Search Results (38)

There are discrepancies regarding the effectiveness of enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer (EENF) products on ammonia loss from unincorporated, surface applications of urea-based fertilizers. Soil properties and management practices may account for the differences in the performance of EENF. However, few studies have investigated the performance of urea- and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)-based EENF on soils with contrasting properties. Controlled-environment incubation experiments were conducted on two soils with different properties to evaluate the efficacy of urea and UAN forms of EENF to minimize ammonia volatilization losses. The experiments were set up as a completely randomized design, with seven treatments replicated four times for 16 days. The N treatments, which were surface-applied at 134 kg N ha⁻¹, included untreated urea, untreated UAN, urea+ANVOL^TM (urease inhibitor product), UAN+ANVOL^TM, environmentally smart nitrogen (ESN^®), SUPERU^® (urease and nitrification inhibitor product), and urea+Excelis^® (urease and nitrification inhibitor product). In this study, urea was more susceptible to ammonia loss (24.12 and 26.49% of applied N) than UAN (5.24 and 16.17% of applied N), with lower ammonia volatility from soil with a pH of 5.8 when compared to 7.0. Urea-based EENF products performed better in soil with a pH of 5.8 compared to the soil with pH 7.0, except for ESN, which was not influenced by pH. In contrast, the UAN-based EENF was more effective in the high-pH soil (7.0). Across both soils, all EENFs reduced cumulative ammonia loss by 32–91% in urea and 27–70% in UAN, respectively, when compared to their untreated forms. The urea-based EENF formulations containing both nitrification and urease inhibitors were the least effective among the EENF types, performing particularly poorly in high-pH soil (pH 7.0). In conclusion, the efficacy of EENF is dependent on soil pH, N source, and the form of EENF. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring EENF applications to specific soil conditions and N sources to optimize N use efficiency (NUE), enhance economic returns for producers, and minimize environmental impacts. Full article

Background: Copper dyshomeostasis has been implicated in a subset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, characterized by elevated non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper (non-Cp Cu). However, traditional methods for estimating non-Cp Cu are indirect and analytically imprecise. This study introduces and validates a direct assay for exchangeable copper (ExcCu) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), compliant with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Methods: We performed analytical validation of the ExcCu assay following CLSI protocols (EP5, EP6, EP7, EP9, EP15, and EP28). ExcCu and other copper-related biomarkers were quantified in serum samples from 154 healthy controls, 82 AD patients, and 10 patients with Wilson disease (WD). Diagnostic performance was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and inter-method agreement was assessed using Bland–Altman plots. Results: The ExcCu assay demonstrated excellent linearity, precision (CV < 6%), and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Among AD patients, ExcCu levels were significantly elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001). ExcCu distinguished AD from controls with an AUC of 0.80 and a specificity of 95%. Compared to non-Cp Cu, ExcCu yielded no negative values and showed reduced bias. The relative exchangeable copper (REC) index was more effective in differentiating AD from WD (AUC = 0.88). Conclusions: The validated ExcCu assay overcomes the limitations of the traditional non-Cp Cu calculation, offering a reliable biomarker for copper-related AD subtypes. Its high specificity supports its use in patient stratification, potentially contributing to personalized approaches in AD diagnosis and therapy. Full article

Satellites experience complex vibrational environments during their launch and operation, potentially leading to structural failures and equipment damage. This work aimed to mitigate this issue by designing a variable cross-sectional metal rubber isolator (VCMRI), which was fully constructed from metal and featured a symmetric structure. Initially, a finite element model of the VCMRI was developed, incorporating symmetric boundary conditions and employing the Bergström–Boyce model to define variable cross-sectional metal rubber (VCMR) parameters. Subsequently, sinusoidal sweep tests were performed to investigate how variations in VCMR density, spring stiffness, and exc itation deflection angle affect the peak acceleration response and natural frequency of the VCMRI. Finally, simulation analyses were conducted and insertion loss was derived from the results to assess the vibration isolation performance of the VCMRI. The results indicate that the finite element model accurately captures the dynamic behavior of the VCMRI with minimal error. In addition, the VCMRI demonstrates robust vibration isolation performance by effectively integrating the influences of VCMR density, spring stiffness, and excitation angle, achieving insertion losses of up to 19.2 dB across a wide frequency range. It provides robust theoretical support for the design and performance optimization of isolation systems, with potential positive impacts on relevant engineering applications. Full article

Clarifying the migration law of heavy metal pollutants in soil is the key prerequisite for its treatment. Because most heavy metal pollutants possess color-rendering properties, it is theoretically feasible to use synthesized transparent soil to simulate the migration and diffusion of heavy pollutants in soil. In order to assess the feasibility of employing transparent soil for investigating heavy metal migration (singly and multiply) in porous media, the fluctuation rates and concentration distribution of pollutants were measured from both vertical and horizontal perspectives. Simultaneously, the effects of temperature, dry density, and initial concentration on heavy metal migration were investigated simultaneously, while analyzing changes in heavy metal occurrence forms during the migration process. The study shows that transparent soil accurately simulated heavy metal migration with a deviation of less than 10% compared to sandy soil. The migration of Cu(II) in a single heavy metal migration test was greatly affected by three factors. Among them, both Cu(II) and Cr(VI) are similarly affected by the initial concentration, and favorable migration occurs at an initial concentration of 1000 mg/kg. The heat source temperature and initial concentration significantly impact the migration of single Cr(VI) and composite heavy metals. Under the influence of heat source temperature, the increase in heavy metal migration rate is associated with an increase in the proportion of exchangeable (EXC) and carbonate-bound (Carb). Studying the interaction mechanism between these factors is crucial for accurately predicting the transport behavior of heavy metal pollutants in porous media and providing a scientific basis for environmental protection and treatment. Full article

Laser beam welding is the most modern and promising process for the automatic or robotized welding of structures of the highest Execution Class, EXC3-4, which are made of a variety of weldable structural materials, mainly steel, titanium, and nickel alloys, but also a limited range of aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys, reactive materials, and even thermoplastics. This paper presents a systematic review and analysis of the author’s research results, research articles, industrial catalogs, technical notes, etc., regarding laser beam welding (LBW) and laser hybrid welding (LHW) processes. Examples of industrial applications of the melt-in-mode and keyhole-mode laser welding techniques for low-alloy and high-alloy steel joints are analyzed. The influence of basic LBW and LHW parameters on the quality of welded joints proves that the laser beam power, welding speed, and Gas Metal Arc (GMA) welding current firmly decide the quality of welded joints. A brief review of the artificial intelligence (AI)-supported online quality-monitoring systems for LBW and LHW processes indicates the decisive influence on the quality control of welded joints. Full article

Our previous studies have demonstrated that konjac glucomannan (KGM) can prevent dysbiosis induced by antibiotics. While exercise may also impact the gut microbiome, there are limited studies reporting its protective effect on antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Therefore, this study investigated the preventive and regulatory effects of a combination of 6-week exercise and KGM intervention on antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in C57BL/6J mice compared with a single intervention. The results showed that combined exercise and KGM intervention could restore the changes in the relative abundance of Bacteroides (3.73% with CTL versus 14.23% with ATBX versus 4.46% with EK) and Prevotellaceae_Prevotella (0.33% with CTL versus 0.00% with ATBX versus 0.30% with EK) induced by antibiotics (p < 0.05), and minimized the Bray–Curtis distance induced by antibiotics (0.55 with CTL versus 0.81 with ATBX versus 0.80 with EXC versus 0.83 with KGM versus 0.75 with EK). Compared with the combined intervention, exercise intervention also produced a certain level of recovery effects; the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae (1.96% with CTL versus 0.09% with ATBX versus 0.49% with EXC) was restored, while KGM supplementation showed the best preventive effect. In addition, the combination of exercise and KGM significantly enriched microbial purine metabolic pathways (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that combining exercise with KGM could be a promising approach to reducing the side effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiome. Full article

Photosystem II (PSII) functions were investigated in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants sprayed with 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) under non-stress (NS) or mild drought-stress (MiDS) conditions. Under MiDS, SA-sprayed leaves retained significantly higher (+36%) chlorophyll content compared to NS, SA-sprayed leaves. PSII efficiency in SA-sprayed leaves under NS conditions, evaluated at both low light (LL, 200 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) and high light (HL, 900 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹), increased significantly with a parallel significant decrease in the excitation pressure at PSII (1-qL) and the excess excitation energy (EXC). This enhancement of PSII efficiency under NS conditions was induced by the mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) that reduced singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production, as indicated by the reduced quantum yield of non-regulated energy loss in PSII (Φ_NO). Under MiDS, the thylakoid structure of water-sprayed leaves appeared slightly dilated, and the efficiency of PSII declined, compared to NS conditions. In contrast, the thylakoid structure of SA-sprayed leaves did not change under MiDS, while PSII functionality was retained, similar to NS plants at HL. This was due to the photoprotective heat dissipation by NPQ, which was sufficient to retain the same percentage of open PSII reaction centers (qp), as in NS conditions and HL. We suggest that the redox status of the plastoquinone pool (qp) under MiDS and HL initiated the acclimation response to MiDS in SA-sprayed leaves, which retained the same electron transport rate (ETR) with control plants. Foliar spray of SA could be considered as a method to improve PSII efficiency in basil plants under NS conditions, at both LL and HL, while under MiDS and HL conditions, basil plants could retain PSII efficiency similar to control plants. Full article

Postoperative sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized patients. However, few studies have focused on short-term postoperative sarcopenia. Furthermore, the influence of nutritional management using amino acids (AAs) comprising a peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) solution and its combination with exercise (Exc) is unclear. Hence, we established a postoperative sarcopenic rat model to evaluate the effects of parenteral AA infusion combined with Exc on skeletal muscles and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the amelioration of muscle atrophy. Male F344 rats underwent surgery followed by hindlimb suspension (HS) for 5 days. The rats were divided into AA (−), AA (+), AA (−)-Exc, and AA (+)-Exc groups. They were continuously administered a PPN solution with or without AA at 98 kcal/kg/day. The Exc groups were subjected to intermittent loading for 1 h per day. Postoperative sarcopenic rats exhibited decreased muscle strength and mass and an upregulated ubiquitin–proteasome system, autophagy–lysosome system, and fast-twitch fiber-related genes, especially in the AA (−) group. The AA (+)-Exc group exhibited attenuated decreased muscle strength, increased gastrocnemius mass, and a suppressed upregulation of muscle atrophy- and fast-twitch fiber-related genes. Therefore, parenteral AA infusion combined with Exc may be effective in preventing postoperative sarcopenia in hospitalized patients. Full article

This paper offers a thorough investigation of hyperparameter tuning for neural network architectures using datasets encompassing various combinations of Methylene Blue (MB) Reduction by Ascorbic Acid (AA) reactions with different solvents and concentrations. The aim is to predict coefficients of decay plots for MB absorbance, shedding light on the complex dynamics of chemical reactions. Our findings reveal that the optimal model, determined through our investigation, consists of five hidden layers, each with sixteen neurons and employing the Swish activation function. This model yields an NMSE of 0.05, 0.03, and 0.04 for predicting the coefficients A, B, and C, respectively, in the exponential decay equation A + B · e^−x/C. These findings contribute to the realm of drug design based on machine learning, providing valuable insights into optimizing chemical reaction predictions. Full article

High light (HL) intensity has a substantial impact on light energy flow and partitioning within photosynthetic apparatus. To realize the impact of HL intensity on zinc (Zn) tolerance mechanisms in clary sage (Salvia sclarea L., Lamiaceae) plants, we examined the effect of the altered chlorophyll and nutrient uptake under excess Zn supply on the response mechanism of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry. Eight-week-old clary sage plants were treated with 5 μM Zn (control) or 900 μM Zn in Hoagland nutrient solution. Leaf elemental analysis for Zn, Mn, Mg, and Fe was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas PSII functioning under HL was evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis. Exposure of S. sclarea plants to 900 μM Zn increased leaf Zn accumulation and decreased leaf Mg and chlorophyll. The decreased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) provided evidence of the photoprotection offered by the smaller light-harvesting antennae due to the reduced chlorophyll. The increased Mn after Zn exposure corresponded with higher efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) that was significantly correlated with the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm). An increased electron transport rate (ETR) coincided with increased leaf Fe, which is known to play a vital role in the enzymes engaged in ETR. The decreased (32%) NPQ after an 8-day exposure to Zn caused an increased (10%) quantum yield of non-regulated energy loss in PSII (Φ_NO), indicative of an increased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production. It is suggested that the decreased NPQ induced acclimation responses of clary sage plants to HL and excess Zn by increasing ¹O₂ production. The reduced (18%) excess excitation energy (EXC) at PSII and the increased (24%) quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Φ_PSII) and ETR indicated improved photosynthetic efficiency under excess Zn and HL intensity. Therefore, the exposure of medicinal plants to excess Zn not only boosts their photosynthetic efficiency, enhancing crop yields, but can also improve Fe and Zn content, ameliorating the human health deficiency of these two essential micronutrients. Full article

Foam rolling is widely used in fitness, sports, rehabilitation, and injury prevention. However, there are limited data available on the effect of foam rolling techniques on the upper limbs. The aim of this investigation is to assess the effects of foam rolling the latissimus dorsi area during the rest period between two consecutive lat pull-down exercise (LPDE) sets. Seventeen resistance training experienced volunteer male subjects (25.8 ± 3.4 years; 180.3 ± 9.0 cm; 79.7 ± 9.9 kg) participated in this research. Each subject performed 2 training sessions of LPDE in a random order, separated by one week. Each session consisted of 2 sets of maximum repetitions using 85% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM), with a 7 min rest period between sets. The rest period condition between sets was different in the 2 sessions: passive rest (Pr) or foam rolling the latissimus dorsi muscle bilaterally for 3 sets of 45 s (FRr). The following variables were assessed for each LPDE set: number of repetitions (REPS), average excursion per repetition in millimeters (EXC), average power of the set in watts (AP) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Pr did not show any significant change between the first and the second LPDE set for REPS, EXC, and AP. However, there was a significant increase for RPE (8.4 ± 0.5 vs. 8.9 ± 0.5 a.u., p = 0.003) between the two sets. FRr resulted in an increase for REPS (7.1 ± 1.5 vs. 8.2 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and AP (304.6 ± 61.5 W vs. 318.8 ± 60.8 W, p = 0.034) between the first and the second LPDE sets, but no changes were observed for EXC and RPE. The use of foam rolling techniques on the latissimus dorsi area during the complete rest period between sets in LPDE at 85% 1RM appears to improve the number of repetitions and the movement power without affecting the RPE during the second set. Full article

To understand the contribution of different sub-assemblages (sub-communities) in the shrub and herb layers to the distribution patterns of community species richness and the stability of the Pinus massoniana Lamb. community, this study was carried out by using 160 shrub quadrats (5 m × 5 m) and 200 herb quadrats (1 m × 1 m). These quadrats were selected from 40 plots on six islands. In this study, common and rare species were classified according to the frequency, and “new communities” (sub-communities) were formed by adding or removing species. Then the changes of species richness and community stability in the “new communities” were analyzed. A redundancy analysis was also used to explore the factors affecting the size of the species richness in the understory of the Pinus massoniana community. The results showed the following: (1) The distribution patterns of both shrub and herb layer species frequencies in this area were plainly to the right, indicating a large proportion of non-common species (common species accounting for 37.87% in the shrub layer and 16.67% in the herb layer). (2) The higher the frequency of species, the greater their contribution to the pattern of species richness. Common species had a high frequency and were the most important contributors to the patterns of species richness in plant communities (64 common species and 41 most common species in the shrub layer and 10 common species in the herb layer each accounted for 95.72, 88.9, and 90.52%, respectively, of the species richness distribution pattern). However, rare species also made significant contributions to the species richness in regions with hard conditions (the (most) rare species in the herb layer explained more than 70% of the species richness distribution pattern, and the remaining species after removing the (most) common species explained more than 90%). (3) In relatively stable communities, rare species had relatively little influence on the stability of the community, which was mostly governed by the dominant species (common species (10 species) were more stable than rare species (38 species), Exc.-rare species (22 species) were more stable than except-common species (50 species), and Exc.-rarest species (35 species) were more stable than Exc.-most common species (55 species) in the herb layer). In less stable communities, the stability of the community gradually increased with the increase in species richness, which may be associated with the growth habit of the increased species (the stability of the herb layer was higher than that of the shrub layer, as shown by the Euclidean distance). The community stability was determined by not only the dominant species in the community but also the rare species that were important contributors to the stability of the communities. (4) The species richness of the shrub layer was considerably influenced (p-value < 0.05) by the soil pH, soil organic matter, and wind speed, whereas the species richness of the herb layer was significantly influenced (p-value < 0.05) by the soil pH. The greater the pH and wind speed, the greater the species richness in the island community. On islands, the soil stability was maintained in large part by the soil organic matter. The lack of soil organic matter can affect soil nutrients, destroy island habitats, and reduce species richness, all of which are harmful to the community stabilization. Full article

Selenium (Se)-enriched tea is a well-regarded natural beverage that is often consumed for its Se supplementation benefits. However, the production of this tea, particularly in Se-abundant tea plantations, is challenging due to soil acidification. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of changes in Se under acidified soil conditions. Eight tea plantation soil monitoring sites in Southern Jiangsu were first selected. Simulated acid rain experiments and experiments with different acidification methods were designed and soil pH, as well as various Al-ion and Se-ion concentrations were systematically determined. The data were analyzed using R statistical software, and a correlation analysis was carried out. The results indicated that as the pH value dropped, exchangeable selenium (Exc-Se) and residual selenium (Res-Se) were transformed into acid-soluble selenium (Fmo-Se) and manganese oxide selenium (Om-Se). As the pH increased, exchange state aluminum (Alex) and water-soluble aluminum (Alw) decreased, Fmo-Se and Om-Se declined, and Exc-Se and Res-Se increased, a phenomenon attributed to the weakened substitution of Se ions by Al ions. In the simulated acid rain experiment, P1 compared to the control (CK), the pH value of the YJW tea plantation decreased by 0.13, Exc-Se decreased by 4 ug mg⁻¹, Res-Se decreased by 54.65 ug kg⁻¹, Fmo-Se increased by 2.78 ug mg⁻¹, and Om-Se increased by 5.94 ug mg⁻¹ while Alex increased by 28.53 mg kg⁻¹. The decrease in pH led to an increase in the content of Alex and Alw, which further resulted in the conversion of Exc-Se to Fmo-Se and Om-Se. In various acidification experiments, compared with CK, the pH value of T6 decreased by 0.23, Exc-Se content decreased by 8.35 ug kg⁻¹, Res-Se content decreased by 40.62 ug kg⁻¹, and Fmo-Se content increased by 15.52 ug kg⁻¹ while Alex increased by 33.67 mg kg⁻¹, Alw increased by 1.7 mg kg⁻¹, and Alh decreased by 573.89 mg kg⁻¹. Acidification can trigger the conversion of Exc-Se to Fmo-Se and Om-Se, while the content of available Se may decrease due to the complexation interplay between Alex and Exc-Se. This study provides a theoretical basis for solving the problem of Se-enriched in tea caused by soil acidification. Full article

(1) Introduction: Wilson’s disease (WND) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper (Cu) metabolism. Many tools are available to diagnose and monitor the clinical course of WND. Laboratory tests to determine disorders of Cu metabolism are of significant diagnostic importance. (2) Methods: A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library databases was conducted. (Results): For many years, Cu metabolism in WND was assessed with serum ceruloplasmin (CP) concentration, radioactive Cu test, total serum Cu concentration, urinary copper excretion, and Cu content in the liver. The results of these studies are not always unambiguous and easy to interpret. New methods have been developed to calculate non-CP Cu (NCC) directly. New parameters, such as relative Cu exchange (REC), reflecting the ratio of CuEXC to total serum Cu, as well as relative Cu exchange (REC), reflecting the ratio of CuEXC to total serum Cu, have been shown to be an accurate tool for the diagnosis of WND. Recently, a direct and fast LC-ICP-MS method for the study of CuEXC was presented. A new method to assess Cu metabolism during treatment with ALXN1840 (bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate [TTM]) has been developed. The assay enables the bioanalysis of CP and different types of Cu, including CP-Cu, direct NCC (dNCC), and labile bound copper (LBC) in human plasma. Conclusions: A few diagnostic and monitoring tools are available for patients with WND. While many patients are diagnosed and adequately assessed with currently available methods, diagnosis and monitoring is a real challenge in a group of patients who are stuck with borderline results, ambiguous genetic findings, and unclear clinical phenotypes. Technological progress and the characterization of new diagnostic parameters, including those related to Cu metabolism, may provide confidence in the more accurate diagnosis of WND in the future. Full article

Dramatic climate change has led to an increase in the intensity and frequency of drought episodes and, together with the high light conditions of the Mediterranean area, detrimentally influences crop production. Salicylic acid (SA) has been shown to supress phototoxicity, offering photosystem II (PSII) photoprotection. In the current study, we attempted to reveal the mechanism by which SA is improving PSII efficiency in oregano seedlings under moderate drought stress (MoDS). Foliar application of SA decreased chlorophyll content under normal growth conditions, but under MoDS increased chlorophyll content, compared to H₂O-sprayed oregano seedlings. SA improved the PSII efficiency of oregano seedlings under normal growth conditions at high light (HL), and under MoDS, at both low light (LL) and HL. The mechanism by which, under normal growth conditions and HL, SA sprayed oregano seedlings compared to H₂O-sprayed exhibited a more efficient PSII photochemistry, was the increased (17%) fraction of open PSII reaction centers (qp), and the increased (7%) efficiency of these open reaction centers (Fv′/Fm′), which resulted in an enhanced (24%) electron transport rate (ETR). SA application under MoDS, by modulating chlorophyll content, resulted in optimized antenna size and enhanced effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Φ_PSII) under both LL (7%) and HL (25%), compared to non-SA-sprayed oregano seedlings. This increased effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Φ_PSII) was due to the enhanced efficiency of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC), and the increased fraction of open PSII reaction centers (qp), which resulted in an increased electron transport rate (ETR) and a lower amount of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production with less excess excitation energy (EXC). Full article