Pollination niche shifts in sympatric globular cacti : Consequences on reproductive isolation and species formation.

Pollination niches, which encompass the factors influencing pollen exchange among angiosperms, are fundamental to understanding reproductive success and the intricate eco-evolutionary dynamics of plants. In this study, we investigated pollination niche shift among four sympatric cacti with restricted distributions in the South American Mediterranean region. Utilizing a comprehensive approach-including pollination niche analysis, pollinator color perception studies, reproductive output assessments, molecular phylogenetics, gene flow analyses, and species distribution modeling-we revealed a significant pollination niche displacement in and its variety, var.

Decreased expression of insulin-degrading enzyme increases gluconeogenesis and glucose production in cultured hepatocytes administered with glucagon.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a protein with proteolytic and non-proteolytic functions that regulates glucose homeostasis. In the fasted state, glucagon regulates glycemia through induction of hepatic gluconeogenesis. The rate of hepatic gluconeogenesis is elevated in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with healthy subjects.

Evaluation of disinfection methods for autonomous mobile robots used in hospital logistics in emergency departments.

Background: Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have been increasingly used in hospital logistics, particularly in high-risk areas, such as emergency departments (EDs), to streamline operations, reduce staff fatigue, and minimize infection risks. However, their effective disinfection remains a critical concern, especially when it comes to solutions aimed at preventing spread of multi-drug-resistant organisms.

Aim: This study evaluated the microbiological cleanliness and effectiveness of various disinfection methods for AMRs in real-life hospital logistics settings, with a particular focus on their application in EDs.

Interaction of native and aggregated albumin with DMPC bilayers.

The study of protein-lipid interaction offers interesting insights into the mutual alterations determined in the formation of the supramolecular complex. It gains even more interest, not only in basic research but also in biomedical and biomaterial applications, when protein aggregation and fibril formation are involved. In this study, the reciprocal influence of human serum albumin (HSA), in both the native and the thermally aggregated state, and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers is investigated by combining UV-Vis scattering, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies.

Chronic Systemic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Without Respiratory Involvement in an Immunocompromised Patient.

In a patient on immunosuppressant treatment, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was documented in different extra-respiratory samples over several months in the absence of positive determinations in upper respiratory samples. Whole-genome sequencing of these samples showed the acquisition of different single-nucleotide polymorphisms over time, suggesting viral evolution and thus viral viability.