Search Results (403)

Astragalus sinicus, a key leguminous green manure widely cultivated in Southern China’s rice-based cropping systems, plays a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil organic matter sequestration, improving rice yield, and elevating grain quality. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing association between A. sinicus and its matching rhizobia is fundamental to its agronomic value; however, suboptimal inoculant efficiency and field application methodologies constrain its full potential. To address these limitations, we conducted a multi-phase study involving (1) rhizobial strain screening under controlled greenhouse conditions, (2) an optimized lyophilization protocol evaluating cryoprotectant (trehalose, skimmed milk powder and others), and (3) seed pelleting trails with rhizobial viability and nodulation assessments over different storage periods. Our results demonstrate that Mesorhizobium huakuii CCBAU 33470 exhibits a superior nitrogen-fixing efficacy, significantly enhancing key traits in A. sinicus, including leaf chlorophyll content, tiller number, and aboveground biomass. Lyophilized inoculants prepared with cryoprotectants (20% trehalose or 20% skimmed milk powder) maintained >90% bacterial viability for 60 days and markedly improved nodulation capacity relative to unprotected formulations. The optimized seed pellets sustained high rhizobial loads (5.5 × 10³ cells/seed) with an undiminished viability after 15 days of storage and nodulation ability after 40 days of storage. This integrated approach of rhizobial selection, inoculant formulation, and seed coating overcomes cultivation bottlenecks, boosting symbiotic nitrogen fixation for A. sinicus cultivation. Full article

Papaya ripeness identification is a key task in orchard management. To achieve efficient deployment of this task on edge computing devices, this paper proposes a lightweight detection model, ABD-YOLO-ting, based on YOLOv8. First, the width factor of YOLOv8n is adjusted to construct a lightweight backbone network, YOLO-Ting. Second, a low-computation ADown module is introduced to replace the standard downsampling structure, aiming to enhance feature extraction efficiency. Third, an enhanced BiFPN is integrated into the neck structure to achieve efficient multi-scale feature fusion. Finally, to strengthen the model’s capability in identifying small objects, the dynamic detection head DyHead is introduced to improve ripeness recognition accuracy. On a self-constructed Japanese quince orchard dataset, ABD-YOLO-ting achieves a mAP50 of 94.7% and a mAP50–95 of 77.4%, with only 1.47 M parameters and 5.4 G FLOPs, significantly outperforming mainstream models such as YOLOv5, YOLOv8, and YOLOv11. On edge devices, the model achieves a well-balanced trade-off between detection speed and accuracy, demonstrating strong potential for practical applications in intelligent harvesting and orchard management. Full article

Background and Objectives: COVID-19 may have long-term adverse effects on bone health, particularly in individuals aged ≥50 years with obesity or diabetes, who are predisposed to impaired bone quality. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study used TriNetX data from 141 healthcare organizations across North America and Western Europe. Patients aged ≥50 years with overweight (body mass index 25–30 kg/m²), obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²), or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and COVID-19 (2019–2024) were propensity score-matched to non-COVID-19 controls. Exclusion criteria included prior overweight, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, T-score ≤ −2.5, Z score ≤ −2.0, fractures, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and cancer. Outcomes included new-onset osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and low T-scores (≤−2.5). Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs); sensitivity analyses assessed lag effects (1–4 years). Results: Among 327,933 matched pairs, COVID-19 was linked to increased osteoporosis risk at 3 years (HR, 1.039; 95% CI, 1.003–1.077) and 6 years (HR, 1.095; 95% CI, 1.059–1.133). Sensitivity analysis showed rising risk with longer lag times: HRs were 1.212, 1.379, 1.563, and 1.884 at 1 to 4 years, respectively. Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent trends. Conclusions: COVID-19 is independently associated with elevated long-term osteoporosis risk in older adults with new-onset overweight, obesity, or T2DM, peaking at 4 years post-infection and persisting through 6 years. Full article

Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore-forming toxin secreted by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and a significant virulence factor that plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of dairy mastitis. Previous studies by our research group demonstrated that baicalin inhibits the apoptosis and hyperphosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins induced by recombinant Panton–Valentine leukocidin (rPVL) in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). However, the effects of baicalin on the proliferation of BMECs and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Consequently, this study aimed to explore this underlying mechanism through an LC-MS/MS analysis performed in 4D data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode. Quantitative analysis identified 757 differentially expressed phosphoproteins, among which phosphorylation levels of proteins involved in BMEC proliferation and cell cycle regulation exhibited significant alterations (p < 0.05). rPVL inhibited BMEC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induced G0/G1 phase arrest and dephosphorylation of the cell-cycle-related proteins BCLAF1^S285, CDK7^T170, NF2^S518, and PKM2S37. Preintervention with baicalin significantly upregulated the expression and phosphorylation of these proteins and alleviated the G0/G1 phase arrest induced by rPVL in BMECs in vitro. The establishment of the mitotic state in BMECs due to the effect of baicalin appears to be closely related to the regulation of the phosphorylation of CDK7, PKM2, BCLAF1, and NF2. Moreover, in vivo analysis revealed that S. aureus ATCC49775 and rPVL induced dramatic structural destruction and pathological impairment of mammary gland tissues in mice and that these histopathological changes were ameliorated after baicalin intervention. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis revealed that baicalin mitigated the rPVL-induced dephosphorylation of the aforementioned cell-cycle-related proteins and increased their phosphorylation. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence demonstrated that baicalin effectively reversed rPVL-induced G0/G1 phase arrest in BMECs (p < 0.01) by significantly increasing the phosphorylation levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins (p < 0.05). Additionally, baicalin alleviates pathological damage to mammary gland tissues in mouse models. These data suggest that baicalin possesses antibacterial and antitoxin effects, indicating that it is an effective preventive agent against bovine mastitis. Full article

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved self-degradation catabolic mechanism, is crucial for recycling breakdown products and degrading intracellular components such as cytoplasmic organelles, macromolecules, and proteins in eukaryotes. The process, which can be selective or non-selective, involves the removal of specific ribosomes, protein aggregates, and organelles. Although the specific mechanisms governing various aspects of selective autophagy have not been fully understood, numerous studies have revealed that the dysregulation of autophagy-related genes significantly influences cellular homeostasis and contributes to a wide range of human diseases, particularly cancers, neurodegenerative disorders and inflammatory diseases. Notably, accumulating evidence highlights the complex, dual role of autophagy in cancer development. Thus, this review systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and presents the latest research on its involvement in both pro- and anti-tumor progression. Furthermore, we discuss the role of autophagy in cancer development and summarize advancement in tumor therapies targeting autophagy. Full article

As an endemic epiphytic orchid of Hainan Island, Dendrobium sinense exhibits remarkable ecological and economic value, serving important ornamental and medicinal purposes. The combination of its epiphytic growth habit and the distinct dry season in Hainan (November–May) under the subtropical monsoon climate makes D. sinense particularly vulnerable to recurrent drought stress. Therefore, elucidating its drought tolerance mechanisms offers critical insights for both conservation strategies and stress resistance studies in D. sinense. Using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress, chlorophyll content decreased significantly with increasing PEG concentration, while MDA and proline content, SOD, POD CAT, and APX activity showed a significant increase. The analysis of physiological indicators indicated that plants have been subjected to drought stress. We then conducted the joint analysis of the metabolomics and transcriptomics data. Cluster analysis of differentially expressed genes and metabolites showed that drought stress markedly upregulates phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, with ferulic acid (FA) identified as a pivotal metabolite. Exogenous FA application alleviated drought-induced chlorophyll degradation in D. sinense seedlings. Heterologous expression of DsCOMT (a key FA biosynthetic gene) in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced drought survival. These results demonstrate the crucial role of FA in drought resistance and provide key insights into drought-related metabolic mechanisms. Full article

Photothermal conversion is a pivotal energy transformation mechanism in solar energy systems. Achieving high-efficiency and broadband photothermal conversion within the solar radiation spectrum holds strategic significance in driving the innovative development of renewable energy technologies. In this study, a transmission matrix method was employed to design an interference-type solar selective absorber based on multilayer Cr-SiO₂ planar films, successfully achieving an average absorption of 94% throughout the entire solar spectral range. Further analysis indicates that this newly designed absorber shows excellent absorption performance even at a relatively large incident angle (up to 60°). Additionally, the newly designed absorber demonstrates lower polarization sensitivity, enabling efficient operation under complicated incident conditions. With its simple fabrication process and ease of preparation, the proposed absorber holds substantial potential for applications in photothermal conversion fields such as solar thermal collectors. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) mobilization in paddy soils during redox fluctuations poses significant risks to rice safety. This study investigated the efficacy of nano-calcium carbonate (NCC), nano-hydroxyapatite (NHAP), and their composite (C+P) in immobilizing Cd under simulated flooding–drainage cycles. Soil treatments (0.5% and 1.0% w/w) were subjected to 40 day anaerobic and 20 day aerobic incubation. The results demonstrated that NCC and C+P elevated the soil pH by 1.35–1.39 and 0.72–1.01 units during the anaerobic and aerobic phases, respectively. These amendments suppressed Fe(II) and Mn(II) release by 41–75%, correlating with reduced Cd bioavailability. While nanomaterials minimally influenced Cd speciation during flooding, aerobic conditions triggered a marked shift: residual Cd fractions increased by 80.8–116.4% under NCC, driven by CdCO₃ precipitation and phosphate complexation. Cd release rates decreased by 53.6–66.8% in NCC and C+P treatments during oxidation. Microbial analysis revealed diminished bacterial diversity but enriched Firmicutes (up to 58.9%), which positively correlated with pH and residual Cd. Redundancy analysis identified pH and Fe/Mn dynamics as key regulators of the microbial community structure. NCC emerged as the most effective amendment. This study highlights the potential of NCC-based strategies for mitigating Cd risks in acidic paddy soils, particularly during post-flooding drainage. Full article

Background: The use of in-feed antibiotics was banned in numerous countries within the animal production industry as a result of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the presence of residual antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect host bacterial cells, are considered the natural predators of bacteria. Over the past two decades, bacteriophages have garnered increasing attention for their potential in controlling pathogenic bacteria in weaned piglets. Aims: The aim of this overview was to update the progress of bacteriophage application in weaned piglets. Methods: For the section on bacteriophage application in weaned piglets, a systematic search was performed to identify relevant articles published before June 2025 in databases such as Web of Science. Results: In this review, we provide a brief overview of bacteriophages, followed by a summary of the isolation of specific bacteriophages in weaned piglets. In addition, we have summarized the application progress of bacteriophages in weaned piglets, including the effects of oral administration or dietary supplementation with bacteriophages on growth performance, diarrhea characteristics, intestinal morphology, intestinal pH, nutrient digestibility, inflammatory response, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal microecology. Conclusions: This updated overview novelly highlights the potential of bacteriophages as anti-pathogenic agents in mitigating infections caused by pathogenic bacteria in weaned piglets. This review could provide a scientific basis for controlling pathogenic bacteria infections in weaned piglets in the post-antibiotic era. Full article

The tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell utilizes an ultra-thin tunnel oxide layer in its passivation layer structure. The performance difference between TOPCon and passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells is obvious due to differences in their structure and operational characteristics. Compared with PERC, TOPCon involves additional processes such as boron diffusion, tunnel oxide deposition, polysilicon doping, and cleaning, while eliminating the need for laser grooving. PERC production lines can be converted to TOPCon production lines which reduces equipment investment costs. Therefore, it is beneficial to replace PERC products in the future. On two different manufacturing technologies for TOPCon and PERC solar modules, we conducted electroluminescence (EL) tests to analyze power degradation in the solar modules. Full article

To make up for the lack of research on the laser bending process in the field of non-metals, this paper innovatively proposes a method to achieve controlled bending deformation of non-metallic components using laser processing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thin sheets. The main processing parameters affecting the deformation were analyzed by experimental comparison, and the multi-orbital laser application bending process was carried out with the illumination length and the thickness of the sheet as the variables, which revealed the deformation mechanism of PVC sheets under the laser effect. The surface morphology examinations of the exploration results were also compared to confirm the damage status of the objects. The bending mechanism was revealed by using the change in molecular chain status in the theory of polymer phase transition. This study proves the reliability of laser multi-orbital scanning of PVC sheets to achieve controlled bending deformation, providing a fundamental theoretical and experimental basis for the laser bending process of non-metallic components. Full article

Banana wilt disease is an important disease in banana production, causing significant losses. Herein, we investigated the mechanism by which Bacillus velezensis isolate X5 enhances the resistance of different resistant banana cultivars to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc4). From the perspectives of metabolism, transcriptome, and key genes in important pathways, this study analyzed the composition and content changes of other types of signaling molecules, such as free amino acids and soluble sugars, in resistant/susceptible varieties. The results indicate that under pathogen stress, the contents of root-secreted metabolite components in both resistant and susceptible varieties increase significantly overall, and the increase in susceptible varieties is generally higher. For example, the free amino acid components in susceptible varieties are significantly more than those in resistant varieties. However, the addition of biocontrol bacteria can inhibit this increase. Exogenous addition experiments prove that differential metabolites can either promote or inhibit Foc4 and X5 at certain concentrations. The results of KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment and GO (Gene Ontology) annotation show that resistant varieties have more defense pathways compared to susceptible varieties. Under X5 treatment, more defense genes in resistant varieties are activated or their expression is enhanced, promoting the plant roots to secrete more substances related to plant resistance, such as phenylpropanoids and lignin. This research revealed the effects of Bacillus velezensis on bananas and pathogens, allowing valuable conclusions to be drawn. The results have good application potential to understand the relationships among the three species, defining the biocontrol effect and mechanism of Bacillus velezensis, and providing a theoretical basis for the biological control of soil-borne diseases such as banana wilt disease. Full article

This study investigates Li-ion diffusion characteristics in Li-contained and Li-free bismuth oxide crystals, aiming to explore their potential as solid electrolytes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Although bismuth oxide has been widely applied as a solid electrolyte in fuel cells, its suitability for Li-ion battery applications remains unexplored. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we analyzed the Li-ion diffusion behavior in two distinct Li-contained bismuth oxide crystals with layered and non-layered structures, as well as four Li-free bismuth oxide phases. It is demonstrated that the layered structure exhibits a simpler and more organized diffusion pathway compared to the complex and bottlenecked pathways in the non-layered structure, resulting in superior Li-ion diffusivity. For Li-free bismuth oxide phases, diffusion coefficients vary significantly depending on structural characteristics, with the highest diffusion coefficient observed in the phase with minimal void fraction. A notable inverse relationship between void fraction and Li-ion diffusivity efficiency highlights the importance of structural design in enhancing ionic transport. This study provides valuable insights into the diffusion mechanisms of Li ions in bismuth oxide systems and offers strategic guidance for designing high-performance solid electrolytes, contributing to the advancement of all-solid-state battery technologies. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) shows promise in streamlining MRI workflows by reducing radiologists’ workload and improving diagnostic accuracy. Despite MRI’s extensive clinical use, systematic evaluation of AI-driven productivity gains in MRI remains limited. This review addresses that gap by synthesizing evidence on how AI can shorten scanning and reading times, optimize worklist triage, and automate segmentation. On 15 November 2024, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for English-language studies published between 2000 and 15 November 2024, focusing on AI applications in MRI. Additional searches of grey literature were conducted. After screening for relevance and full-text review, 66 studies met inclusion criteria. Extracted data included study design, AI techniques, and productivity-related outcomes such as time savings and diagnostic accuracy. The included studies were categorized into five themes: reducing scan times, automating segmentation, optimizing workflow, decreasing reading times, and general time-saving or workload reduction. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), especially architectures like ResNet and U-Net, were commonly used for tasks ranging from segmentation to automated reporting. A few studies also explored machine learning-based automation software and, more recently, large language models. Although most demonstrated gains in efficiency and accuracy, limited external validation and dataset heterogeneity could reduce broader adoption. AI applications in MRI offer potential to enhance radiologist productivity, mainly through accelerated scans, automated segmentation, and streamlined workflows. Further research, including prospective validation and standardized metrics, is needed to enable safe, efficient, and equitable deployment of AI tools in clinical MRI practice. Full article

Nucleases are critical metabolic enzymes expressed by mycoplasmas to acquire nucleic acid precursors from the host for their parasitic existence. Certain nucleases, either membrane-bound or secreted, not only contribute to the growth of mycoplasmas but also serve as key virulence factors due to their unique spatial structures and physiological activity. The pathogenesis includes, but is not limited to, degradation of host DNA and RNA, leading to disruptions of nucleic acid metabolism and the induction of host cell apoptosis; degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), allowing escape from neutrophil-mediated killing; and upregulation of inflammatory molecules to modulate the immune response of the host. Understanding the biological functions of nucleases is essential for gaining deeper insights into the virulence and immune evasion strategies of mycoplasmas, which can inform the development of novel approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mycoplasma infections. Full article