Rewetting of previously drained wetland soils can induce rapid redox shifts that influence mercury (Hg) cycling and methylmercury (MeHg) production. We investigated how prior exposure to common metal-salt and biopolymer coagulants influences Hg transformations during wetland soil rewetting and whether organic matter (OM) availability modulates these effects. Wetland soils (∼300 µg kg-1 total Hg) were incubated in triplicate soil-water microcosms for 16 days following rewetting. Treatments included soils previously exposed to ferric sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, or a chitosan-based coagulant, alongside untreated controls. Upon rewetting without additional OM, redox potential declined to ∼250 mV, consistent with manganese-reducing conditions, and MeHg concentrations remained relatively low in water (0.05-0.18 ng L-1) and soils (1-2 µg kg-1) across all treatments. In contrast, addition of algal-derived OM (Spirulina powder) rapidly decreased redox potential to 0-100 mV and produced a short-lived pulse of MeHg formation in all treatments, with aqueous MeHg peaking at ∼30-40 ng L-1 and soil MeHg at ∼6-8 µg kg-1 on days 2-4 before declining. Coagulant treatments increased transient inorganic Hg concentrations in overlying water (45-75 ng L-1) relative to controls (∼30 ng L-1) but did not enhance higher MeHg production. Results demonstrate that OM-driven redox dynamics, rather than prior coagulant exposure, control transient MeHg production during wetland soil rewetting, highlighting how episodic carbon inputs can regulate mercury transformation in managed and natural wetlands.

Benzene, toluene, and xylene, also known as BTX compounds, are toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are widely distributed in the environment and affect human health. An effective BTX compound monitoring method is urgently needed for environmental pollution control. This work demonstrates the ability of high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) to detect, differentiate, and quantify BTX compounds. The FAIMS full spectra of benzene, toluene, and xylene were constructed by self-developed FAIMS. At an optimal dispersion voltage of 800 V, the separation of the mixture was optimized by improving the gas conditions. The BTX compounds were quantified in the concentration range of 50-250 ppb. According to the experimental results, FAIMS has achieved detection of benzene, toluene, and xylene, with a limit of detection (LOD) range of 5.64-16.37 ppb. The BTX monomers were successfully differentiated in the dispersion voltage range of 550-1000 V, and the addition of isopropanol and water vapor enhanced the separation of their mixture. In the optimal case, the coefficient of determination for xylene in the linear range of 18.81-250 ppb exceeded 0.999, which realized the quantification of BTX compounds by FAIMS. This study provides an effective method for monitoring BTX compounds.

To estimate sleep-related mean and individual effects of a supplementation blend comprising 15,000 mg cherry juice concentrate, 220 mg cherry extract, 250 mg cocoa extract, 200 mg of tryptophan, 100 mg of L-5-hydroxytryptophan, 3000 mg of glycine, 300 mg of magnesium, and 200 mg of theanine in youth Middle Eastern football players. Using a two-cycle replicate crossover design, 12 male youth football players (age = 16.1 ± 0.4 years, body mass = 70 ± 8.5 kg, stature = 179 ± 7.5 cm) completed two identical supplementation and two identical placebo (40-g dual-source carbohydrate gel) conditions, each lasting 2 days and in randomized sequences following the rest days subsequent to official match-play. Wrist-worn actigraphy measured time asleep, wake-after-sleep onset, sleep onset latency, and sleep efficiency in free-living conditions. Between-cycle Pearson's correlation coefficients quantified the consistency of the placebo-adjusted sleep responses to active supplementation for the first night and two-night averaged administration effects, respectively. Within-person linear mixed models and random-effects meta-analyses quantified person-by-supplementation response variability. For all administration comparisons and sleep outcomes, the between-cycle correlations were trivial (r range = -0.25 to 0.17, all p ≥ 0.43), with linear mixed modelling and meta-analytic approaches indicating trivial replicate-averaged supplementation effects. Participant-by-supplementation variability in sleep responses was trivial, indicated by the individual treatment estimates showing strong shrinkage toward the mean. Aggregated sets of n-of-1 trials revealed trivial replicate-averaged treatment effects and a lack of meaningful individual differences in placebo-adjusted sleep responses to blend supplementation in male youth Middle Eastern football players.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare genetic disease characterized by heterotopic ossification in connective tissues. Few epidemiologic studies have investigated mortality rates among people with FOP. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to understand mortality in people with FOP. Data were obtained from people with FOP in the United States (US) who participated in either the International FOP Association (IFOPA) membership database or the IFOPA patient registry between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2023. From 2017 to 2023, 250 people with FOP were identified. The age-adjusted mortality rate was 34.6 (95% CI: 22.5-51.7) deaths per 1000 person-years. The annual age-adjusted mortality rate ranged from 21.0 (95% CI: 3.2-77.8) to 51.6 (95% CI: 19.1-114.7) deaths per 1000 person-years; the annual age-adjusted mortality rate ranged from 7.2 to 8.9 per 1000 person-years in the general US population. The median age at death for people with FOP was 50.5 (95% CI: 46.5-57.5) yr vs 80.5 yr in the general US population. The restricted mean time lost for people with FOP was 32.3 (95% CI: 26.8-37.8) yr vs 8.1 yr in the general US population. The US FOP population has substantial excess mortality vs the general US population.

Transition-metal sulfide (TMS) catalysis is a promising strategy for accelerating sulfur redox kinetics, yet its catalytic mechanisms in all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) remain poorly understood. Here, two distinct catalytic failure modes are identified in conversion-type and intercalation-type TMS catalysts, namely, phase-separation-driven catalyst self-poisoning and transition-metal-migration-induced electrolyte degradation, respectively. Guided by these insights, we develop an all-in-one high-entropy sulfide (HES) catalyst that undergoes a solid-solution reaction to form a stable Li x HES phase. This Li x HES functions as both a dual ion-electron conductor, expanding the electrochemically active reaction zone, and an interfacial redox mediator, driving spontaneous Li2S oxidation, thereby promoting extensive and rapid S↔Li2S conversion. With only 3 wt% HES, the S@HES cathode (40 wt% S) achieves 93.4% sulfur utilization and 93.0% conversion efficiency. Even at 50 wt% sulfur, the cell retains a capacity of 900 mAh g-1 at 5 mA cm-2 (2C) over 250 cycles. Furthermore, a high areal capacity of 9.68 mAh cm-2 is delivered under demanding conditions (8.5 mg cm-2, 30°C), highlighting the great promise of the HES catalytic strategy for energy-dense ASSLSBs.

Kohn-Sham density functional theory is the workhorse of computational materials science and chemistry, but the optimal choice of exchange-correlation approximation for a given system is often unclear. Traditional benchmark studies typically compare selected density functional approximations (DFAs) against high-level quantum chemistry results for small structures and static energies, rather than against experimental thermodynamic or response properties. Here, we show how machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) allow for molecular dynamics simulations of these properties at scale, thereby providing a thermodynamic assessment for DFAs. Focusing on the well-studied but challenging case of bulk water at ambient conditions, we evaluate 11 DFAs spanning the top four rungs of Jacob's ladder (GGA, meta-GGA, hybrid, and double hybrid) with and without empirical dispersion corrections, using consistent basis set selections. Using MLIPs trained on each DFA, we compute infrared spectra, heat capacities, radial distribution functions, and diffusivities from classical molecular dynamics simulations. We find a general improvement up Jacob's ladder towards double hybrids, though there is substantial variation between DFAs within the same rung and across different properties. Dispersion corrections yield only a modest influence on the computed properties. We elucidate the similarities and hierarchy among DFAs, both based on correlating the DFA energies and forces for the same training configurations, and based on analyzing the finite-temperature observables. Our work thus demonstrates the power of MLIPs for finite-temperature benchmarking of electronic structure methods.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in older adults present complex clinical and public health challenges because of frailty, multimorbidity, and antithrombotic therapy. Invasive surgery in anticoagulated patients increases the risk of hemorrhage and delayed healing. Multiwavelength laser systems provide a minimally invasive alternative, combining precise ablation, hemostasis, and disinfection. A 92-year-old woman receiving anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation presented with multiple anterior maxillary fractures following a fall. The right maxillary central incisor (Tooth 11) showed a complete coronal fracture with pulp exposure (Ellis Class 3) and a palatal fracture line extending below the bone crest. Owing to systemic risk, a tooth-preserving laser-assisted approach was adopted instead of extraction. Gingivectomy was performed using an Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm; 3.5 W, 60 Hz, fluence: 72.5 J/cm2, power density: 4.36 kW/cm2) to achieve hemostasis and soft-tissue decontamination. Bone vaporization was completed with an Er:YAG laser (2940 nm; QSP mode, H14 handpiece; 250 mJ, 15 Hz) to expose the fracture margin. Root-canal decontamination used the Er:YAG SWEEPS technique for photoacoustic activation of irrigants (NaOCl: 5%, EDTA: 17%), enhancing biofilm removal and smear-layer disruption. The tooth was reconstructed with fiber-post and composite resin buildup, followed by monolithic zirconia crowns on both central incisors. Soft-tissue healing was complete at 15 days, and functional rehabilitation was achieved without complications. Two-year clinical and radiographic follow-up confirmed stable periapical conditions, preserved gingival contours, and satisfactory aesthetics. The coordinated use of Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, and Er:YAG SWEEPS lasers enabled selective tissue management-hemostasis, bone remodeling, and endodontic disinfection-under continuous anticoagulation, avoiding extraction and minimizing operative trauma. Rapid soft-tissue healing was observed clinically during follow-up. Within the limitations of a single case report, multiwavelength laser-assisted therapy may represent a conservative treatment option for managing dental trauma in anticoagulated geriatric patients, supporting tooth preservation and functional rehabilitation.

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) affects a high percentage of women of reproductive age and is one of the most common causes of school and work absenteeism. It significantly reduces quality of life and impairs daily activities. Strawberry consumption has demonstrated benefits in chronic and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of consuming fresh strawberries from Huelva on menstrual pain in young female university students with primary dysmenorrhea.