Background Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), has revolutionized the cancer treatment for many types of malignancy, including metastatic urothelial cancer . As pembrolizumab used becomes popular, the understanding of the associated potential adverse events is important. Method A case of urothelial cancer of bladder with local recurrence received pembrolizumab therapy then had neurological adverse events was reported, and relevant literature was reviewed. Results We presented a 79-year-old male with urothelial cancer of bladder with local recurrence after operation and traditional therapy. He received pembrolizumab therapy just half dose due to old age. 21 days later, he developed an acute hepatitis. 26 days after the first infusion of pembrolizumab, he had chest pain and progressive bilateral ptosis. 3rd -degree atrioventricular block was found then he received pacemaker insertion. Further neurophysiological study confirmed diagnosis of myasthenia gravis and myositis. He received intravenous methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin infusion and pyridostigmine bromide therapy but he still needed intubation and mechanical ventilation 28 days after pembrolizumab. Conclusion Pembrolizumab may induce rare severe neurological and cardiovascular adverse effects. A prompt comprehensive investigation to ascertain the presence of IM3OS are crucial for early diagnosis.

The control strategy for commercial vector production with a methodology to demonstrate consistent cell density at moment of infection is presented.

Background: Endometriosis (EM) is a prevalent and complex disease affecting women of reproductive age, with significant individual and societal burdens. Despite extensive research, the underlying etiology of EM remains poorly understood. Previous studies suggest a potential link between gut microbiota and EM, but the causal relationship between the two, as well as the role of inflammatory cytokines as a potential mediator, remains uncertain. Methods: Using publicly available genetic data, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the causal relationships between gut microbiota, cytokines, and EM. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness, heterogeneity, and potential horizontal pleiotropy of the results. Furthermore, we investigated whether inflammatory cytokines function as mediators in the pathway linking gut microbiota to EM. Results: Our results indicated that 20 gut microbiota and 7 inflammatory cytokines were causally linked to EM. In contrast, EM was found to affect the abundance of 14 gut microbiota and the levels of 2 inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, our data suggest that the impact of 4 gut microbiota on EM may be mediated through four distinct inflammatory factors. Acidaminococcus fermentans promoted the occurrence of EM through the mediating factor Cystatin D（CST5）, accounting for 3.8% of the total effect.Actinobacteria exerted protective effects against EM through the mediating factor Macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 （CSF-1）, accounting for 7.6% of the total effect.Gut microbiota GCA-900066495 promoted the occurrence of EM through the mediating factor C-C motif chemokine 4（CCL4）, accounting for 8.3% of the total effect. Gut microbiota V9D3004 promoted the occurrence of EM through the mediating factor Interleukin-6（IL-6）, accounting for 17.6% of the total effect. Sensitivity analyses detected no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy. Conclusion: Our Mendelian randomization study provides evidence of causal relationships between specific gut microbiota taxa and inflammatory cytokines in the context of EM. We identify potential inflammatory mediators that may facilitate the linkage between gut microbiota and EM. These insights underline the importance of targeting gut microbiota and cytokine pathways in future therapeutic strategies for EM management.

Objectives: It is still not quite clear whether mental health symptoms could be further identified correlations among the endotype, severity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) impairment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Design: Prospective cross-sectional study. Setting: One tertiary care academic hospital. Methods: Patients with CRSwNP completed prospective measurements, including calculating body mass index (BMI), identifying eosinophilic CRSwNP (eCRSwNP), assessing Lund-Mackay score (LMS), 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), as well as Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Of 91 patients with CRSwNP were enrolled, including 57 males (62.64%) and 34 females (37.36%), with a mean (SD) age of 46.31 (14.41) years. The scores of SNOT-22 were correlated with both the scores of anxiety ( r = 0.348; p = 0.001) and depression scale ( r = 0.217; p = 0.039). Patients younger than 60 years old (OR, 4.798; 95% CI, 1.288-17.874; p = 0.0194) and highly educated (OR, 4.726; 95% CI, 1.689-13.224; p = 0.0031) experienced more stress. Patients with marital status (OR, 0.101; 95% CI, 0.026-0.398; p = 0.0011) had less anxiety, while normal weight (OR, 0.242; 95% CI, 0.076-0.775; p = 0.016) and short history (OR, 0.216; 95% CI, 0.063-0.742; p = 0.0150) had less depression. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression symptoms were prevalent, while stress was more prevalent in CRSwNP. Anxiety and depression were correlated with HRQOL impairment. Moreover, young and highly educated patients had more stress. Marriage reduced anxiety. Patients with normal weight and short history had less depression.

Mucormycosis constitutes a rapidly progressive and fatal form of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis. The reported mortality rate can reach 70%. It mainly affects patients with a defaced immune system. The lack of protocols and knowledge results in late diagnosis and poor outcomes to patients. Noticing the necessity of disclosure, we present a descriptive prospective study on 14 cases of[Rhino-Orbital Cerebral form of](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34582509/) Mucormycosis diagnosed from 2014 to 2024 at a reference center of Brazil, with complete demographic features, clinical characteristics, therapeutic and surgical data, even as the outcomes of treatment (survival or death). The most common underlying disease was Diabetes mellitus, affecting 90% of our patients. The overall mortality rate was 35,71%. Deaths occurred at a median of 41.6 days (range 9-78 days) following diagnosis. Bilateral involvement and Chronic kidney disease (CKD) were significant predictors of mortality. Patients with bilateral involvement had a mortality rate 17.46 times higher than patients with unilateral involvement (HR = 17.46, 95% CI 1.76–173.00; p = 0.0145). Patients with CKD had a mortality rate 9.41 times higher than patients without CKD (HR = 9.41, 95% CI 1.03–86.02; p = 0.0470). After diagnosis all of them received systemic antifungals and only one did not undergo through surgery, nasal endoscopic was the used approach. In addition, delay in diagnosis was related to greater extent of the disease and more aggressive surgeries. It is essential to have a critical clinical view in order not to delay the diagnosis and consequent beginning of the therapeutic approach. Key Points: Mucormycosis constitutes a rapidly progressive and fatal form of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis. We did a prospective analysis of 14 cases in a reference Brazilian center. The described mortality reaches up to 70% and in our study was of 35,71%. ⁠It mainly affects patients with immunosuppression and in this study the most prevalent comorbidity was diabetes. ⁠Our study presented with Bilateral involvement and CKD were significant predictors of mortality.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, an innovative method in cancer immunotherapy, has shown remarkable effectiveness in addressing several hematological malignancies. Recent developments in immunology indicate that CAR-T therapy could potentially be applicable to treating autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and type 1 diabetes. This review aims to explore the mechanisms underlying CAR-T therapy in both cancer and autoimmune diseases, highlighting the similarities and differences in its therapeutic targets and immune modulation strategies.The therapy mainly operates by genetically altering T cells to recognize and target specific antigens present on cancer cells or dysfunctional immune cells associated with autoimmune reactions. In autoimmune diseases, CAR-T can be designed to target pathogenic B cells, T cells, or other immune cell populations responsible for tissue damage. While the application of CAR-T in autoimmune diseases remains largely experimental, early clinical studies show promising results, though challenges such as immune tolerance, cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity remain.Furthermore, this review examines the latest advancements and clinical implementations of CAR-T therapy in treating autoimmune disorders of the nervous system, such as Myasthenia Gravis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy, Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune Encephalitis, and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease. Despite being in its early stages, CAR-T therapy presents a novel and highly promising strategy for modulating the immune system in autoimmune diseases, with the potential to reshape therapeutic paradigms in the future.

Problem: Strong evidence suggests that the immune system plays a critical role in the progression and development of endometriosis. This study aims at assessing the endometrial immune profile in patients with endometriosis-associated recurrent implantation failures (RIFs) following in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in comparison to women with male infertility-associated RIFs. Method of Study: This case-control study compared the endometrial immune profile in women with endometriosis-associated RIFs (case group) versus those with male infertility-associated RIFs (control group). The profile was evaluated using the ratio of IL-18/TWEAK mRNA expression levels (a biomarker for angiogenesis and Th1/Th2 balance), the ratio of IL-15/Fn14 mRNA expression levels (a biomarker for uNK cell activation/maturation), uNK cell counts, and CD56 mRNA expression levels (a marker for uNK cell mobilization). Results: The distribution of immune profiles significantly differed between the case group and the control group. The case group had fewer patients with a regulated profile (18.9% vs. 24.3%, P value 0.01) and more patients with under-activated profiles (34.2% vs. 28.4%, P value < 0.0001). Additionally, the case group had a higher proportion of immature uNK cells (46.2% vs. 39.2%, P value 0.007). The immaturity of uNK cells in endometriosis-associated RIFs appeared to be mediated by decreased IL-15 expression levels. Conclusions: The study highlights unique immune characteristics in the endometrial environment of women with endometriosis-associated RIFs, emphasizing the role of immune dysregulation in the development and progression of endometriosis.

Climate change and human interference have disturbed most grassland ecosystems globally, causing degradation, fragmentation and loss of landscape. Over-grazing, the main human factor of grassland degradation, challenges most grassland flora and fauna. However, the impact of grazing-caused grassland degradation on communities remains unclear, because of the difficulty and neglect of studying the complex interactions and cascade effects within an ecosystem. Therefore, we studied birds, epigeic arthropods, plants and grazing intensity in the Zoige alpine grassland on the eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau to explore the complex interactions and cascade effects on community. We found positive responses of bird abundance and epigeic arthropod to light and moderate grassland degradation. Biomass and abundance of omnivores bird, saprophages and zooparasites arthropod could benefit from human-induced livestock to reverse the expected biome decline under grassland degradation. Yak contributed more to grassland degradation than sheep. Sheep promoted bird diversity, while yak reduced both birds and arthropods, indicating varying influence intensity and pathway of sheep and yak on biome through cascade effects. Our results suggest that grazing-caused grassland degradation benefits birds and epigeic arthropods through the food web and cascade effects, the impact of grazing may depend on feeding habits of grazing species. Therefore, we urge further research to uncover the intricate mechanisms of grassland ecology for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Background: The extraction of gravel materials for road construction exerts pressure on the environment, leading to habitat fragmentation, degradation, and increased invasive species within protected areas. Invasive species have increasingly altered the herbaceous composition in these locations. Studying the impact of gravel extraction on herbaceous structure and composition is vital for monitoring vegetation dynamics and ensuring effective management of protected areas. This study investigates the effects of gravel extraction on herbaceous invasion and the composition of herbaceous plants in Ngorongoro conservation Area (NCA). Three sites were selected based on extraction criteria: ”abandoned extracted sites” (Site 1), “ongoing extraction site” (Site 2), and “non-extracted site” (Site 3), with samples collected during dry season of 2022. Results: The ANOVA test revealed a significant difference in species diversity, richness, and evenness among the three sites (P<0.001) with exceptional species abundance and vegetation cover, which was’t significant (P>0.3). A significantly higher species evenness and Shannon diversity Index were detected among the three sites (ongoing extracted site, abandoned extracted site, and non-extracted sites). Contrary, species richness significantly differed between Site 1 versus Site 2 and Site 1 versus Site 3. The level of invasion differed significantly between Site 1 versus Site 2 and Site 2 versus Site 3. Site 3 was found to have low species diversity, with a more significant number of native species dominated by a single species, contrary to Sites 1 and 2 (the extracted sites), which had high level of diversity and invasive species that might have been contributed by intermediated disturbance. Conclusion: Gravel extraction in the NCA affects vegetation composition and influences herbaceous invasion. Therefore, effective communication between ecology and engineering departments should allow the establishment of monitoring and restoration programs in the ongoing extraction sites and abandoned extracted sites, respectively, to ensure the long-term sustainability of protected areas.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy with high mortality rate and a poor prognosis. Despite advances in targeted agents, effective treatment of AML remains a major clinical challenge. Azacitidine (5AZA) induces apoptosis and has been shown to be therapeutically effective in AML. Ubenimex (Ube), an Aminopeptidase N (APN)/CD13 inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor activity in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. This study investigated the antitumor effects of 5AZA combined with Ube in AML using CCK-8, cell apoptosis assay, cell cycle assay, and western blot, as well as in vivo. The results showed that the combination of 5AZA and Ube had a synergistic impact in suppressing the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of AML cell lines compared to the control group. In addition, the expression level of Bax was increased, whereas the expression levels of Bcl-2, p-PI3K and p-AKT were decreased. These effects were found to be reversible by the PI3K specific agonist 740Y-P.

Human babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by a blood-borne single-celled parasite belonging to the genus Babesia. Cases of human babesiosis are commonly reported in the United States, Western Europe, and Asia . In the United States, the two most common species are Babesia microti and Babesia duncani. Transmitted to humans through tick bites, the parasite infects the host’s red blood cells and induces flu-like symptoms, and has evolved mechanisms to manipulate the immune system, enabling its persistence. One key mechanism is the secretion of extracellular vesicles which carry bioactive molecules including proteins, lipids and genetic material that modulate pathogen-host interactions and disease development. The inhibition of the secretion of these vesicles may lead to disease control. One potential inhibitor of extracellular vesicle secretion is linoleic acid, a poly-unsaturated lipid that has demonstrated inhibitory properties in other parasites. To study the effects of development stage- dependent stimulus on Babesia duncani, we also examined the use of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol, to synchronize parasites. In this study, using a Babesia duncani in vitro continuous culture system and microscopy techniques, we showed sorbitol-induced synchronization of parasite development, and the inhibition of extracellular vesicle secretion.

A document by BABEK HABIBI NOROUZLOU. Click on the document to view its contents.

This research investigates an inverse problem related to a fractional partial differential equation of order α∈(0 ,2]. This equation is connected to a differential equation defined by Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind. We start by establishing the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the given fractional evolution equation. Utilizing the first kind of Chebyshev polynomials as a basis, we derive the solutions through a series expansion and examine its convergence.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SVA) is a rare congenital anomaly, and its rupture can lead to acute heart failure and hemodynamic instability. We present a case of a 32-year-old male who developed acute dyspnea and chest pain following a coughing episode. Echocardiography revealed a left-to-right shunt, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) confirmed a 17 mm rupture at the right sinus of Valsalva, forming an aorto-right ventricular outflow tract fistula. The patient underwent urgent surgical repair, with successful defect closure and no residual shunting postoperatively. This case highlights the role of CTA in diagnosis and the necessity of early surgical intervention.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Double-committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (DCVSD) with combined aortic and pulmonary valve prolapse is an extremely rare congenital anomaly with significant hemodynamic implications. We present the case of a 16-year-old male who presented with fatigue and a pansystolic murmur. Echocardiographic evaluation identified a 12 mm DCVSD with associated prolapse of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve and the left cusp of the pulmonary valve. This double valve prolapse caused mild aortic and pulmonary regurgitation and significant left-to-right shunting. Given the risk of progressive valvular dysfunction, early surgical intervention was performed. This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing the rare coexistence of aortic and pulmonary valve prolapse in DCVSD to prevent long-term complications.

Fixation of CO 2 through photocatalytic cycloaddition with epoxides to synthesize cyclic carbonates is an important but challenging process. In this work, carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from gallic acid and polyethylenimine are used for the efficient catalytic cycloaddition of CO 2 with epoxides in the absence of any solvent, additives, and halides, and importantly upon irradiation by natural sunlight. Specifically, carbon dots generated thermal energy and electrons upon solar irradiation, which together with their surface N-sites activated the inert CO 2. Meanwhile, epoxides were activated by the surface hydroxyl and carboxylic groups of the carbon dots, which reacted with activated CO 2 at solar thermal-induced high temperatures. The CDs shows excellent stability and recyclability during the catalysis. A 1000 mmol scale reaction for cyclic carbonate synthesis performed well upon irradiation with natural sunlight in the presence of CDs, showing great potential for the industrial application due to the simple, mild, and energy-saving process.

Diabetes is a persistent metabolic disorder that impacts millions globally, presenting a significant health challenge worldwide with increasing prevalence and significant healthcare implications. Early and accurate prediction of diabetes can aid in timely intervention and disease management. This study investigates the efficacy of machine learning algorithms in predicting diabetes using the Sylhet Diabetes Hospital dataset, which consists of clinical records from 520 patients. Various feature selection methodologies, including Pearson correlation analysis, Genetic Algorithm, Chi-Square test, and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), were employed to identify the most biologically significant predictors associated with diabetes onset. Five machine learning models-Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression (LR)-were trained and validated through cross-validation techniques. Among these techniques, the Random Forest algorithm exhibited the highest predictive performance, achieving an accuracy of 94.70% and an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC-ROC) score of 98.22%, indicating its superior ability to differentiate between diabetic and non-diabetic cases. Making it the most Dependable for diabetes prediction. These outcomes highlight the potential of machine learning in enhancing diabetes diagnosis and risk assessment. Future work includes integrating deep learning techniques and expanding datasets to improve generalizability and predictive performance.

This study sought to understand community variations in fluvial deposits (FD) in a Brazilian river after the disturbance caused by the immersion of the islands, by the dynamics of water flow due to floods; identify species and forms of establishment and understand the maintenance and restoration of the richness and diversity of ecological groups. A phytosociological analysis of the herbaceous-subshrub component was performed using Relevè in two fluvial deposits in periods for two consecutive years (July to October / 2020 and 2021), post-floods. Fifty 1x1m plots were distributed on each island. Phytosociological parameters were calculated. In the sampling, 42 species were identified, from 35 genera and 24 families in FD1 and 32 species, from 31 genera and 23 families in FD2, totaling 46 species, from 39 genera and 27 botanical families (excluding similarities). Most common growing forms were herbs. Camephytes and phanerophytes were predominant life forms. The most frequent dispersion syndrome was autochory. Variations in phytosociological parameters were observed both among FDs and in the same FD, for analyzed periods. The data were correlated to the Community Assembly Theory. It was concluded that the size of the FD probably influenced richness and that life forms and dispersal mechanisms corroborated the compositions after environmental disturbance (flood).

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection has been associated with inflammatory, autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Among patients with inflammatory rheumatological disease manifestations, cases of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyositis and fibromyalgia, among others, have been reported. Another common feature of rheumatological diseases is the presence of joint manifestations, such as arthralgia and arthritis. In the present study, we sought to determine the laboratory profile and clinical rheumatological manifestations of people living with HTLV-1/2 residing in a metropolitan area in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 957 individuals were screened for HTLV-1/2 infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and samples from seropositive individuals were subjected to infection confirmation by Western blotting or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Individuals with confirmed HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection were clinically evaluated for signs and symptoms of rheumatological diseases. Of the 957 individuals tested, 69 were positive for HTLV-1/2 infection, with 56 confirmed cases of HTLV-1 infection (5.9%), 12 of HTLV-2 infection (1.2%) and 1 classified as undetermined (0.1%). After clinical screening, 15 infected individuals with complaints suggestive of rheumatological disease were selected for evaluation by a rheumatologist (11 with HTLV-1 infection (1.1%) and 4 with HTLV-2 infection (0.4%)). The predominant pain pattern was symmetrical polyarthralgia, with large joints predominantly being affected. The diseases diagnosed were psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and regional pain syndromes. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity was observed in two patients. Our findings confirm that HTLV-1 infection is associated with rheumatological disease manifestations and highlight the novel finding of cases of HTLV-2 infection associated with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms; thus, we suggest changing the term “HTLV-1-associated arthropathy” to “HTLV-1/2-associated arthropathy”.

While aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) have been widely reported that intercalating AlCl₄ ions in each graphite layer in the fully charged state (i.e. a stage 1 configuration) is suffered, the incomplete stage transition hinders both intercalation efficiency and energy density. This issue prevents these batteries from reaching their theoretical potential as next-generation fast-charge batteries. In the lack of a comprehensive computational model capable of analyzing the transient evolution across stage transitions, we have developed a Monte Carlo algorithm to investigate the scientific mechanisms underlying stage transitions in AIBs. Our simulations dynamically model these transitions while accounting for various factors such as temperature, binding energy, diffusion barriers, electrostatic interaction, screening effects, and charge transfer dynamics within the intercalated electrode. Our findings indicate that these factors can be manipulated to either achieve a complete transition to stage 1 or facilitate incomplete transitions. In addition, our model offers insights into nanoscience regarding the unexpected concerns of excessively increasing the dielectric constant. As the demand for batteries evolves, high-rate discharge capabilities are becoming crucial, especially for extreme applications that require quick bursts of power, like electric sports cars. Hence, we conduct a case study on rapidly discharged AIB over numerous usage cycles, where we experimentally observe capacity oscillation. To enhance our ability to predict this oscillation, we harness the power of the LSTM networks to identify essential forecasting parameters, paving the way to envision potential problems operating under high-rate discharge modes.

Introduction: High-power short-duration (HPSD) ablation has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional power delivery (CPD) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its efficacy, procedural efficiency, and safety profile remain uncertain. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.Gov databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HPSD with CPD ablation for PVI in patients with AF. Random-effects models were used to pool hazard ratios (HR) and risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). R version 4.4.2 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Seven RCTs with 1,006 patients (514 HPSD, 489 CPD) were included. No significant differences were found in freedom from arrhythmia during the follow-up period (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.41–1.45; p=0.424). AF recurrence did not differ (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.65–1.36; p=0.733) between groups. HPSD had a significantly shorter procedural (MD -22.61 min; 95% CI -33.18, -12.04; p<0.001) and RF ablation times (MD -15.70 min; 95% CI -20.86, -10.55; p<0.001). No differences were observed in fluoroscopy time and first-pass isolation for right and left pulmonary veins. There was no difference in esophageal lesion rates, pericardial, or neurological complications, but there was a higher incidence of steam pops in HPSD (RR 3.42; 95% CI 1.45–8.09; p=0.005). Conclusion: In patients with AF undergoing PVI, HPSD did not increase freedom from arrhythmia as compared with CPD ablation, however it was associated with shorter procedure and RF ablation times with a similar safety profile.

Here, we experimentally investigated the electrochemical behavior of SPAN cathodes with different sulfur content (0-35 wt.%) using scan-rate dependent cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy (ECS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Our results reveal that the balance between surface-controlled (related to quantum capacitance) and diffusion-controlled (arising from redox reactions) charge storage strongly depends on sulfur content with higher sulfur content SPAN favoring surface-controlled behavior. We attribute this to increased quantum capacitance arising from defects such as pores and N atoms in the graphitized carbon backbone of 29 and 35 wt. % S SPAN. By drawing an analogy from the density functional approach, we measured the redox density of states (g r (µ)) using ECS. While SPAN maintains a stable g r (µ), S 8 showed pronounced variations due to polysulfide formation. Our detailed XPS findings show that it is necessary to account for sulfone groups, often ignored in SPAN structure, in the electrochemistry of SPAN

Transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B) has been identified as a functional receptor facilitating ACE2-independent SARS-CoV-2 entry. However, its role in supporting a broad range of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the emerging Omicron BA.2.86 and JN.1 subvariants, remains to be determined. To address this question, we generated 293- and A549-derived TMEM106B knockout cell lines and assessed their ability to support viral entry for various SARS-CoV-2 variants (D614G, E484D, Omicron BA.1, BA.2, XBB.1.5, BA.2.86, and JN.1) using pseudoviral infection systems. We also examined the role of transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and other type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSP) in viral entry and syncytium formation. Our results showed that TMEM106B knockout significantly reduced viral entry across all tested variants. Additionally, overexpression of TMPRSS2, TMPRSS11F and TMPRSS13 in TMEM106B-expressing cells enhanced viral entry and syncytium formation, including BA.2.86 and JN.1 variants. Importantly, we identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that result in G2A and N151S variant, respectively, affects TMEM106B receptor function, indicating that selected genetic polymorphisms of TMEM106B gene may impact cell susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings highlight TMEM106B as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 across different variants, including the latest Omicron subvariants, and provide new insights for the therapeutic interventions targeting viral entry.

There are several hypotheses for the significance of urban colonisation of animals but an exhaustive explanation is still missing. The question arises: is the colonisation a successful process or a detrimental misstep? Here, I describe the first case of urban colonisation of the Eurasian Goshawk in Finland, where the species is traditionally known as a shy, resident bird of remote wilderness and rural areas. I predict, that if the urban habitats are more favourable for goshawks than the habitats in Finland in general, 1) population trends should be more positive, 2) breeding output should be higher, and 3) population size and breeding output should be less affected by winter weather conditions. The urban goshawk population showed a highly significant increasing trend during the study (1996–2022), while the number of territories recorded elsewhere in Finland decreased significantly. The average annual mean brood size was not higher in the urban population than elsewhere in Finland. Winter temperatures affected the population size of the goshawk positively in urban habitats and positively or negatively elsewhere. The breeding populations crashed only after extremely cold winters, and recovered thereafter. Given that food availability over winter may be higher and energy requirements lower in warmer winters, it is possible that food promoted the colonisation of Helsinki by goshawks. Present results largely support the idea that the urban colonisation of the Eurasian Goshawk is a successful process. However, for a longer term the possibility of a detrimental misstep can not be excluded.