A Case Report of A Multisystemic Immune-Related Adverse Event Caused by Sindilizumab in Combination with Thymosin Alpha-1Ting Li1,Bao-Liang Wu2, Cai-Long Yu1, Liang-Yan Jin1,*

Postural syncope as a rare manifestation of spinal cord injuryYonghong Liu, Boyan Fang, Qiaoxia Zhen (Corresponding Author)Yonghong LiuDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, ChinaID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1658-7884Corresponding Author: Qiaoxia ZhenDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, ChinaE-mail:869512540@qq.comBoyan FangDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, ChinaE-mail: fangboyanv@163.com

Locally advanced synchronous hemorrhagic gastric cancer – from the first symptom to therapy – case reportAuthors:Szabolcs Attila Gabor¹, Botond Istvan Kiss¹, Moriczi Renata¹, Siklodi Evelyn3 , Daniela Tatiana Sala¹˒², Radu Mircea Neagoe¹˒²Affiliation¹ 2nd Department of Surgery, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures² George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures3 Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Heart Transplantation of Targu MuresCorresponding author:Tatiana Daniela SalaAffiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu MuresTargu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu 50, 540136, Mures, RomaniaE-mail address: salatatiana@yahoo.comPhone: 0265-212.111Key Clinical Message(KCM):Synchronous gastric cancers present unique therapeutic challenges, and in carefully selected patients, extended resections such as pancreaticoduodenectomy can enable R0 resection and potentially improve survival, despite the increased risk of postoperative complications.Abstract:Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and it’s occurrence is becoming increasingly frequent due to the ageing population and growth of high-risk groups. It is most often recognized in advanced stages due to the few symthoms and the low rate of regular screening.We present a case of a male patient treated in our department for synchronous hemorrhagic gastric cancer(T4b), with preoperative chemotherapy. A total gastrectomy, cephalic pancreaticoduodenotomy and transvers colon resection was performed, due to invadation of the transvers colon and the head of the pancreas.The treatment of advanced gastric cancer is multidisciplinary, including preoperative chemotherapy, surgical treatment and adjuvant oncotherapy. In order to achive an R0 resection, in some selected cases, it is necessary to perform extended resections. These extended resections increase the rate of early postoperative complications, but they have a positive impact on long-term survival.Performing a cephalic pancreaticoduodenotomy simultaneously with gastric resection in advanced gastric cancers to achive an R0 resection remains controversial, as the benefits of radical intervention are sometimes outweighed by its morbidity, but they can have a positive impact on long-term survival.Keywords: Synchronous gastric cancer, cephalic pancreaticoduodenotomy, segmental colectomy, chemotherapy, R0 resection, T4b gastric cancerIntroduction:Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumor, it’s prevalence is increasing due to higher life expectancy and changes in environmental and lifestyle factors. Early detection of gastric cancer is challenging as it is often asymptomatic. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, dysphagia, a feeling of fullness, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and loss of appetite. When these symptoms are present, the cancer is usually already in an advanced stage. (1)(2)It is typically detected in the early stage only through screening or during a gastroscopy conducted for other reasons. The treatment of gastric cancer is multidisciplinary, involving a gastroenterologist, radiologist, oncologist, surgeon, and dietitian.(3)In advanced cases, treatment begins with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which improves increases the chances of curative treatment. The primary chemotherapy agents used are platinum-based compounds and fluoropyrimidine combinations. If the cancer is HER2-positive, the addition of trastuzumab is recommended, and immunotherapy may also be used after testing for immunohistochemical characteristics. This is followed by restaging of the tumor. (4)(5)(6)Tumor regression or the occurrence of complications (bleeding, gastrointestinal obstruction) requires surgical treatment. Synchronous gastric cancers represent a rare group, typically diagnosed at later stages. In advanced cases (T4/b), the tumor is also attached to surrounding organs, one of the most common is the pancreas. Pancreatoduodenectomy for advanced gastric cancer is rarely performed because of the high morbidity and mortality rates and low survival rate.(7)(8)Case history and Examination:We present the case of a 62-year-old male patient, a chronic smoker, with a history of mitral and tricuspid valve insufficiency. The patient presented to a county emergency clinic 3 months prior to surgery with epigastric and left hypochondriac pain, along with hematemesis.Investigations and treatment:An abdominal ultrasound was performed, which described a tumor mass (77 mm in diameter) at the level of the stomach, extending beyond the gastric wall and contacting the transverse colon, with the presence of locoregional lymphadenopathy.This was followed by a pelvic-abdominal CT scan, which described the following: a heterogeneous, heterocaptant tumor mass with central necrosis in the antral part of the stomach, exophytic growth, but predominantly directed toward the interior of the stomach, with circumferential extension at the level of the antrum, infiltrating the mesocolon transversum; several enlarged locoregional lymph nodes with central necrosis, up to 33 mm in diameter; suspicious mass at the right adrenal gland level; the liver was homogeneous, and the pancreas has normal size, with no dilatation of the Wirsung duct.(Figure 1 )

The global warming phenomenon leads to elevated water temperatures in freshwater habitats, which in turn alters the motility responses of hemimetabolous macroinvertebrates. Ephemeroptera nymphs are highly active in different types of micro-habitats. Its movement complexity may shift with increasing temperature, but how this dynamic occurs has received little attention. Our work studies the two-dimensional and anisotropic movement behavior of Ephemeroptera nymphs (Baetidae and Leptophlebiidae) under an experimental setting that provides controlled induced thermal stress. Increasing temperatures could influence the movement patterns according to Fractal Dimension Index (FDI). FDI methods (radial, box-counting, and dilation) indicate the complexity of trajectories and directionality (anisotropy). Experiments were conducted in a controlled arena, recording the movement of nymphs under three thermal conditions: control (temperature from sampling sites), control +5°C and control +10°C, from several micro-habitats of rithronic streams. The results showed that thermal stress led to a decrease in FDI, suggesting a shift towards more directional and less complex movement patterns, i.e., an increase in anisotropy. This response was influenced by taxonomic family, with Baetidae showing greater sensitivity and a steeper drop in FDI compared to Leptophlebiidae. Micro-habitat complexity also played a crucial role; nymphs from structurally complex habitats (macrophytes and boulders) tended to maintain higher FDI values under stress, as opposed to those from simpler substrates (gravel and sand), which showed a sharper reduction in movement complexity. This indicates that habitat structural heterogeneity may mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on behavior. Positive correlations were found between habitat fractal dimensions and locomotor traits such as Mean speed and Total path length, suggesting that complex habitats may enhance nymph mobility. These findings support the use of fractal metrics as sensitive indicators of behavioral plasticity and complexity of animal movement under environmental stress.

The presence of another human in our immediate or distant environment is a crucial factor for survival and social behavior. Our actions vary depending on the other person’s relative proximity, involving integration of brain functions subserved by neural oscillations, to generate the most appropriate behavior. This study highlights the alpha EEG role and its neural generators in interpersonal space sensitivity (IPSS). To investigate this, participants stood face-to-face, gazing into each other’s eyes, and while wearing a mask preventing them from staring at each other. An auditory order instructed them to alternately close and open their eyes. It was observed that alpha power of occipito-parietal region increased as the distance decreased, transitioning from extra-personal space (4 m) to peri-personal space (<40 cm) when the eyes were closed. Conversely, alpha power decreased for the same distances when the eyes were open. These significant event-related synchronization (ERS) and desynchronization (ERD) effects were absent when participants’ heads were masked. Beta oscillations were not significantly involved in IPSS. The number of spontaneous blinks was not significantly influenced by IPSS. Source modeling identified alpha ERS and ERD in cortical and subcortical generators significantly involved in IPSS with independent components localized in: The parietal cortex bilaterally (BA7), the left limbic gyrus (BA23), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (right BA31, left and right BA24, right BA32), the right premotor cortex (BA6, including the supplementary motor area (SMA), and the right frontal eye fields (BA8). These cortical areas were accompanied by the recruitment of the thalamus and cerebellum.

CD154 (CD40L) is of central importance in effector responses mediated by classically activated macrophages. However, there is limited information on the impact of CD154 on macrophage responses in type 2 contexts, characterized by IL-4-induced polarization and proliferation. CD154 restricts the polarization and proliferation of peritoneal cavity macrophages in response to exogenous IL-4. Here we address the impact of CD154 on peritoneal macrophages during infection of mice with the intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus. This strictly enteric nematode causes recruitment of Th2 cells and macrophages to the peritoneal cavity alongside type 2 polarization and proliferation of recruited and resident macrophages. Nine days post-infection, there was an increase in the expression of cell-surface CD154 in CD4 + T cells together with increased IL-13 levels in the cavity, suggestive of local antigen presentation. Blocking CD154 enhanced the proliferation of resident but not of recently recruited macrophages. CD154 blocking additionally potentiated the expression of type 2 marker Ym1 ( Chil3) in resident and recruited macrophages. Unexpectedly, CD154 blocking caused increases in the numbers of recently recruited macrophages and appearance of cells with characteristics of both differentiating recruited macrophages (expression of folate receptor β and MHCII) and resident macrophages (high-level expression of F4/80 and CD102). Together, these observations suggest that CD154 promotes the acquisition of tissue residence by recruited macrophages. Thus, our results indicate that in a helminth infection CD154 restricts certain aspects of the polarization and proliferation of macrophages in response to type 2 cytokines while promoting the acquisition of resident phenotype by the recruited macrophages.

Allometry, the scaling traits or biological rates with body mass, is central to a wide range of ecological research including dynamic food web modelling. There has been extensive focus on exponents (3/4 scaling laws), but little on the coefficients (normalisation constants). Current coefficients for metabolism and production are derived from limited data and dated methodologies. Here, we expand these data to over 1000 genera with body mass spanning 10 orders of magnitude. We updated metabolism and production coefficients deriving new genus and metabolic group levels estimates with phylogenetic hierarchical modelling providing robust inference. Our coefficients were mostly lower than those previously estimated, with increased uncertainty estimates. We then used the Bioenergetic Food Web Model to evaluate their impact, finding increased biomass and species persistence but no change in stability. Our coefficients pave the way for future simulations that take advantage of subsets of genus and metabolic group data.

Title:  Bone Marrow Involvement in Sarcoidosis: A Case Report of Granulomatous and Hematologic ComplicationsAbstract: Bone marrow involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and poorly understood. This case highlights the hematologic complexity of sarcoidosis, including its association with aplastic anemia and T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL). We report a 70-year-old male with longstanding sarcoidosis who developed multiple hematologic complications, including bone marrow granulomatous infiltration, aplastic anemia, and T-LGLL.Key Words: sarcoidosis, granulomatous inflammation, bone marrow, aplastic anemia, T-LGLL, hematologyIntroduction:  Bone marrow involvement in sarcoidosis is a rare manifestation with an incidence of <5%1. Clinical indications for obtaining a bone marrow biopsy in sarcoidosis remain poorly defined2. We report a case of a patient who experienced multiple hematologic complications, including aplastic anemia, T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL), and granulomatous bone marrow involvement.Case Presentation : A 70-year-old male with a known history of sarcoidosis presented with progressive anemia. The patient was initially diagnosed with sarcoidosis twenty years prior in the setting of parotid gland swelling with biopsy revealing non-caseating granulomas. At that time, he was found to be pancytopenic; bone marrow biopsy showed hypocellularity consistent with aplastic anemia and increased CD8+ T-cells and a clonal peak by TCRB PCR indicative of T-LGLL, but no granulomas. He was treated with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and long-term cyclosporine with good response. Five years later, the patient developed dyspnea and chest CT imaging showed a micronodular pattern with mediastinal adenopathy. He was therefore started on steroid treatment with improvement in both his respiratory symptoms and radiographic findings. Over the following decade, attempts to taper steroids below five milligrams daily, as well as his cyclosporine, resulted in recurrent anemia and thrombocytopenia. A repeat bone marrow biopsy, 10 years after initial diagnosis, revealed persistence of T-LGLL (with a similar TCRB PCR clone, increased CD7(dim)+CD26-CD16+CD8+ T-cells and abnormal TCR-Vb spectratyping by flow cytometry with no STAT3 or STAT5 mutation detected), but no evidence of granulomas. Attempts to taper steroids again resulted in recurrent anemia and another bone marrow biopsy, now 20 years after his initial diagnosis, identified persistent low-level T-LGLL and notably scattered non-caseating sarcoid granulomas in the bone marrow (Image 1). Reintroduction of low dose prednisone has resulted in improvement in his anemia.Discussion: Sarcoidosis can involve bone marrow leading to hematologic abnormalities such as anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Hematologic abnormalities can be due to direct granulomatous infiltration of the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, or related to immune dysfunction.2 The association between sarcoidosis and hematologic manifestations such as aplastic anemia and T-LGLL have been rarely reported, although T-LGLL is known to have a high concordance with autoimmune disease, at over 30%3. There has been one previously reported case of aplastic anemia as a presenting feature of sarcoidosis4. This case described a young female who presented with pancytopenia and interstitial lung disease without mediastinal adenopathy. A bone marrow biopsy revealed aplastic anemia, and the patient responded to ATG and cyclosporine. After bone marrow recovery a transbronchial biopsy was performed which revealed noncaseating granulomas. Additionally, rare case reports describe pure red cell aplasia in patients with sarcoidosis, though these were attributed to infection or medication5,6. The mechanism of involvement related to aplastic anemia in sarcoidosis is unclear, but potential explanations include immune mediated destruction of hematopoietic cells, T cell dysregulation leading to bone marrow suppression and granulomatous involvement leading to pancytopenia7. Despite its rarity, aplastic anemia should be considered among the range of hematologic manifestations of sarcoidosis.The association between sarcoidosis and T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia is exceedingly rare. A small study by Karakantza et al. highlighted the association between sarcoidosis and lymphoid malignancies which included the first documented case of T-LGLL in a patient with sarcoidosis8. A population-based cohort study by Patt et al. found a significant association between sarcoidosis and hematologic malignancies, with an increased odds ratio for lymphoma9. The study included 24,000 patients with sarcoidosis and found sarcoidosis patients had a significantly higher prevalence of malignancies compared to controls. The association remained significant for both hematologic and solid organ malignancies. The strongest association was observed with lymphoma, particularly within the first year of sarcoidosis diagnosis. This supports the notion that sarcoidosis patients are at a higher risk for developing lymphoproliferative disorders, likely including T-LGLL. The pathogenesis linking sarcoidosis to lymphoproliferative disorders, including T-LGLL, likely involves chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which may promote malignant transformation of lymphocytes10. This highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for hematologic malignancies in patients with sarcoidosis. Bone marrow biopsy and flow cytometry are crucial to distinguish between sarcoid-related marrow infiltration and T-LGLL.Conclusion : This case highlights the complex relationship between sarcoidosis and hematologic complications, emphasizing the potential for granulomatous involvement of the bone marrow and its association with conditions like aplastic anemia and T-LGLL. Corticosteroids remain the primary treatment option, while immunosuppressive agents may be effective in refractory cases. Additionally, while T-LGLL has long been associated with autoimmune diseases, with up 37% of T-LGLL patients having a concomitant autoimmune disease3, it is rarely reported to be associated with sarcoidosis. Long-term monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial to optimizing outcomes in patients with sarcoidosis and hematologic involvement.

Since the 1960s, continental serpentinization environments have served as natural laboratories for investigating low-temperature aqueous geochemistry involving dissolved H 2 and CH 4, with broad implications for deep Earth elemental cycles, energy resources, and astrobiology. Despite extensive site-specific research, global comparisons of serpentinization geochemistry remain limited, largely due to the heterogeneity in sampling snapshots across serpentinizing sites. To address this gap, we compiled, homogenized, and analyzed geochemical data (aqueous and dissolved gas) from 32 studies focused exclusively on hyperalkaline spring seepage manifestations. The resulting database includes 1,866 individual measurements spanning 15 physical and chemical variables. pH is the most consistently reported parameter (90.3%), followed by water temperature and major cations (57.5%), whereas dissolved H 2 (38.1%) and CH 4 (44.4%) are less frequently documented, and Ni shows the lowest coverage (8.2%), highlighting a strong bias toward bulk chemistry over trace metals and volatiles. Because reported degrees of rock serpentinization are highly variable and inconsistently described, we normalized all variables by mean annual precipitation (mm yr -1) and grouped them by precipitation regime (tropical, temperate, arid, cold continental) to separate geochemical effects from water availability and evapoconcentration. Prior to normalization, several statistically significant differences were found in pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), electrical conductivity (EC), major ions, and gas concentrations among the precipitation regimes. Tropical environments exhibited higher median values in Fe 2+/3+, Ni 2+, OH -, CO 3 2-, and dissolved CH 4. Dissolved H 2 presented the highest median values in arid and cold continental settings. The arid environment also showed the highest median values in EC and major ions (Na +, K +, Ca 2+, Cl -). Following normalization by precipitation, the differences in geochemical load per unit of water were reduced in factors such as water temperature, pH, ORP, EC, major ions, and gas concentrations, primarily across tropical, temperate, and cold continental precipitation regimes. Differences persisted in dissolved carbonate (tropical and temperate) and Fe and Ni (tropical). The arid precipitation regime resulted in notable differences across several parameters, likely due to strong surface evapoconcentration conditions under a low relative humidity environment. However, the H 2 median value remained the highest in the arid group after normalization, which highlights a potentially favorable H 2 production setting under deeper groundwater flow systems and longer residence times. In contrast, wetter serpentinizing environments with greater groundwater recharge and increase dissolved inorganic carbon, favored the occurrence of CH 4-dominated systems, most likely driven by Fischer-Tropsch type reactions, elevated dissolved carbonate, and microbial methanogenesis. Our global comparison provides a systematic synthesis and framework for identifying both common patterns and site-specific differences in low-temperature continental serpentinization, underscoring the critical influence of regional hydrology, particularly groundwater residence times and water availability, in regulating H 2 and CH 4 production. Plain Language Abstract Since the 1960s, serpentinizing environments have been investigated as natural laboratories where the interaction of groundwater with ultramafic rocks generates H 2 and CH 4. These sites are also important because they provide clues about Earth’s deep chemical cycles, possible new energy sources, and even the origins of life. Although many individual sites have been studied, global comparisons remain limited. To address this, we combined data from 32 studies of hyperalkaline springs, creating a database of 1,866 measurements that track 15 chemical and physical variables. We found that most studies consistently report water pH, temperature, and major dissolved ions, while H 2 and CH 4, and trace metals like Ni, are measured less often. When grouped by rainfall regimes (tropical, temperate, arid, and cold continental), clear differences emerged. Tropical sites showed higher CH 4 and carbonate contents, while arid sites showed greater H 2 and solute concentrations. After accounting for rainfall, many of these differences were reduced, but H 2 remained highest in arid systems. Overall, our global analysis shows that water availability strongly influences serpentinization chemistry and the balance between H 2- and CH 4-rich system

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are side effects observed after acute administration of D2 antagonists and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors in rodents. To date, no study has examined NOS activity in parallel with c-Fos immunoreactivity (c-Fos-IR) following multiple doses of these compounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether catalepsy and motor balance deficits resulting from specific acute doses of haloperidol (Hal), metoclopramide (MCP), and L-NOARG could correlate with changes in the number of c-Fos-IR and nNOS-positive cells, as well as NADPH-diaphorase activity in the striatum. Male Swiss mice received Hal (0.1–1 mg/kg, i.p.), MCP (1–45 mg/kg, i.p.), L-NOARG (15–45 mg/kg, i.p.), or saline. An increased cataleptic effect was observed in all experimental groups. All doses of Hal and the higher doses of MCP resulted in deficits in the rotarod test, whereas L-NOARG did not affect rotarod performance. Histochemical analysis revealed increased c-Fos-IR in the dorsal striatum following Hal, as well as in the dorsolateral striatum after low and intermediate clinically relevant doses of MCP. Both types of D2R antagonists led to an increase in NADPH-diaphorase activity in the dorsal striatum. Similarly, the higher catalepsy-inducing doses of L-NOARG resulted in increased NADPH-diaphorase activity in the dorsal striatum; however, these same doses also reduced c-Fos-IR in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc). In conclusion, all drugs produced catalepsy, with motor balance preserved after L-NOARG treatment. Our findings suggest that EPS side effects may be attributed to NADPH-diaphorase activity in the dorsal striatum.

A document by Tuhin Sadique. Click on the document to view its contents.

Impatiens labordei Hook. f. is a spec'ies of Impatiens L. that was collected in Guiyang, Guizhou in 1899 by two collectors, E. M. Bodinier and J. Laborde, and later described in 1908 by J. D. Hooker, a renowned British plant taxonomist. However, for over a hundred years thereafter, no relevant collection records or image materials were found. In this paper, based on the examination of the protologue and the type specimens, the morphological description of this species is supplemented through retracing the historical collection routes of the early missionaries, which led to the rediscovery of Impatiens labordei in Longli County, adjacent to Gaopo Township in present-day Guiyang City. Colour photographs and distribution information are provided, and morphological differences from the closely related species I. bodinieri Hook.f. are compared.

The communication of African and Asian elephants based on seismic and acoustic waves has been studied for decades. However, research within anthropogenic zoo environments, particularly with respect to seismic signals, remains limited compared to studies in natural habitats. This study analyses low-frequency elephant rumbles recorded at the Opel-Zoo near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, by comparing characteristics from datasets obtained using non-invasive, co-located seismic and infrasound sensors. Analysis of recordings from August 2024 revealed over 1350 rumbles, indicating significant temporal variability. These rumbles are characterized by signal durations of 1–8 seconds and fundamental frequencies between 10 and 25 Hz, with harmonics above. Due to high seismic background noise during zoo opening hours, infrasound detections are more abundant during the day, while seismic and infrasound detection rates are comparable at night. Our results show that the number of rumbles significantly increases approximately every second night, in agreement with the elephants changing nocturnal housing schedule, with one pair of elephants being much more communicative than the other pair. We find indication for a diurnal correlation of rumble activity with visitor numbers. Many rumbles occur in rapid sequences within minutes, suggesting elephant interaction or external triggers. Most rumbles are accompanied by motion-induced signals associated with locomotion or trampling, phenomena not detectable with infrasound sensors measuring acoustic waves only. This highlights the value of combined seismic and infrasound data. To enable a robust automated classification of rumbles and noise for continuous monitoring, we train and test two CNNs using spectrogram images of the hand-picked seismic and infrasound rumbles as inputs. The model achieves up to 98% classification accuracy, while cross-domain applications demonstrate better generalization and robustness of the CNN trained with seismic data. The seismo-acoustic monitoring approach and resulting findings have the potential to enhance our understanding of zoo elephant behavior, social interactions, and welfare.

Invasive species, loss of habitat, and climate change are just some of the many threats accelerating biodiversity loss, and understanding their impacts on endangered species is key to implementing effective conservation. The endemic Grenada frog (Pristimantis euphronides) is found only in high elevation cloud forests, habitat that is being invaded by the introduced Lesser Antillean frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) and threatened by climate change. Between 2004 and 2020, our field team surveyed three key sites in the central highlands of Grenada to monitor populations of both frogs. We used generalized linear models and Spearman’s rank analysis to evaluate the effects of site and invasive frog relative abundance on the endemic frog. Although the relative abundances of the two species were negatively correlated overall (ρ = -0.501, 95% CI: (-0.660, -0.300)), the relationship between them was weakly positive in the model that included site as a covariate. The two species appear to respond similarly to environmental fluctuations at local scales, but the negative overall correlation implies that competition with the Lesser Antillean frog may have affected the distribution of the Grenada frog across the island. Grenada frogs were much more abundant than Lesser Antillean frogs at the highest elevation site, while the reverse was true at the lower sites. If higher elevation sites are indeed acting as refugia for the Grenada frog from its invasive competitor, the effects of climate change at those high elevation sites will likely be critical to the future of the species.

The ongoing increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) concentration has become a pressing issue that requires immediate attention to mitigate the substantial global warming and the associated environmental crisis. Sorbent-based CO 2 capture offers a promising approach to addressing the problems. However, an efficient capture process requires materials to have high CO 2 capacity, fast kinetics, good selectivity, and long-term stability under operating conditions. Guided by reticular chemistry, which enables the linking of molecular building blocks into crystalline frameworks through strong bonds, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have demonstrated great potential as efficient CO 2 adsorbents due to their high porosity, tailor-made pore environment, and excellent stability. Considering the significant progress in this field, this review provides the basic design principles of COFs, summarizes recent de novo and post-synthetic modification methods for designing suitable COFs for CO 2 capture, and discusses the challenges and prospects.

Diabetes mellitus has been increasingly recognized as a contributor to subclinical atrial dysfunction, particularly in hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. In our study, we demonstrated an association between diabetes and impaired left atrial mechanics assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. While the cross-sectional design does not allow causal inference, our findings support the hypothesis that diabetes may adversely affect atrial strain independent of overt cardiovascular disease. We adjusted for relevant clinical and echocardiographic variables, though residual confounding cannot be excluded. Patients with known atrial fibrillation were excluded, and although prolonged rhythm monitoring was not performed, this limitation reflects the real-world challenges of detecting silent paroxysmal arrhythmias. Echocardiography was chosen for its accessibility and widespread applicability, and reproducibility analyses confirmed good intra- and inter-observer agreement. Validation against other modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was beyond the scope of the present study.

Studies of population genetic structure are typically conducted at the scale of species distributions and encompass large distances and substantial environmental variation. However, population genetic structure could also be present in species with highly restricted global distributions, such as habitat specialists with threatened or vulnerable conservation status. For these organisms, low dispersal distances coupled with fine-scale environmental heterogeneity could influence population genetic composition, potentially creating spatial genetic structure and genotype by environment associations. Here we use the serpentine endemic plant Calochortus tiburonensis, with a global distribution of 160 ha, to evaluate whether fine-scale structure in soil composition and low seed dispersal distances result in the development of population genetic structure. We paired soil elemental analysis with a RAD-seq SNP dataset for 24 C. tiburonensis individuals. Although no population structure was detected between C. tiburonensis sampling locations, multiple analyses identified associations between soil composition and genetic distance between individuals. This included associations with nickel and magnesium, two elements that were expected a priori to impact plant fitness in serpentine landscapes. However, redundancy analyses and a generalized dissimilarity model both suggest that total soil variation better explains differences in genetic composition between individuals, implying that selection from the holistic soil environment has a role in matching plant genotypes to the microenvironment. Our results indicate that fine-scale environmental heterogeneity could influence genetic differences between individuals in plant populations, even in the absence of population genetic structure. Additionally, these associations between genetic composition and fine-scale environmental heterogeneity implicate extremely fine-scale environmental heterogeneity as an essential mechanism for preserving genetic variation, particularly within range-limited species.

Freshwater species are facing massive declines, often driven by eutrophication. Identifying which facets of biodiversity are sensitive is crucial, as species loss does not always translate to reduced ecosystem functioning and functional diversity. We examined how assembly rules shape zooplankton functional diversity in hypereutrophic fishponds. Higher eutrophication was hypothesized to cause functional homogenization through reduced functional diversity, habitat filtering, and trait convergence. Higher eutrophication indeed reduced functional diversity metrics, while species richness was kept stable. Functional richness, dispersion, and dissimilarity shifted from limiting similarity, where niche partitioning and competition shape community structure, to random (incidence data) and habitat filtering (biomass) with increasing eutrophication. Functional divergence transitioned from random to habitat filtering, while redundancy increased at higher trophic states. Trait convergence was the dominant process, with the environment selecting species with similar traits. Biodiversity assessments and managers should consider how functional diversity and ecosystem functions respond to anthropogenic and environmental changes.