Sex-ratio distorters (SRDs) are heritable elements that bias offspring sex-ratios to enhance their transmission. In the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare, feminization of genetic males can occur through vertical transmission of the sex-ratio distorter known as the f-element, as well as through infection by Wolbachia, a maternally inherited bacterial endosymbiont that can alter host reproduction. We investigated whether associations between sex-ratio distorters and mitochondrial haplotypes in U.S. populations differ from those reported in European populations. To address this, we sampled A. vulgare from 12 U.S. states and screened individuals for Wolbachia infection, the presence of the f-element, and mitochondrial COI haplotypes. We found that Wolbachia exhibits a heterogeneous distribution across populations and haplotypes, in contrast to the stronger associations observed in European populations. The f-element occurred at lower overall frequencies but showed a strong association with mitochondrial haplotype VI. These results indicate that patterns associated with SRDs differ from those observed in Europe and are consistent with multiple introductions and population mixing shaping these distributions in U.S. populations.

Constructing dual active sites to activate different reactants can effectively lower the reaction energy barrier and significantly improve catalytic activity. Herein, Co─Cu bimetal oxides embedded in the hollow S-1 shell were prepared by the impregnation and dissolution-recrystallization method. The catalyst with a Co/Cu molar ratio of 1:1 exhibited good catalytic activity with a maximum TOF value of 948 molH2∙molcat -1∙h-1. DFT shows that Co sites at CuO─Co3O4 interface can efficiently activate the NH3BH3 molecule, while Cu sites at the interface effectively activate the H2O molecule. The electron transfer between CuO─Co3O4 bimetallic oxides and introduction of hollow S-1 supports effectively promote the hydrogen generation and stability via the ensemble effect. This creates a new method to fabricate other hollow zeolite shell-confined metal/metal oxide catalysts.

In the following, we attempt to map the narrative and psychological moments of suicide in the multifaceted document compiled by Michel Foucault. Pierre Rivière murdered his mother, sister, and brother in 1835, and later, after writing his memoirs, committed suicide in prison. In the analysis, we examine the documents from the perspective of suicide: after an introduction, where we explain our method, we attempt to analyze Pierre Rivière's memoirs from these perspectives and then summarize. Keywords: suicide; psychiatry; psychology; narrative; Pierre Rivière.

In this work, we prepared an antibacterial film using potato starch (PS) incorporated with Oxalis triangularis anthocyanin (OA) and Chenpi essential oil Pickering emulsion (PE) stabilized by PS and nano titanium oxide (NT) and applied them for preservation of beef. The PE-PS-NT100 emulsion showed excellent stability with a 209.6 nm particle size and a 43.84 mV zeta potential and was used for film development. The introduction of OA and PE in active films significantly reduced light transmittance, 35.52% and 15.39% increase in elongation at break and tensile strength, respectively; 54.74% and 22.43% reduction in water permeability and absorption capacity, respectively; improved thermal stability and hydrophobicity. The composite film with 0.9 mL of CEO (PS@OA@PE0.9) showed significant antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, could prolong the shelf life of beef by up to 12 days, and hence was promising for food preservation.