Electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) determine the efficiency of electrochemical water splitting. Therefore, we designed a series of multimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), NH2-BDC-TM3 and Br-BDC-TM3 (NH2-BDC = 2-aminoterephthalate, Br-BDC = 2,5-dibromoterephthalate), as bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient HER and OER. This study computationally investigated the synergistic effect between metal atoms and substituent groups (NH2 and Br) within the main framework TM3-BDC. All three homonuclear (TM = Fe, Co, Ni) and three Fe-containing heteronuclear (TM3 = Fe2Co, Fe2Ni, FeCoNi) electrocatalysts designed for each (NH2 and Br) substituent group exhibit good stability. The minimum overpotential of NH2-BDC-Fe*CoNi (0.20 V) for OER, and HER (NH2-BDC-Fe2Ni, 0.02 V, O active site) represents that the -NH2 substituent is most effective towards OER and HER activity among all the designed catalysts. Br-BDC-Fe*CoNi proved to be a highly efficient as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for OER and HER, with measured overpotentials of 0.45 and 0.18 V, respectively. Our investigation highlights the potential of an active class of MOF electrocatalysts for HER and OER.
Due to its detrimental effects on bee health and overall hive output, various pests and pathogens, including Nosema spp microsporidians, have become a major problem for beekeepers worldwide. Understanding the prevalence of nosemosis and potential risk-factors for its occurrence is essential to safeguard honey bee populations. We examined apiaries 5 km, 2.5 km away and within the mining region in the Ngororero region of Rwanda's Western Province. We found lead (Pb) in all examined apiaries at a high contamination level from 0.01 to 0.06 mgg(-1) mean concentration. Pb variable (p < 0.001) and proximity to the mining region (p = 0.031) were significantly associated with Nosema spp spore presence. Nosema spp spore presence among the worker honey bees within the mining region was significantly higher statistically than that 5 km away from the mining region. The study suggests that the increased prevalence of Nosema spp near mining regions may be due to delayed exposure of worker bees and colonies to environmental stressors released from the mining region, such as Pb.
African soils host a diverse but largely underexplored fungal community, but its poorly understood nature impedes the management and understanding of vital species that provide essential ecological services. As a result, the diversity and distribution of soil fungi in Africa remain largely unknown and inadequately documented compared to the global north, with countless species and presumably higher-level taxonomic groups awaiting discovery and description. Ongoing threats such as habitat degradation, climate change, and intensified land use highlight the urgent need to understand and conserve these vital microbial communities. To address this knowledge gap, we generated eDNA metabarcoding data from 467 topsoil samples across various terrestrial ecosystems in 32 African countries. Our analyses revealed significant spatial heterogeneity, with diversity hotspots in savannas, temperate mixed forests, and dry tropical forest ecosystems and low-diversity zones (coldspots) in arid shrublands and deserts. Precipitation and latitudinal distance emerged as the strongest predictors of fungal alpha diversity. Meanwhile, the drivers of beta diversity were mainly temperature, precipitation, and soil chemical properties. To integrate African soil fungi into the principles of continental biodiversity distribution, we present a detailed continent-wide (including islands) map of fungal richness for all fungi and mycorrhizal fungi, highlighting fine-scale spatial patterns across various ecosystems. This study presents the most comprehensive spatial analysis of soil fungal diversity in Africa to date, acting as a vital reference for advancing ecological research, biodiversity monitoring, and conservation planning across the continent. We emphasize here that more effort should be made to conserve soil fungi, particularly mycorrhizal fungi in Africa, especially in regions with low fungal diversity.
Cannabis sativa L. seeds have long been regarded as a by-product of cannabis cultivation. Beyond their nutritional value, cannabis seeds are increasingly recognized as a source of specialized phenolic compounds with potential biological relevance. However, research on seed phenolics remains fragmented, often receiving only marginal attention, and a dedicated synthesis focused specifically on these compounds is still lacking. This review provides a focused and up-to-date synthesis of phenolic compounds reported in cannabis seeds, critically examining their chemical diversity, extraction and analytical strategies, and key factors influencing phenolic recovery and composition. Cannabis seeds exhibit a diverse phenolic profile dominated by hydroxycinnamic acid amides (mainly N-trans-caffeoyltyramine) and lignanamides (particularly Cannabisins A and B). Their extraction remains largely reliant on conventional solvent-based approaches, with limited adoption of innovative and green technologies, except for ultrasound assisted extraction. Advances in high-resolution analytical tools for phenolic separation and identification enabled comprehensive profiling and a deeper understanding of phenolic diversity. The extractability and final content of phenolic compounds result from a complex interplay between extraction-related parameters, biological variability, and seed processing conditions. Biological activities associated with cannabis seed phenolics include antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, dermo-protective, antibacterial, and metabolic regulatory effects. These activities are discussed with reference to reported mechanisms, such as free radical scavenging, modulation of inflammatory mediators, and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Current evidence highlights cannabis seeds as a promising yet underexploited source of phenolic compounds with potential applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and dermato-cosmetic fields. Nevertheless, important challenges remain, such as methodological heterogeneity, limited in-vivo and clinical validation, and insufficient data on bioavailability and formulation. Addressing these limitations and gaps through standardized protocols, mechanistic studies, and translational research will be essential to support the effective valorization of cannabis seed phenolics in industrial and health-related applications.
Ozone (O3) is a significant global air pollutant. Recent epidemiological studies have established a correlation between O3 exposure and an increased risk of neurological disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms by which O3 induces cognitive deficits remain unclear. This study demonstrated that exposure to environmentally relevant O3 levels resulted in significant cognitive impairment in mice. These deficits arose from hippocampal synaptic injury, characterized by reduced dendritic spine density, disrupted synaptic ultrastructure, and impaired long-term potentiation. Mechanistically, O3 activated the liver complement pathway, leading to increased levels of complement component 3 (C3) and its subsequent release into the bloodstream. Furthermore, O3 compromised the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, allowing peripheral C3 to infiltrate the hippocampus. Notably, C3 served as a key signal that triggered local pro-inflammatory microglial activation and enhanced their phagocytosis of excitatory synapses, ultimately resulting in synaptic loss and cognitive decline. Importantly, both the microglial inhibitor minocycline and liver-specific C3 knockdown suppressed pro-inflammatory microglial activation and restored synaptic plasticity and cognitive function. These findings systematically reveal a novel liver-brain axis in O3 neurotoxicity, whereby peripheral C3 drives central microglial phagocytosis of excitatory synapses, offering new mechanistic insights and potential therapeutic targets for O3-related neurological diseases.
