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20 pages, 1928 KB  
Article
Molecular Characterization and Clinical Outcomes of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Neonatal Sepsis: A Three-Year Molecular Epidemiological Study
by Oscar Villavicencio-Carrisoza, Orly Grobeisen-Duque, Janet Flores-Villanueva, Jimena Lopez-Dueñas, María Guadalupe Martínez-Salazar, Moises Leon-Juarez, Maria Isabel Villegas-Mota, Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Sara A. Ochoa, Irma Eloisa Monroy-Muñoz, Ricardo Figueroa-Damian, Graciela Villeda-Gabriel, Irma Elena Sosa-González, Paola Andrea Santos-Ruiz, Claudia Andrea Cruz-Baquero, Jorge Francisco Cerna-Cortes, Hector Flores-Herrera, Lisbeth Camargo-Marin, Mario Estanislao Guzman-Huerta and Addy Cecilia Helguera-Repetto
Children 2026, 13(9), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13091165 (registering DOI) - 29 Aug 2026
Abstract
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated neonatal sepsis, with increasing antibiotic resistance and virulence representing major challenges for neonatal care. This study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of K. pneumoniae isolates causing neonatal sepsis at a [...] Read more.
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated neonatal sepsis, with increasing antibiotic resistance and virulence representing major challenges for neonatal care. This study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of K. pneumoniae isolates causing neonatal sepsis at a tertiary referral center in Mexico City and to evaluate the relationship between antibacterial resistance, virulence determinants, clonal dissemination, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted including 57 K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from 39 neonates with culture-confirmed sepsis between 2021 and 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, ESBL production, multidrug resistance, detection of resistance- and virulence-associated genes, multilocus sequence typing, and clinical outcome analyses were performed. Results: A progressive increase in antibiotic resistance and virulence was observed throughout the study period. MDR and ESBL-producing isolates increased from 44.4% and 33.3% in 2021 to 78.9% each in 2023, while isolates with high virulence gene burden increased from 33.3% to 73.7%. The most prevalent resistance genes were blaCTX-M, aac(6′)-Ib, and aac(3)-IIa, whereas uge, ycfM, fimD, and entB were the predominant virulence determinants. High-virulence gene burden was associated with increased prevalence of blaCTX-M and aac(6′)-Ib, while ESBL-producing isolates were associated with ybtS, and MDR isolates were associated with ybtS and uge. PFGE identified a predominant clone (Cluster B) with 100% similarity, characterized by ST45 isolates and significantly higher resistance and virulence profiles. High-virulence isolates were associated with thrombocytopenia and extreme prematurity. Conclusions: K. pneumoniae isolates causing sepsis are increasing antibiotic resistance, virulence gene burden, and clonal dissemination over the three-year study period. The convergence of resistance and virulence determinants highlights the emergence of high-risk hospital-adapted clones and underscores the importance of continuous molecular surveillance to improve infection control and optimize neonatal management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes of Pediatric Septic Shock)
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19 pages, 4666 KB  
Article
Loss of Green and Blue Space and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services in an Indian Metropolitan Area (Siliguri): A Spatio-Temporal Analysis
by Jayanta Mondal, Motrih Al-Mutiry, Arijit Das, Suman Singha and Manob Das
Sustainability 2026, 18(17), 8781; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18178781 - 27 Aug 2026
Abstract
Urbanisation has become a significant driver of ecological transformation, resulting in the degradation of urban green and blue spaces (UGSs and UBSs) and a subsequent decrease in ecosystem services (ESs). It is imperative to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of UGS and UBS in [...] Read more.
Urbanisation has become a significant driver of ecological transformation, resulting in the degradation of urban green and blue spaces (UGSs and UBSs) and a subsequent decrease in ecosystem services (ESs). It is imperative to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of UGS and UBS in order to develop sustainable urban planning strategies, particularly in the swiftly expanding cities of the Global South. In the Siliguri Planning Area (SPA), India, this study examines the long-term variations in UGS and UBS and their associated ecosystem service values (ESVs) from 1991 to 2021. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalised Difference Water Index (MNDWI) were employed to delineate UGS and UBS using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, respectively). The benefit transfer method was employed to quantify ESV, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the valuation’s reliability. Also, adjusted value coefficients were employed. The findings indicated that landscapes such as tea garden (58.74% reduce) and agricultural land (46.09 increase) have undergone a substantial transformation as a result of urbanisation, with the built-up areas increasing from 5798.61 ha in 1991 to 8500.23 ha in 2021 (46.59% increase). Simultaneously, UGS decreased (by 40.26%) from 12,533.04 ha (47.81% oftotal area)in 1991 to 7486.29 ha (28.55% oftotal area) in 2021, while UBS decreased (by 79.47%) from 255.69 ha (0.94% oftotal area) in 1991 to 52.48 ha (0.19% oftotal area) in 2021. Subsequently, the ESV of UGS and UBS fell significantly from 1183.05 crores (INR) to 706.67 crores (INR) and 34.72 crores (INR) to 7.12 crores (INR), respectively. This confirms the elasticity of the valuation estimates, as the sensitivity coefficients remained below one. The study contributes to understanding the crucial role of urban planners, private property owners, and builders in promoting green–blue infrastructure conservation, wetland restoration, and ecological zoning. Such ecosystem service-based planning is essential for achieving sustainable development in rapidly urbanising regions and enhancing urban ecological resilience. Full article
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27 pages, 4802 KB  
Article
Zinc-Based Nano-Priming Enhances Physiological and Functional Responses of Maize Seedlings
by Eddaliz García-Reyes, Guillermo Niño-Medina, Josué I. García-López, Sonia N. Ramírez-Barrón, Emilio Olivares-Sáenz, Vania Urías-Orona, Adriana Morfin-Gutiérrez and Patricia A. de León-Martínez
Agriculture 2026, 16(17), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16171833 - 26 Aug 2026
Viewed by 186
Abstract
The physiological and functional responses of maize seedlings imbibed with zinc sulfate, commercial zinc oxide nanoparticles, and nanoparticles synthesized with Moringa oleífera, at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 ppm, were evaluated. Vigor percentage, germination, abnormal seedlings, ungerminated seeds, plumule length [...] Read more.
The physiological and functional responses of maize seedlings imbibed with zinc sulfate, commercial zinc oxide nanoparticles, and nanoparticles synthesized with Moringa oleífera, at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 ppm, were evaluated. Vigor percentage, germination, abnormal seedlings, ungerminated seeds, plumule length and radicle length, dry plumule weight, and dry radicle weight were determined. In addition, phenolic concentration, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic activity were determined. ZnO NPs showed the highest %V and %G values (68.23% and 77.34%). ZnSO4 limited plumule (19.30%) and radicle (23.95%) development as concentrations increased. The highest dry weight of plumule was obtained using ZnO M-NPs (42.99 mg), ZnSO4 (48.92 mg), and ZnO NPs (51.89 mg) at 5 ppm, compared to the control (38.43 mg). ZnO M-NPs increased the content of free phenolics (9.26%) in the plumule, and ZnO NPs induced the highest accumulation of phenolics in the radicle (17.77%). Both NPs showed higher antioxidant capacity by the FRAP and ABTS methods in relation to control. ZnO M-NPs showed lower CAT activity in the plumule and radicle (1.06 and 1.39 U/g of FW at 5 and 25 ppm, respectively). ZnO NPs showed higher CAT activity in the plumule (3.85 U/g of FW at 5 ppm) and higher Apx activity in the radicle (6.15 U/g of FW at 20 ppm). The physiological and functional responses of maize seedlings depended on both the Zn source and concentration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Seed Science and Technology)
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28 pages, 10596 KB  
Article
Gel Filtration Chromatography-Guided Sequential Hydrolysis of Sthenoteuthisoualaniensis Protein: Peptide Distribution and Functional Properties
by Qian Yao, Huiying Wang, Haoze Yang, Ruofei Hong, Yong Zhong, Xiaozhen Diao and Wenhui Wu
Foods 2026, 15(17), 2998; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15172998 - 26 Aug 2026
Viewed by 185
Abstract
The compact muscle architecture and poor aqueous dispersibility of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis protein limit its use as a food ingredient. This study developed a gel filtration chromatography (GFC)-guided papain–alcalase sequential hydrolysis strategy using target-window peak area (Atarget) as a peptide-distribution response. [...] Read more.
The compact muscle architecture and poor aqueous dispersibility of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis protein limit its use as a food ingredient. This study developed a gel filtration chromatography (GFC)-guided papain–alcalase sequential hydrolysis strategy using target-window peak area (Atarget) as a peptide-distribution response. Box–Behnken optimization identified an enzyme dosage of 1110 U/g, a papain/alcalase mass ratio of 3:5, and 8 h hydrolysis, yielding an Atarget of 0.0648 ± 0.0012 a.u. O-phthaldialdehyde (OPA)-derived degree of hydrolysis (DH) values were 10.72 ± 0.08%, 35.32 ± 0.12%, and 25.03 ± 0.37% for SPH-Pap, SPH-Alc, and SPH-opt, respectively, showing that the highest Atarget did not coincide with the highest DH. The essential-to-total amino acid ratio remained 38.18–39.20%, while lysine and methionine changed modestly. SPH-opt maintained high solubility across a broad pH range and exhibited a peptide profile distinct from those of the single-enzyme hydrolysates. Radical-scavenging capacity was assessed only post-optimization. At 5 mg/mL, SPH-opt showed DPPH and ABTS scavenging rates of 23.75% and 22.84%, respectively; without external standards, these values support only relative within-study comparisons. Overall, Atarget and DH provided complementary information on peptide distribution and bond cleavage, and no causal relationship between Atarget and radical-scavenging capacity was established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Prospects for Enzyme Technologies in the Food Industry)
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16 pages, 4024 KB  
Article
Effects of a Sodium Alginate Coating Enriched with Isodon serra and Plinia cauliflora Leaf Extracts on Postharvest Quality and Anthracnose Control in Banana
by Miaohong Wu, Huiming Huang, Jiamin Hong, Shuai Zhang, Haiming Li, Qiaoli Lin and Shuijin Wu
Processes 2026, 14(17), 2698; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14172698 - 24 Aug 2026
Viewed by 200
Abstract
Banana is a typical climacteric fruit that rapidly undergoes ripening, peel browning, softening, moisture loss, and fungal decay during postharvest storage, leading to severe quality deterioration and a shortened shelf life. In this study, a sodium alginate (SA)-based edible coating enriched with Isodon [...] Read more.
Banana is a typical climacteric fruit that rapidly undergoes ripening, peel browning, softening, moisture loss, and fungal decay during postharvest storage, leading to severe quality deterioration and a shortened shelf life. In this study, a sodium alginate (SA)-based edible coating enriched with Isodon serra extract (IE) and Plinia cauliflora (jaboticaba) leaf extract (JE) was developed and evaluated for its antioxidant, antifungal, and preservation effects on banana fruit. The two extracts exhibited distinct functional properties: IE showed strong inhibitory activity against Colletotrichum musae, whereas JE displayed superior radical scavenging capacity. When incorporated into the coating system, this functional complementarity translated into improved preservation performance. The composite coating (SA-IE-JE) effectively suppressed anthracnose development, reduced peel browning, and delayed ripening progression, as evidenced by an 11.8% reduction in fruit weight loss (11.48% vs. 13.01%), an 11.6% decrease in MDA accumulation (89.96 vs. 101.75), a 51.3% reduction in PPO activity (526 U/g vs. 1080 U/g), sustained TPC, and a slower increase in total soluble solids after 5 days of storage. All coating treatments improved postharvest quality compared with the uncoated control, while SA-IE and SA-IE-JE generally showed stronger preservation effects than SA alone. In particular, SA-IE-JE was more effective in reducing peel browning, delaying the increase in PPO activity, and suppressing anthracnose lesion expansion. These findings highlight that SA coating supplemented with IE and JE can serve as a promising, environmentally friendly strategy for maintaining banana quality and reducing postharvest disease. Our study provides a potential basis for the development of plant-extract-enriched edible coatings for banana preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Green Processes)
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21 pages, 2055 KB  
Article
Effect of Mechanical Grinding and H3PO4 Activation Ratio on the Adsorption Performance of Ficus nitida-Derived Activated Carbon
by Hassan R. S. Abdellatif, Heba G. R. Younis, Fatma Abdelrhman, Ehab Mostafa and Mariam A. Amer
Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8574; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168574 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 223
Abstract
Activated carbon is a highly porous adsorbent material that is often used to treat wastewater using physical and chemical adsorption. Agricultural and urban biomass waste valorization to activated carbon is a low-cost, renewable solution to commercial adsorbents, and can help prevent waste from [...] Read more.
Activated carbon is a highly porous adsorbent material that is often used to treat wastewater using physical and chemical adsorption. Agricultural and urban biomass waste valorization to activated carbon is a low-cost, renewable solution to commercial adsorbents, and can help prevent waste from tree pruning from being dumped in landfills or openly burned. In this study, the ability of the ground and unground Ficus nitida leaves to efficiently adsorb Rhodamine B dye and total chromium from model aqueous solutions was investigated. Chemical activation was performed using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) at different impregnation ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 4:1). Samples obtained as a result of the above activation were labeled G1–G3 (ground) and UG1–UG3 (unground). The adsorption test showed that the samples with the highest activation ratio (G3 and UG3) gave the best results, removing 92% and 94% RhB, respectively, in 20 minutes. After 24 h, sample G3 showed the best efficiency of 73.31% (13.35 ppm remaining) in chromium removal, where the adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.98), indicating that there may be some chemical interactions occurring during the adsorption process along with physisorption, and the RhB adsorption isotherms for sample UG3 were well described by the Langmuir isotherm (R2 > 0.95). The higher activation ratio and grinding increased the carbon content (up to 90% C for G3), surface functional groups, and textural properties (BET surface area of 699 m2/g and total pore volume of 3.06 cm3/g). Furthermore, reusability tests over five consecutive cycles demonstrated the excellent recyclability of sample G3, retaining removal efficiencies of 80.5% for RhB and 50.2% for total chromium. The results revealed that Ficus nitida leaf-based AC can be used as an efficient, economical, and reusable adsorbent material for sustainable environmental cleanup and water purification systems and will create a circular economy for waste management. Full article
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25 pages, 3766 KB  
Article
Underground Gas Storage as a Resilience Factor for European Energy Systems During Energy Crises
by Tomasz Włodek, Szymon Kuczyński, Adam Szurlej and Mariusz Łaciak
Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168570 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Underground gas storage (UGS) facilities serve to balance natural gas networks within a given area. The nature of natural gas network balancing is twofold: long-term (seasonal) during periods of significant gas withdrawal (the cold half-year) and short-term (daily) during periods of peak natural [...] Read more.
Underground gas storage (UGS) facilities serve to balance natural gas networks within a given area. The nature of natural gas network balancing is twofold: long-term (seasonal) during periods of significant gas withdrawal (the cold half-year) and short-term (daily) during periods of peak natural gas demand throughout the day. The first type of balancing has been a standard characteristic for many years, covering increased demand during the winter season. In contrast, the importance of daily balancing is growing alongside the ongoing energy transition, where natural gas-based power generation sources flexibly replace renewable energy sources that are dependent on the time of day or weather conditions. The necessity for increased balancing of energy systems makes them more sensitive to crisis situations. This article presents the key role of UGS as a fundamental resilience factor for European energy systems, particularly in the face of energy crises triggered by geopolitical instability. Conflicts are redefining the role of UGS as a pillar of energy security. This study analyzes how strategic gas reserves mitigate the effects of sudden supply disruptions and price shocks caused by geopolitical factors. It describes impact scenarios of two conflicts: Russia’s invasion on Ukraine and the conflict in the Persian Gulf leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While UGS is essential for the short-term management of natural gas supply flows, its long-term value lies in providing a “strategic buffer” that allows energy systems to adapt to unforeseen geopolitical conflicts. Integrated storage management is indispensable for maintaining the operational integrity of the European transmission and energy system during periods of heightened instability. The paper also identifies necessary directions for the development of UGS systems. Between 2016 and Q1 2026, the share of eastern gas imports declined from over 40% to 5.2%, while LNG increased to 41.7% of total inflows, confirming the strategic importance of underground gas storage in maintaining energy system resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Challenges of Underground Gas Storage Engineering)
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25 pages, 20208 KB  
Article
Effects of Fertilizer Rates on Growth of Brassica napus L.
by Yumei Xu, Yuqi Liu, Wenqing Tan, Guangyao Chen, Lei Qin, Yufang Li and Rongkui Hui
Life 2026, 16(8), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16081351 - 17 Aug 2026
Viewed by 208
Abstract
The edible oil self-sufficiency rate of China is only approximately 30%, with rapeseed as the largest source of edible oil, contributing more than half of the total edible vegetable oil. Therefore, it is very important to achieve high rapeseed yield to ensure supply [...] Read more.
The edible oil self-sufficiency rate of China is only approximately 30%, with rapeseed as the largest source of edible oil, contributing more than half of the total edible vegetable oil. Therefore, it is very important to achieve high rapeseed yield to ensure supply security. Fertilizer is one of the key factors affecting rapeseed yield and quality, and the appropriate use of fertilizer is essential for ensuring both high yield and high quality. To investigate the effects of fertilizer rates on the growth, yield, and quality of rapeseed, 18 rapeseed varieties were grown under two fertilizer input levels: normal fertilizer (NF, 15-15-15 NPK compound fertilizer at 600 kg·ha−1) and high fertilizer (HF, 15-15-15 NPK compound fertilizer at 1200 kg·ha−1). Agronomic traits, physiological indicators, yield, and quality of these varieties were systematically analyzed in this study. In addition, transcriptomic data from stems collected at the silique stage were used to identify key differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the correlations between the expression levels of these candidate genes, physiological indicators, agronomic traits, and yield were examined. Compared with the NF treatment, the HF treatment promoted rapeseed growth during the bolting stage (except for root collar diameter). At harvest, 27.8% of the rapeseed varieties showed a significant increase in the number of effective branches per plant, while 33.3% exhibited significant increases in both the number of effective siliques per plant and the yield per plant. Among these varieties, Z01, Z02, Huayouza 50, and Huayouza 652 showed the greatest overall yield increases. The oil content decreased in 88.9% of the varieties, whereas the unsaturated fatty acid content increased in 77.8%, and the protein content increased in 94.4% of the varieties. Under HF treatment, superoxide dismutase activity in leaves at the bolting stage and peroxidase activity in leaves at the initial flowering stage both increased significantly (by 19.07% and 10.41%, respectively). The content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (expressed as malondialdehyde equivalents) in stems at the initial flowering stage increased significantly (by 138.39%). In addition, catalase activity in leaves at the 3- to 4-leaf stage reached its highest value among all treatments (27.31 U·g−1·min−1·FW). The KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were significantly enriched in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, plant–pathogen interactions, and metabolic pathways. Through screening against the NCBI database and subsequent validation by RT-qPCR, we ultimately identified four candidate DEGs: BnaC05g02370D, BnaC09g49910D, BnaC03g45470D, and BnaA04g00130D. Among these four varieties, catalase activity and malondialdehyde content in rapeseed stems at the initial flowering stage showed significant positive correlations with yield (r = 0.738 and r = 0.894, respectively). BnaC09g49910D maintained a consistently positive correlation with yield under both the HF and NF treatments (r = 0.977 and r = 0.806, respectively). In contrast, the direction of the association for BnaC05g02370D reversed depending on the fertilizer level (r = −0.858 under HF vs. r = 0.443 under NF). Catalase activity and the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in stems at the initial flowering stage and the expression levels of BnaC05g02370D and BnaC09g49910D in stems at the silique stage are associated with yield to varying degrees. These indicators can be used as candidate traits for assessing rapeseed yield potential under different fertilizer input levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Science)
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24 pages, 3863 KB  
Article
Diagnosing Urban Green Space Service Mismatch in Built-Up Areas: Typology and Built Environment Differentiation in Shenyang
by Jin Zhang and Li Li
Land 2026, 15(8), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15081451 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 229
Abstract
Urban green space (UGS) service mismatch is a key public space issue that needs to be addressed in the renewal of built-up urban areas. Existing studies have mostly evaluated UGS service levels from the perspective of green space supply or accessibility, but have [...] Read more.
Urban green space (UGS) service mismatch is a key public space issue that needs to be addressed in the renewal of built-up urban areas. Existing studies have mostly evaluated UGS service levels from the perspective of green space supply or accessibility, but have paid insufficient attention to the mismatch among population demand, UGS supply, and UGS accessibility, as well as the built environment contexts associated with different mismatch types. Taking the urban core of Shenyang as a case study, this study constructs a UGS service mismatch typology and combines non-UGS built environment indicators, XGBoost, and SHAP to identify the spatial characteristics and nonlinear model-based associations of different mismatch types. The results indicate the following: (1) UGS service problems in the urban core of Shenyang can be divided into five types. Priority Improvement Area, Potential Activation Area, and Resource-rich Area together account for 56.05% of the study area, indicating that the mismatch among demand, resources, and accessibility has a high spatial coverage. (2) Different mismatch types correspond to differentiated built environment profiles. Priority Improvement Area co-occurs with service shortage, weak functional concentration, low development intensity, and weak transit support. Potential Activation Area has relatively good functional and transport foundations, but its UGS service transformation remains insufficient. (3) SHAP results show that public transit proximity, functional concentration, and building form are key indicators associated with model-based type differentiation. The contributions of mean building floor and POI density to Priority Improvement Area decline after exceeding their breakpoints, indicating that, within the model, this type is more likely to occur in areas with insufficient development intensity and functional concentration. By integrating the demand–supply–accessibility relationship, UGS service mismatch typology, and built environment characterization, this study provides a more spatially targeted analytical framework for UGS service diagnosis in built-up urban areas, and supports the shift from uniform green space provision to type-specific service optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions)
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14 pages, 2135 KB  
Article
Associations of Biofilm Capacity with Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae from Chickens in Henan, China, 2023–2025
by Han Zhang, Jiayi Li, Shiqi Deng, Jiani Lei, Liping Gao, Xiangyang Li, Lili Gao, Yuyang Yuan, Hua Wu, Yajun Zhai and Jianhua Liu
Antibiotics 2026, 15(8), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15080767 - 10 Aug 2026
Viewed by 234
Abstract
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic zoonotic pathogen that can cause respiratory diseases in chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate the biofilm formation, resistance, and virulence of K. pneumoniae isolates from chickens in Henan Province, China, between 2023 and [...] Read more.
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic zoonotic pathogen that can cause respiratory diseases in chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate the biofilm formation, resistance, and virulence of K. pneumoniae isolates from chickens in Henan Province, China, between 2023 and 2025, and to analyze the associations among these characteristics. Methods: We identified the isolates through blood agar culture, Gram staining and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Hypermucoviscosity phenotype, biofilm-forming ability, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes were assessed by the string test, crystal violet assay, disk diffusion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Results: A total of 102 K. pneumoniae isolates were identified. Of these, 81.4% were biofilm-forming strains, and 15.7% exhibited the hypermucoviscosity phenotype. The susceptibility profiles of the K. pneumoniae isolates indicated high resistance to penicillins (>90.0%) and low resistance to carbapenems (<10%), with 88.2% identified as multidrug-resistant. The results of virulence gene detection indicated that luxS (79.4%), mrkD (75.5%), and uge (73.5%) were the most prevalent virulence genes, followed by wabG (49.0%), ybtA (34.3%), and iucA (20.6%). The association analysis indicated that biofilm formation was significant association with multidrug-resistant and the carriage of virulence genes. Compared with non–biofilm–forming isolates, biofilm–forming isolates showed significantly higher resistance to ceftiofur and florfenicol, as well as higher detection rates of luxS, mrkD, and uge (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The data obtained in this study reveal the pathogenic potential and multidrug–resistant characteristics of this pathogen, highlighting the need for surveillance and monitoring. Full article
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28 pages, 42013 KB  
Article
HGRHDNet: Hierarchical Gated Residual Fusion and High-Frequency Guided Deformable Upsampler Network for Boundary-Enhanced Binary Urban Green Space Extraction
by Wang Man, Baoye Lin, Xiaofeng Du, Zigeng Song, Yuying Miao, Zhoupeng Ren, Qin Nie, Zongmei Li and Xinchang Zhang
Remote Sens. 2026, 18(15), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18152620 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 187
Abstract
High-resolution remote sensing imagery provides valuable data support for accurate binary urban green space extraction. However, due to complex urban backgrounds, existing methods still face challenges in accurately delineating green space boundaries and preserving fine-scale spatial details. To address these issues, this study [...] Read more.
High-resolution remote sensing imagery provides valuable data support for accurate binary urban green space extraction. However, due to complex urban backgrounds, existing methods still face challenges in accurately delineating green space boundaries and preserving fine-scale spatial details. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel network, termed Hierarchical Gated Residual Fusion and High-Frequency Guided Deformable Upsampler Network (HGRHDNet), for boundary-enhanced urban green space segmentation. The proposed framework adopts ConvNeXt-L as the encoder backbone and incorporates a Hierarchical Gated Residual Fusion Decoder (HGRFD) to adaptively fuse multi-scale features through dynamic weighting and residual feature propagation. In addition, a High-Frequency Guided Deformable Upsampler (HFGDU) is introduced to enhance high-frequency detail reconstruction and cross-resolution feature alignment, thereby improving boundary localization accuracy. The proposed method was evaluated on three public datasets with different spatial resolutions and spectral characteristics, including WHDLD, UGS-1m, and UBGG. Experimental results show that HGRHDNet achieves Boundary Intersection over Union (BIoU) values of 43.82%, 18.22%, and 64.55% on the three datasets, respectively, consistently outperforming state-of-the-art methods. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrate that HGRHDNet effectively preserves narrow gaps between adjacent green spaces, elongated vegetation structures, and fragmented green space patches while reducing boundary ambiguity in complex urban environments. These results indicate that HGRHDNet provides a robust and effective solution for high-resolution urban green space extraction and has considerable potential for applications in urban ecological assessment, green space inventory, and sustainable urban planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Remote Sensing in Landscapes and Human Settlements)
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29 pages, 12555 KB  
Article
Optimization of Compound Enzyme-Assisted Fermented Concentrate and Its Effects on Growth, Digestibility, and Rumen Fermentation in Yanbian Steers
by Qian Zhang, Yihui Liu, Zejun Xiao, Sajida Naseem, Enze Wang, Jiawei Xu, Zherui Zhu, Changguo Yan and Xiangzi Li
Animals 2026, 16(15), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16152433 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 261
Abstract
This study developed a compound enzyme-assisted microbially fermented concentrate for Yanbian steers. The enzyme formulation was optimized using response surface methodology, with acid-soluble protein/crude protein ratio (ASP/CP), ammonia-N/total N ratio (AN/TN), and pH as response variables. The optimized enzyme preparation contained 619.15 U/g [...] Read more.
This study developed a compound enzyme-assisted microbially fermented concentrate for Yanbian steers. The enzyme formulation was optimized using response surface methodology, with acid-soluble protein/crude protein ratio (ASP/CP), ammonia-N/total N ratio (AN/TN), and pH as response variables. The optimized enzyme preparation contained 619.15 U/g protease, 742.08 U/g amylase, and 257.75 U/g β-mannanase. The measured ASP/CP, AN/TN, and pH values were 31.74%, 3.56%, and 4.32, respectively, closely agreeing with the predicted values of 32.00%, 3.55%, and 4.28. Membership function analysis, which normalized positive and negative indicators to a common 0–1 scale and integrated them into a comprehensive score, supported the selection of day 5 as the most balanced fermentation duration under the primary equal-indicator weighting scheme. Thirty Yanbian steers were randomly assigned to receive microbially fermented concentrate without compound enzyme addition (MF) or compound enzyme-assisted microbially fermented concentrate (MEF) at 500 g/head/day on an as-fed basis for 100 days. After adjustment for initial body weight using ANCOVA, MEF increased final body weight by 3.9% and average daily gain by 35.7% compared with MF (both p < 0.001). MEF also increased dry matter intake by 12.1% (p = 0.018) and reduced feed conversion ratio by 18.4% (p = 0.008). MEF increased dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility by 4.3%, 5.4%, 22.6%, and 15.6%, respectively, and reduced blood urea nitrogen by 18.9%. MEF also increased ruminal total volatile fatty acids and decreased ruminal NH3-N and the acetate-to-propionate ratio (p < 0.05). Observed ASVs, Chao1, and Shannon indices did not differ between treatments, whereas PERMANOVA detected a significant difference in overall rumen bacterial community structure (R2 = 0.180, p = 0.023). VIF-based redundancy analysis indicated that variation in rumen bacterial community structure were correlated with crude protein digestibility, total volatile fatty acids, and blood urea nitrogen. Overall, within the microbial-fermentation system evaluated in this study, compound enzyme addition increased growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility, reduced ruminal NH3-N and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, and improved feed efficiency in Yanbian steers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
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22 pages, 329 KB  
Article
Digital Content Marketing, Consumer Trust, and Digital Engagement on Social Commerce Platforms: Effects on Brand Attitude in Iraq’s Hospitality Sector
by Buthainah Luqman Ahmad and Muneer Alrwashdeh
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2026, 21(8), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer21080257 - 5 Aug 2026
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Abstract
Digital Content Marketing (DCM) has become a key tool for brands to influence Brand Attitude on social commerce platforms, but its impact on consumer perception remains poorly understood in the emerging market context of the hospitality industry. Based on the theory of Uses [...] Read more.
Digital Content Marketing (DCM) has become a key tool for brands to influence Brand Attitude on social commerce platforms, but its impact on consumer perception remains poorly understood in the emerging market context of the hospitality industry. Based on the theory of Uses and Gratifications (U&G), this study aims to explore the direct and indirect impact of DCM on Brand Attitude, with Consumer Trust and Digital Engagement playing mediating roles among social commerce consumers in Iraq. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with 386 respondents obtained using the social media distribution of a self-administered online questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used in Smart PLS 4.0 to analyse the proposed model. All eight hypotheses were supported. Consumer Trust (β = 0.487) and Digital Engagement (β = 0.361) were both positively influenced by DCM, and both mediators had significant positive effects on Brand Attitude (β = 0.394 and β = 0.286, respectively). The total indirect effect of DCM on Brand Attitude (β = 0.351) was significantly larger than the direct effect (β = 0.187), supporting the strength of mediated effects. Serial mediation through Trust and then Engagement was also confirmed. These findings extend the application of U&G theory within an Iraqi social commerce context and offer evidence-based implications for hospitality brands designing content strategies on digital platforms. The findings are only applicable within the context of Iraq and the non-probability sample studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Marketing and the Evolving Consumer Experience)
19 pages, 18974 KB  
Article
Screening White-Rot Fungi and Characterizing Lignocellulose Degradation by Ganoderma sp. from Chinese Distillers’ Grains
by Yanling Hu, Lingzhen Zhou, Ya Wang, Yuyin Cai, Xiaofeng Guan, Feiyun Yang, Zuohua Liu and Chengling Bao
J. Fungi 2026, 12(8), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12080574 - 3 Aug 2026
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Chinese distillers’ grains (CDGs) are a lignocellulose-rich agricultural byproduct with considerable bioconversion potential; however, their recalcitrant structure imposes a major bottleneck for efficient valorization. In this study, six white-rot fungal strains and two Trichoderma strains were isolated from wild macrofungi, among which Ganoderma [...] Read more.
Chinese distillers’ grains (CDGs) are a lignocellulose-rich agricultural byproduct with considerable bioconversion potential; however, their recalcitrant structure imposes a major bottleneck for efficient valorization. In this study, six white-rot fungal strains and two Trichoderma strains were isolated from wild macrofungi, among which Ganoderma sp. 2G1-6 exhibited the highest laccase activity, reaching 11.29 U/mL. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 49.15 Mb genome containing 12,437 predicted proteins, including a substantial repertoire of 196 glycoside hydrolases and 113 auxiliary activity enzymes implicated in lignocellulose degradation. Solid-state fermentation of CDGs with Ganoderma sp. 2G1-6 produced high enzyme activities, including endoglucanase (13.3 ± 4.6 U/g), xylanase (538.8 ± 33.0 U/g), β-glucosidase (26,572 ± 2996 U/g), and laccase (231.2 ± 16.7 U/g). Concomitantly, the nutritional profile of CDGs was markedly improved after 30 days, with crude protein increasing by 28.51%, acid-soluble protein by 33.33%, and soluble dietary fiber by 159%. Complementary structural analyses (FTIR, SEM, XRD, and TGA) confirmed progressive disruption of the lignocellulosic matrix, selective delignification, and enhanced cellulose exposure. These findings establish Ganoderma sp. 2G1-6 as a promising microbial chassis for CDGs valorization and provide preliminary functional profiles of Ganoderma species for lignocellulose bioconversion. Full article
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25 pages, 3746 KB  
Article
Effect of Injectable Trace Minerals in Pasture-Based Dairy Cattle: Responses in Calves and Early-Lactation Cows
by Mohammad Javed Ashar, Paula A. Gonzalez-Rivas, Frank R. Dunshea, Christina D. Marth and Surinder S. Chauhan
Dairy 2026, 7(4), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy7040060 - 2 Aug 2026
Viewed by 464
Abstract
Injectable trace mineral supplementation (ITMS) has been proposed to support physiological adaptation during critical stages in dairy cattle; however, field-based evidence from pasture-based seasonal-calving systems remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of ITMS, administered at birth in calves and approximately 30 days [...] Read more.
Injectable trace mineral supplementation (ITMS) has been proposed to support physiological adaptation during critical stages in dairy cattle; however, field-based evidence from pasture-based seasonal-calving systems remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of ITMS, administered at birth in calves and approximately 30 days before fixed-time artificial insemination in early-lactation cows, primarily on erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and plasma trace mineral concentrations, while health, growth, production, and fertility were monitored as secondary outcomes. Thirty newborn calves receiving isotonic saline control (CNTRL; n = 15) or ITMS (n = 15) and 50 early-lactation cows (CNTRL, n = 24; ITMS, n = 26) were enrolled. In calves, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in ITMS calves (322 vs. 359 U/g Hb; p < 0.01), and plasma selenium was higher on day 15 (0.57 vs. 0.62 µmol/L; p = 0.03). A treatment × week interaction was detected for body weight, but overall body weight and average daily gain did not differ. In cows, plasma selenium was transiently higher in multiparous ITMS cows on day 15 (1.04 vs. 1.09 µmol/L; p = 0.03), while antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers, production, mastitis incidence, and fertility were unaffected. Overall, a single ITMS administration elicited modest biochemical and selenium responses without statistically detectable improvements in growth, health, production, or fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Dairy Animal Health)
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