Does manganese influence grass litter decomposition on a Hawaiian rainfall gradient?

Plant litter is a well-defined pool of organic matter (OM) in which the influence of manganese (Mn) on decomposition (both decomposition rate and the mix of compounds ultimately transferred to soil OM) has been clearly demonstrated in temperate forests. However, no similar study exists on grasslands and the effect of foliar Mn versus soil-derived Mn on litter decomposition is poorly known. We used a 5-month and 12-month field, and 10-month laboratory experiments to evaluate litter decomposition on the Kohala rainfall gradient (Island of Hawai'i) in areas with different foliar and soil Mn abundances, and on which a single plant species (Pennisetum clandestinum) dominates primary production and the litter pool.

Giant Basal Cell Carcinoma Within a Marjolin's Ulcer: A Case Discussion.

Marjolin's ulcers are cutaneous malignancies that arise from chronic wounds, often secondary to burns. While squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent type, rare instances of other tumors, such as basal cell carcinoma, have occurred. These tumors are challenging to treat due to their high recurrence rate and aggressive behavior.

A Rare Instance of Chronic Masson's Tumor Presenting in the External Auditory Meatus and Surgical Plan: A Case Report.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH), or Masson's tumor, is a rare and benign proliferation of endothelial cells typically of vascular origin. Common locations of Masson's tumor include the head, neck, orbit, lip, pharynx, and mandible. It is typically seen in middle-aged adult life and females.

Manganese Oxidation States in Volcanic Soils across Annual Rainfall Gradients.

Manganese (Mn) exists as Mn(II), Mn(III), or Mn(IV) in soils, and the Mn oxidation state controls the roles of Mn in numerous environmental processes. However, the variations of Mn oxidation states with climate remain unknown. We determined the Mn oxidation states in highly weathered bulk volcanic soils (primary minerals free) across two rainfall gradients covering mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 0.

Third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine appears to overcome vaccine hyporesponsiveness in patients with cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Cirrhosis is associated with immune dysregulation and hyporesponsiveness to several vaccines including those against COVID-19. Our aim was to compare outcomes between patients with cirrhosis who received 3 doses of either the Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA or Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccines to a propensity-matched control group of patients at similar risk of infection who received 2 doses.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis who received 2 or 3 doses of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at the Veterans Health Administration.