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On the way to diploidization and unexpected ploidy in the grass Sporobolus section Spartina mesopolyploids
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation improves quality of life in individuals with chronic poststroke aphasia
Abstract The cerebellum has emerged as a potential target for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in post-stroke aphasia (PSA) due to its role in language processing and relative preservation compared to supratentorial lesions. Recent evidence also highlights the cerebellum’s involvement in affective and social processes, suggesting potential broader effects of cerebellar modulation. This study investigated the efficacy of anodal tDCS over the right cerebellum paired with speech and language therapy in enhancing language functions and quality of life in individuals with PSA. Twenty-two participants with chronic PSA received cerebellar tDCS, while historical sham control data from 25 participants were obtained. Language outcomes were assessed using the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R), and secondary outcomes included patient-reported measures of communication effectiveness and quality of life. Mixed-design analyses of variance were conducted to examine treatment effects. No significant Group x Time interaction was found for WAB-R scores, indicating that tDCS did not provide additional language benefits over speech therapy. However, a significant Group x Time interaction was observed for the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 scores, driven by improvements in the Psychosocial, Physical, and Energy subdomains in the tDCS group. Cerebellar tDCS did not significantly improve language outcomes in PSA individuals but enhanced specific aspects of quality of life. These findings highlight the cerebellum’s multifaceted role in cognitive, affective, and sensorimotor processes. Future research should focus on conducting well-powered, randomized, double-blind, and concurrent trials to validate these findings and explore optimal stimulation parameters in PSA rehabilitation. Trial registration : The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number NCT03699930. The date of registration is 10/05/2018.
Self-growing protocell models in aqueous two-phase system induced by internal DNA replication reaction
An online game spread model combining key nodes in scale-free networks
Identification of antiviral RNAi regulators, ILF3/DHX9, recruit at ZIKV stem loop B to protect against ZIKV induced microcephaly
Determining the optimal port placement for transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach in a retrospective study
Observation of dispersive acoustic quasicrystals
Author Correction: Analysis of suspended sediment concentration characteristics under erosion-deposition condition changes in the Yangtze River Estuary
Comprehensive characterization of early-onset lung cancer, in Chinese young adults
A comparative study of target fabrication strategies for microgram muonic atom spectroscopy
The global distribution patterns of alien vertebrate richness in mountains
Abstract The diverse biotas of the world’s mountains face a challenging future due to increasing threats like climate change, land-use change, and biological invasions, the last being particularly understudied in these regions. Here we compile occurrence records for 717 alien vertebrate species distributed in 2984 mountains worldwide. We analyze their distribution, biogeographic origin, presence in protected areas, and the drivers’ explaining alien vertebrate richness in mountains. We find that the alien vertebrates most frequently recorded are birds (318 species) and mammals (161 species) reported in 2595 and 1518 mountains globally, respectively. The Palearctic, Nearctic, and Australasian realms are the most common recipients; the Nearctic, Indo-Malay, and Afrotropic realms are the most frequent donors. Almost 50% of the alien species studied also occur in protected areas. Proxies of anthropogenic impacts (e.g., higher road density or lower biodiversity intactness) and mountains’ physical characteristics (e.g., elevation range and roughness) explain the distribution of alien vertebrates in mountains. Importantly, the magnitude of invasions in tropical mountains could be underestimated due to sampling bias towards the Northern Hemisphere and Australia. Our large-scale assessment reveals the advance of alien vertebrates in mountains worldwide and urges attention to minimize the impacts of biological invasions on the exceptional mountain biotas.
Assessment of anthropogenic activities impact based on metals in soil and tree leaves along roadside in Bangladesh
Abstract The assessment of heavy metal pollution in leaves and soils is essential in environmental health monitoring. We assessed the effect of anthropogenic activities along an industrial–urban–rural gradient in the roadside soil and tree leaves of Bangladesh based on their metal concentration. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd were analysed in leaves of Ficus benghalensis, Swietenia macrophylla, and Polyalthia longifolia and topsoil samples using ICP-OES. We used pollution indices to quantify the impact of contaminants on ecosystems. Our findings indicated that there were higher metal concentrations, especially Cd and Pb, in soil and leaves in close proximity to locations with substantial traffic and industrial activities. Igeo index indicated moderately to strongly polluted areas by Cd. The contamination factor (CF) for Cd indicated a severe contamination, while moderately contamination show by Cr, Pb, and Ni. The value of the ecological risk factor was below 40 for Cr, Ni, and Pb; thus, negligible ecological risks were considered for these elements. But, the ecological risk assessment indices showed that Cd poses high ecological risks in soil and leaves across all study areas. Bioaccumulation analysis indicated substantial heavy metal absorption in tree foliage, with F. benghalensis and P. longifolia exhibiting elevated Pb accumulation in urban environments. The PCA indicated that Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb mostly derived from anthropogenic sources in leaves and soil samples, too. Our results demonstrated that F. benghalensis, S. macrophylla, and P. longifolia are good indicator to assess the effect of anthropogenic activities on the terrestrial ecosystem. Our results also indicated the critical need for environmental monitoring and mitigation techniques in urban and industrial zones to reduce heavy metal pollution in roadside ecosystems.
Direct conversion of various phosphate sources to a versatile P-X reagent [TBA][PO2X2] via redox-neutral halogenation
Abstract Inorganic phosphates hold significant potential as ideal natural building blocks, forming a fundamental basis for organic and biochemical synthesis. However, their limited solubility, inherent chemical stability, and low reactivity pose substantial challenges to converting phosphates into organophosphates under mild conditions. This study introduces an efficient method for the direct conversion of phosphates into P(V)-X reagents, [TBA][PO 2 X 2 ] (X = Cl, F), via a redox-neutral halogenation process. This method utilizes cyanuric chloride (or cyanuric fluoride) as the halogenation reagent, in combination with 1-formylpyrrolidine and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC), under ambient conditions. The approach enables effective halogenation conversion for various P(V) sources, including orthophosphates, pyrophosphoric acid, Na 3 P 3 O 9 and P 2 O 5 . Furthermore, we demonstrate the synthetic utility of the P(V)-Cl reagent in the phosphorylation of diverse O -, S -, N - and C- nucleophiles. Key advantages of this conversion process include the use of inexpensive and readily available chemicals, the avoidance of high-energy redox reactions, and the generation of a reactive yet stable P(V)-X reagent.
The first complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the ornate flying snake Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw 1802) Colubridae
Enhanced energy storage performance of nano-submicron structural dielectric films by suppressed ferroelectric phase aggregation
Transcriptome‑wide excavation and expression pattern analysis of the NAC transcription factors in methyl jasmonate- and sodium chloride-induced Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Design of high-affinity binders to immune modulating receptors for cancer immunotherapy
Abstract Immune receptors have emerged as critical therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy. Designed protein binders can have high affinity, modularity, and stability and hence could be attractive components of protein therapeutics directed against these receptors, but traditional Rosetta based protein binder methods using small globular scaffolds have difficulty achieving high affinity on convex targets. Here we describe the development of helical concave scaffolds tailored to the convex target sites typically involved in immune receptor interactions. We employed these scaffolds to design proteins that bind to TGFβRII, CTLA-4, and PD-L1, achieving low nanomolar to picomolar affinities and potent biological activity following experimental optimization. Co-crystal structures of the TGFβRII and CTLA-4 binders in complex with their respective receptors closely match the design models. These designs should have considerable utility for downstream therapeutic applications.