A comparative study of the female subgenital armature and sperm athecae of Pyrgomorphidae (Orthoptera).

During its taxonomic history, the family Pyrgomorphidae has had various names: 'Conophori' (Audinet-Serville, 1838, partim), 'Poeciloceridae' (Burmeister, 1840, partim; the correct spelling should be 'Poekiloceridae'), 'Phymatidae' (Burmeister, 1. c.; the correct spelling should be 'Phymateidae' as given by Scudder, 1868), 'Pyrogomorphinae' by later authors (Bolivar, 1884; McNeill, 1896; Bruner, 1900; Rehn 1904; 1907; and others). [...

Successful management of concurrent COVID-19 and Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients: a case series

Abstract Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening pulmonary fungal infection that predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals, including kidney transplant recipients. Recent years have witnessed a rising incidence of PCP in this vulnerable population, leading to graft loss and increased mortality. Immunosuppression, which is essential in transplant recipients, heightens susceptibility to viral and opportunistic infections, magnifying the clinical challenge. Concurrently, the global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been profound. Kidney transplant recipients have faced severe outcomes when infected with SARS-CoV-2, often requiring intensive care. Co-infection with COVID-19 and PCP in this context represents a complex clinical scenario that requires precise management strategies, involving a delicate balance between immunosuppression and immune activation. Although there have been case reports on management of COVID-19 and PCP in kidney transplant recipients, guidance on how to tackle these infections when they occur concurrently remains limited. Case presentations We have encountered four kidney transplant recipients with concurrent COVID-19 and PCP infection. These patients received comprehensive treatment that included adjustment of their maintenance immunosuppressive regimen, anti-pneumocystis therapy, treatment for COVID-19 and other infections, and symptomatic and supportive care. After this multifaceted treatment strategy, all of these patients improved significantly and had favorable outcomes. Conclusions We have successfully managed four kidney transplant recipients co-infected with COVID-19 and PCP. While PCP is a known complication of immunosuppressive therapy, its incidence in patients with COVID-19 highlights the complexity of dual infections. Our findings suggest that tailored immunosuppressive regimens, coupled with antiviral and antimicrobial therapies, can lead to clinical improvement in such cases. Further research is needed to refine risk assessment and therapeutic strategies, which will ultimately enhance the care of this vulnerable population

Engineering Peculiar Cathode Electrolyte Interphase toward Sustainable and High-Rate Li–S Batteries

The lithium–sulfur battery is considered to be one of the most promising rechargeable energy storage systems because of its high theoretical energy density. Unfortunately, the shuttle effect during cycling causes serious loss of sulfur species and corrosion of the lithium metal anode, resulting in severe capacity decay. This work proposes to completely suppress the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) without sacrificing the interfacial Li+ transport, through in situ construction of a compact cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), which is formed of the reaction between vinylene carbonate (VC), bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide ions and LiPSs in a self-limiting manner during the initial discharge process. Hence, the CEI-confined sulfur cathode in the VC-based electrolyte with a solid phase conversion mechanism delivers a long-term cycling stability and high-rate performance, as well as excellent performance under an extreme climate in a subzero temperature of −20 °C, limited lithium source with a low N/P ratio of 1.1, and even at mechanical mutilation. The present study reveals an appealing approach to tailor the composition and interfacial structure of sulfur cathodes by in situ construction of a robust, self-healing, and high Li+ conductive CEI from the aspect of electrolyte, and thus completely solve the issue of the shuttle effect