Search Results (100)

The endocrine stress response is a valuable tool for evaluating how organisms cope with environmental challenges. However, selecting an appropriate matrix for measuring glucocorticoids (GCs) requires careful consideration of sample quality and accessibility. This study reveals that blood sampling affects plasma cortisol levels in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum, with the effect being reversed shortly thereafter. To facilitate a non-invasive approach, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) that had previously been validated for measuring plasma cortisol in C. talarum was evaluated to measure adrenocortical activity by analyzing fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGCs). Using this assay, we monitored the stress response during wild capture, transport to captivity, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation, and immobilization. This showed that FGC levels accurately reflect adrenal activation in these contexts. We also documented a relationship between reproductive seasonality and FGCs. Finally, we provide evidence for a relationship between adrenal activity and behavior. Our results suggest that when considering plasma GCs for the assessment of acute stress, it is crucial to understand the magnitude and timing of the effects of blood sampling on the stress state of organisms. The validation of FGC measurement in C. talarum provides a new option for advancing ecophysiological studies in both the wild and captivity. Full article

As treatments for multiple myeloma (MM) evolve, there is a need for real-world insights into treatment patterns and outcomes. The treatment practices and clinical outcomes in patients with MM (TOTEMM) was a database study (2018–2024) of newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients with MM in Argentina (TOTEMM-A) and Brazil (TOTEMM-B) in a private healthcare setting. In TOTEMM-A (n = 72) and TOTEMM-B (n = 892), 37 and 92 different drug regimens were reported, respectively. In each country, treatment duration reduced across lines of therapy (LOT) (TOTEMM-A: range, 6.2–3.4 months; TOTEMM-B: range, 4.4–3.5 months); attrition rates increased across LOT (TOTEMM-A: range, 52.8–86.1%; TOTEMM-B: range, 41.9–88.0%); triplet regimens (mainly bortezomib based) were used most frequently in first-line (1L); >75% relapsed within 12 months, regardless of the drug prescribed; over 90% of relapses occurred between 1L and second-line, and up to half of patients were rechallenged with the same drug; >65% of patients experienced disease progression after 1L; and the 1- to 5-year adjusted cumulative risk of progression or death increased across LOT (TOTEMM-A: range, 47.1–88.5%; TOTEMM-B: range, 40.4–91.7%). The rapid and marked progression underscores the urgent need for novel treatments and regimens. Full article

The reuse of industrial waste is essential to reduce environmental impact and move towards sustainable development through methods that do not depend on limited resources. To this end, a fertilizer was developed from recycled alkaline batteries, transformed into a useful product rich in zinc and manganese (black mass). The aim is to use industrial waste to create an environmentally safe fertilizer. An experiment was conducted on young citrus plants grafted onto Carrizo rootstock, grown in pots with coconut fiber under greenhouse conditions in Valencia (Spain) for one year (2023–2024). A total of 120 plants were arranged in randomized blocks with three replicates of 10 plants per treatment. Four nutrient solutions derived from the Hoagland formulation were evaluated: control solution without Zn or Mn (SoC), solution with Zn and Mn sulfates (SoH), solution with Zn and Mn sulfates extracted from black mass (BMS), and solution with Zn and Mn lignosulfonate derived from black mass (BMLS). Morphological, growth, physiological, and nutritional parameters were analyzed in March and October. While morphological traits showed no significant differences among treatments, some physiological (stomatal conductance, transpiration) and biochemical variables (chlorophyll, carotenoids, P, K, Mg, and S concentrations) differed significantly depending on the nutrient source. Nevertheless, all plants maintained healthy growth and nutrient levels within optimal ranges, and no signs of phytotoxicity or heavy metal accumulation were detected. Full article

The aquaculture industry generates large amounts of shell waste, with limited recycling options at the industrial scale. This study explores the feasibility of substituting 20% of gypsum with seashell waste to produce sustainable, fire-resistant panels for non-load-bearing walls on a semi-industrial scale (2.4 × 2.2 × 0.1 m). The new composite exhibits high density (≈1500 kg/m³) and mechanical performance comparable to commercial gypsum. Thermal and fire tests confirmed its excellent insulation and stability: after 4 h of standard fire exposure, the non-exposed surface temperature remained below 80 °C, meeting European fire-resistance criteria. The incorporation of shell waste slightly reduced density and thermal conductivity (0.23 W/mK at 500 °C) without affecting strength or surface hardness. Environmental characterization revealed leaching and radionuclide levels well below regulatory limits, confirming its safety for building use. Overall, this work demonstrates, for the first time at a semi-industrial scale, the technical and environmental feasibility of reusing seashell waste as a gypsum substitute for fireproof materials. The proposed approach advances circular-economy strategies for aquaculture residues, providing an innovative pathway toward sustainable and low-impact construction products. Full article

Photosynthesis is an essential plant biological process. The performance of photosynthesis in grafted plants is affected by either the scion or the rootstock. However, the effect of the scion, rootstock and their interaction in the scion–rootstock combinations on photosynthesis of the grafted trees was not clear. In this research, the photosynthesis was analyzed within 21 citrus scion–rootstock combinations derived from three navel oranges (Citrus sinensis cv. ‘Banfield’, ‘Chislett’ and ‘Powell’) grafted on seven rootstocks [(Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi × Poncirus trifoliata), Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis × P. trifoliata), X639 (C. reticulata × P. trifoliata), MXT (C. sinensis × P. trifoliata), Hongju (C. reticulata), Ziyang xiangcheng (C. junos) and Trifoliate orange (P. trifoliata)]. Results indicated that photosynthesis of these grafted citrus plants was significantly affected by all the scion, rootstock and their interaction. The rootstock and scion–rootstock interaction had more effect on both chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters with lower p values than the scion. All the scions grafted on Swingle showed the highest electron transport rate at 132.24, 158.39 and 154.59 µmol electrons m⁻² s⁻¹, and a higher net CO₂ assimilation rate at 11.22, 10.77 and 11.69 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. The rootstock is the predominant factor affecting the content of photosynthetic pigments, and the combinations using Ziyang xiangcheng as the rootstock had the highest content at 19.83, 20.97 and 20.39 μmol s⁻¹ Kg⁻¹ FW. Electron transport rate is probably the predominant factor determining the final photosynthesis of the grafted citrus trees. This research is the first to reveal the respective effect of the scion, rootstock and their interaction on photosynthesis of citrus scion–rootstock combinations and is valuable in enhancing the understanding of the different performances in citrus scion–rootstock combinations, which aids in selecting optimal scion–rootstock combinations. Full article

Background: Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has gained attention for its ability to improve surgical precision, optimize component alignment, and potentially enhance functional outcomes. Despite these advantages, early postoperative deficits, particularly in quadricep activation and the range of motion (ROM), remain common and can delay recovery. The objective of this study was to investigate early postoperative differences in quadricep muscle activation and the ROM between the operated and non-operated sides following robot-assisted TKA. Methods: A total of 101 participants (50 females, 51 males) were included in the study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis during an active knee extension test and a 4-m walking test. The ROM was assessed during gait. A linear mixed model was employed with operated side and sex as factors. Results: Significant differences were observed in quadricep muscle activation and the ROM between the operated and non-operated sides. During the knee extension test, males exhibited significantly higher vastus lateralis activity on the non-operated side (mean difference = 174 µV, 95% confidence interval (CI) [90, 258], p < 0.001) and females showed a similar pattern (mean difference = 238 µV, 95% CI [152, 324], p < 0.001). Additionally, vastus medialis activation was significantly higher on the non-operated side for both males (mean difference = 102 µV, 95% CI [34, 169], p = 0.003) and females (mean difference = 137 µV, 95% CI [47, 226], p = 0.003). During the 4-m walking test, females displayed a significantly reduced sagittal-plane ROM on the operated side (mean difference = 7.691°, p = 0.041) whereas no significant ROM differences were found in males (p > 0.903). Conclusions: Robot-assisted TKA patients exhibit significant early postoperative asymmetries in quadricep activation and the gait ROM, particularly among females. Full article

Detecting behavioral routines is an important research area with many implications in various practical applications. One such application involves studying the behavior of older adults residing in care homes. This paper proposes a comprehensive methodology for extracting and analyzing the daily routines of older adults in care homes. The methodology utilizes raw data comprising signal strength measurements obtained from smartwatches worn by six volunteers over five months. To establish the basis for estimating daily activities, fingerprint-based localization techniques are employed to track the minute-by-minute location of each volunteer. Subsequently, the activity performed by each volunteer is estimated for each day. Finally, the study estimates the probability of a user undertaking each one of the studied activities on a given weekday. Full article

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease affecting humans and other mammals caused by environmental pathogens of the genus Coccidioides. Human exposure to the pathogen occurs via inhalation of spores aerosolized from soil. Thus, understanding the ecological factors that shape the distribution of Coccidioides in soils is important for minimizing the risk of human exposure, though this task remains challenging due to the pathogen’s highly variable spatial distribution. Here, we examined the associations between the soil microbial community and Coccidioides immitis’ presence within the Carrizo Plain National Monument, a minimally disturbed grassland ecosystem, and the site of a longitudinal study examining the effects of rodents and their burrows on C. immitis’ presence in soils. Using internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 16S amplicon sequencing to characterize the soil fungal and bacterial communities, we found over 30 fungal species, including several other members of the Onygenales order, that co-occurred with C. immitis more frequently than would be expected by chance. Coccidioides-positive samples were significantly higher in fungal and bacterial diversity than negative samples, an association partly driven by higher Coccidioides presence within rodent burrows compared to surface soils. Soil source (i.e., rodent burrow versus surface soil) explained the largest amount of variation in bacterial and fungal community diversity and composition, with soils collected from rodent burrows having higher fungal and bacterial diversity than those collected from adjacent surface soils. While prior evidence is mixed regarding the relationship between the presence of Coccidioides and microbial diversity, we find that favorable microhabitats, such as rodent burrows, lead to a positive association between soil microbial diversity and Coccidioides presence, particularly in otherwise resource-limited natural environments. Full article

This study investigated the effects of rootstock selection and deficit irrigation on the growth, physiological, and photosynthetic performance of young ‘W. Murcott’ mandarin trees. A two-way ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the impact of rootstocks (sour orange, Carrizo citrange, and Volkameriana) and deficit irrigation treatments (40%, 50%, and 70% of field capacity as control) on various plant parameters. Results revealed that rootstock diameter, scion diameter, leaf chlorophyll concentration (Chl), fresh weight, total dry weight, and photosynthetic rate (P_N) were significantly influenced by rootstocks and/or deficit irrigation treatments. Deficit irrigation significantly reduced plant height, fresh and dry weights, rootstock diameter, Chl, Fv’/Fm’ (chlorophyll fluorescence), and P_N, while scion diameter, stomatal conductance, and water-use efficiency (WUE) remained unaffected. Among rootstocks, sour orange exhibited the highest Chl and Fv’/Fm’ values under water stress, indicating greater drought tolerance, despite showing lower growth compared to Carrizo and Volkameriana. Conversely, Carrizo and Volkameriana rootstocks demonstrated higher fresh and dry weights under optimal irrigation but were more sensitive to water stress. Photosynthetic rate was highest in sour orange-grafted plants under deficit irrigation, while transpiration rates were highest in control plants. These findings suggest that sour orange rootstock may enhance drought resilience by maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll integrity, albeit at the cost of reduced vegetative growth. At the end of this study, it was determined that W. Murcott seedlings grafted onto sour orange rootstock were more tolerant compared to the other two rootstocks. Full article

Drought is a problematic abiotic stress affecting citrus crops in the Mediterranean basin and the rootstock plays a fundamental role in adopting adaptive mechanisms in response to water deficit. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response of eight rootstocks under three treatments imposed: control (100% of reference evapotranspiration, Et₀), 66% Et₀ and 50% Et₀. The rootstock genotypes studied were C35 citrange, Bitters, Carpenter and Furr which have been recently spread and so far, little investigated, while others have been widely used especially in the Mediterranean citrus industry, i.e., Citrus macrophylla, C. volkameriana, Swingle citrumelo and Carrizo citrange. Morphological analyses, leaf chlorophyll content determination, physiological measurement, proline accumulation, malondialdehyde determination and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. The results exhibited that Bitters and Furr showed an increment in leaf area to reduce the effects of drought conditions. A decrement in gas exchanges and xylem water potential was noticed in Carrizo and C35 citrange at both water shortage treatments. Carrizo exhibited a significant increase in malondialdehyde at both stresses (90.3 and 103.3%, for 66 and 50% Et₀). Bitters and Furr performed better than the other rootstocks with regard to enzymatic and hormonal assays. Specifically, Bitters showed a significant reduction in CAT (−68.6%), SOD (−82.5%) and APX (−36.7%). Furthermore, Bitters and Furr were closely related to morphological parameters, e.g., leaf area and root length, and physiological measurements. C. volkameriana showed a decrease in xylem water potential, while overall Carrizo and C35 citranges showed a susceptible response to water stress reducing morphological and physiological measurements. Full article

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) includes a set of methods orientated to disaggregating the power consumption of a household per appliance. It is commonly based on a single metering point, typically a smart meter at the entry of the electrical grid of the building, where signals of interest, such as voltage or current, can be measured and analyzed in order to disaggregate and identify which appliance is turned on/off at any time. Although this information is key for further applications linked to energy efficiency and management, it may also be applied to social and health contexts. Since the activation of the appliances in a household is related to certain daily activities carried out by the corresponding tenants, NILM techniques are also interesting in the design of remote monitoring systems that can enhance the development of novel feasible healthcare models. Therefore, these techniques may foster the independent living of elderly and/or cognitively impaired people in their own homes, while relatives and caregivers may have access to additional information about a person’s routines. In this context, this work describes an intelligent solution based on deep neural networks, which is able to identify the daily activities carried out in a household, starting from the disaggregated consumption per appliance provided by a commercial smart meter. With the daily activities identified, the usage patterns of the appliances and the corresponding behaviour can be monitored in the long term after a training period. In this way, every new day may be assessed statistically, thus providing a score about how similar this day is to the routines learned during the training interval. The proposal has been experimentally validated by means of two commercially available smart monitors installed in real houses where tenants followed their daily routines, as well as by using the well-known database UK-DALE. Full article

Why are rock art sites found in certain places and not others? Can locational or environmental variables inform an understanding of the function and meaning of the art? How can we move beyond observed patterning in spatial associations to a credible explanation of such meanings and ensure that we are not confusing correlation with causation? And what variables were most relevant in influencing site locational choices? These and related problems, whether recognized or not, are the subtext of the last three decades of rock art site distributional and landscape studies. They are now especially important to resolve given the need for accurate predictive modeling due to the rapid transformation of certain regions from undeveloped rural areas into rural industrial landscapes. Partly with this problem in mind, Whitley developed a descriptive model that provides an explanation for the location of Native Californian rock art in the Mojave Desert. It identifies the variables most relevant to site locations based on ethnographic Indigenous ontological beliefs about the landscape. These concern the geographical distribution of supernatural power and its association with certain landforms, natural phenomena and cultural features. His analysis further demonstrated that this model can account for two unusually large concentrations of sites and motifs: the Coso Range petroglyphs and the Carrizo Plain pictographs. But unanswered was the question of whether the model is applicable more widely, especially to smaller sites and localities made by different cultural groups. We documented and analyzed three petroglyph localities with seven small petroglyph sites in the southern Mojave Desert, California, to test this model. These sites are attributed to the Takic-speaking Cahuilla and Serrano tribes. Our study revealed a good fit between the expected natural and cultural variables associated with rock art site locations, with the number of such variables present at any given locale potentially correlated with the size of the individual sites. In addition to the research value of these results, this suggests that the model may be useful in the predictive modeling of rock art site locations for heritage management purposes. Full article

Citrus nurseries significantly increase production costs due to the application of strictly technical and sanitary protocols. The growth media used are generally based on peat, a limited resource that is becoming increasingly scarce and consequently more expensive. Among the alternatives to peat is biochar, which could constitute a valid growing medium component for citrus seedling production. Three growth media were compared, each containing 50% sandy volcanic soil and the remaining 50% being: (i) biochar 50%; (ii) black peat 25% + biochar 25%; and (iii) black peat 25% + lapillus 25% as the control. The impact on the agronomic performance of citrus seedlings was assessed, and the involvement of specific genes in macronutrient uptake was evaluated. Destructive and molecular analyses were performed on leaves and roots during two different periods of the year: February and April. Based on physicochemical parameters and seedling growth, it can be assumed that peat can be partially substituted by conifer wood biochar in a total amount of 25 or 50%. A general comparison of the averages from the sampling and the various analyzed substrates revealed that in February, the evaluated genes involved in the absorption and transport of nutrients were differentially expressed in both leaves and roots, while in April, the expression was not consistent. Additionally, a general comparison between the analyzed tissues showed that, in most cases, expression was higher in the roots than in the leaves. Overall, a comparison among plants grown in different substrates indicated that the medium with 50% biochar displayed the highest expression levels. Full article

Fruits and vegetables play a crucial role in addressing food security challenges posed by the growing global population. Citrus fruits are among the most widely cultivated crops worldwide; however, their production is steadily declining due to climate change. Among the various biotic and abiotic stresses affecting citrus production, water scarcity caused by climate change stands out as a significant issue. Interestingly, the rhizosphere of citrus plants is home to beneficial fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF have been shown to enhance the growth and development of host plants. They also improve the plants’ tolerance to various stresses and enhance soil structure. This study aimed to evaluate the response of two different citrus rootstocks—Rangpur lime and Carrizo citrange—when subjected to three mycorrhizal treatments, namely, AMF+ (inoculated with AMF), AMF- (treated with fungicide to eliminate AMF), and a control (naturally occurring AMF), under conditions of water deficit. The results indicated that the AMF+ treatment had a significant positive effect on both rootstock genotypes compared to the AMF- treatment. Physiological attributes such as photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, non-photochemical quenching, and both dark and light quantum yield exhibited significantly smaller declines under water deficit conditions in AMF+ plants compared to those in the AMF- and control groups. Conversely, stress indicators—such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)—increased significantly in the AMF- treatment compared to AMF+. Additionally, the increase in antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and osmotic adjustment (proline (PRO)) was more pronounced in the AMF+ treatment in the leaves and roots of both citrus rootstocks. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the presence and application of AMF in citrus roots may enhance the plants’ ability to cope with water scarcity more effectively. Full article

Boron (B) is an essential element for an adequate development of citrus orchards. However, citrus trees are vulnerable to high B concentrations, generating morphological and physiological alterations incompatible with the proper production of citrus. In this sense, citrus rootstocks can provide valuable capabilities to citrus trees including tolerance to different stresses. The objective of this work is the characterization of 2247 × 6070–02–2 citrus rootstock using as a reference Carrizo citrange rootstock under B toxicity conditions (2.5 mM boric acid). Carrizo citrange is a diploid hybrid, and 2247 × 6070–02–2 is a novel low-HLB-sensitive tetraploid. B excess effects were analyzed after four weeks of treatment using 0.05 (control) and 2.5 mM (toxicity) H₃BO₃ concentrations, respectively, in hydroponic growth conditions. The characterization of 2247 × 6070–02–2 rootstock compared to Carrizo citrange was performed by measuring physiological parameters in leaves related to photosynthesis, stress oxidative responses, B content, and gene expression. The lower transpiration rate and, especially, the higher expression of the CsXIP1;1 gene and the better antioxidant defense mechanisms shown by 2247 × 6070–02–2 make this rootstock more tolerant to high B content than Carrizo citrange. Full article