aim of this study was to perform geometric validation of a pediatric upper airways model printed with a mainstream desktop 3D printer. METHODS: Head computerized tomography (CT) scan of a 10-month-old female underwent segmentation between airways and surrounding anatomical structures. Airways segmentation allowed their measurement for further comparison with printed model. Head segmentation enabled the creation of a 3D printable volume file. To proceed to the geometric validation of the head model, the latter underwent a CT scan. Similar segmentation work was performed on the printed model for comparison. Overlap proportion between the original infant volume and the printed model as well as an average Hausdorff distance were calculated after manual alignment between the original and printed model. RESULTS: Volumes were 12.31 cm 3 and 12.32 cm 3 for the pediatric and the printed model upper airways, respectively (0.08% difference). Dice coefficient of original and printed model was 0.92%. The average Hausdorff distance was 0.21 mm. CONCLUSION: Desktop mainstream 3D printers can generate pediatric upper airway model with a high dimensional accuracy, as evidenced by our comprehensive geometrical validation.

Coarctation of the aorta in an adult with a concurrent large-size aortic arch aneurysmPing Zhang1, Dou Yuan2*1Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37th, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cheng Du Shang Jin Nan Fu Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.* corresponding author：Dou Yuan

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered considerable attention due to their safety, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. There is a growing interest in finding suitable cathode materials for ZIBs. Layered vanadium oxide has emerged as a promising option due to its ability to store zinc ions with high capacity. However, the advancement of high-performance ZIBs encounters obstacles such as sluggish diffusion of zinc ions resulting from the high energy barrier between V2O5 layers, degradation of electrode structure over time and consequently lower capacity than the theoretical value. In this study, we investigated the pre-doping of different cations (including , , and ) into V2O5 to enhance the overall charge storage performance. Our findings indicate that the presence of V4+ enhances the charge storage performance, while the introduction of into V2O5 (NH4-V2O5) not only increases the interlayer distance (d(001) = 15.99 Å), but also significantly increases the V4+/V5+ redox couple (atomic concentration ratio increased from 0.14 to 1.08), resulting in the highest electrochemical performance. The NH4-V2O5 cathode exhibited a high specific capacity (310.8 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1), improved cycling stability, and a significantly reduced charge transfer resistance compared to pristine V2O5.

Thick and highly conductive PEDOT:PSS films with ideal morphologies, are desirable as electrodes for supercapacitors. However, building uniform micro-morphology without templates or composite strategies is a formidable challenge, primarily caused by the inherent softness of dominant PSS. Herein, we successfully realized morphology control, transitioning from a layer-by-layer architecture to a porous structure in thick PEDOT:PSS films by employing solvothermal method with ethylene glycol (EG) as the solvent. The combined effect of high pressure and temperature effectively drove EG to construct the microstructure of thick PEDOT:PSS films by detaching insulating PSS chains and enhancing PEDOT crystallinity, and simultaneously facilitated the formation of a porous network through EG molecular tailoring. The achieved porous thick PEDOT:PSS films delivered a high conductivity of 1644 S cm-1 and a champion specific capacitance of 270 F cm-3, significantly surpassing previously reports. The flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor assembled based on the films displayed an excellent specific capacitance of 97.8 F cm-3 and an energy density of 8.7 mWh cm-3, representing the highest values for pure PEDOT:PSS-based supercapacitors. This research provides an effective novel method for conducting polymer morphology control and promotes the applications of PEDOT:PSS in the field of energy storage.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic condition of unknown etiology that presents with pruritic, excoriated dome-shaped lesions on the extremities. It is challenging to treat using topical therapies alone. Newer options include monoclonal antibodies, as well as excimer UVB and psoralen UVA phototherapies. While these have shown clinical efficacy, they may

With the rapid development of modern industry, it is necessary to effectively recycle precious metals such as gold and palladium from e-waste. IL (ionic liquid) is an efficient extractant with high boiling points, non-flammability, and high thermal stability. The properties of IL can be improved by modifying the n-substituted groups of their cations, enhancing the separation efficiency of noble metals. Thus, two guanidinium ILs, with the substituents of -R and -OR, were synthesized to extract Au(III) from a hydrochloric acid medium. These ILs exhibited excellent extraction properties, including high selectivities, rapid kinetics, and significant extraction capacities. The maximum extraction capacities of Au(Ⅲ) by [diMTMG][Tf2N] and [diPTMG][Tf2N] were 519.4mg/g and 427.9mg/g, respectively, achieving rapid extraction equilibrium within 30s. The introduction of o-containing functional atoms enhanced extraction capacity and selectivity. The extraction mechanism involving anion exchange was confirmed by slope method, jobs method, as well as ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.

The objective of this study was to explore the dynamics of efficiency and productivity of Greek public hospitals during the crisis, as well as to review the effect of implemented policies on hospital efficiency before and the implementation of the claw-back for hospital pharmaceutical expenditure. We implemented Data Envelopment Analysis and decomposed the Malmquist productivity index (MPI) to investigate the fluctuations of the Greek public hospital productivity frontier and therefore their technical efficiency between 2009 and 2019. The MPI components allowed us to capture the frontier shift, as well as pure efficiency changes and scale efficiency changes. Through the period 2009-2019 hospital inputs were reduced drastically. Doctors were reduced by 54% while beds were reduced by 15%. Hospital expenditure was decreasing between 2009 and 2015 but increased by 23% since due to fixed hospital budgets and the “claw-back”. Moreover, output seems to have increased. Patient discharges increased by 14% while diagnostic procedures were reduced by 10% between 2009 and 2016 but have been continuously rising since. Nonetheless, under variable returns to scale (VRS) average hospital efficiency was stable (~75%) for most of the period under study while declining since 2016. Policymakers in Greece have always chosen to implement cost- or input-oriented policies, instead of opting to improve outputs and quality of services. Our analysis indicated that fixed-budget-oriented reforms have impacted hospital efficiency negatively by creating a counterincentive to adopting best practices and improving hospital efficiency. Highlights Technical Efficiency under CRS was stable in Greece (0.70) over the period 2012-2016, and declined to 0.51 in 2019. Hospital Fixed Budget reforms had a negative impact on hospital efficiency. During the economic crisis 2009-2019 hospital inputs were reduced drastically Memorandum Policies introduced by Troika focused exclusively in reducing cost and not improving efficiency.