Search Results (2,649)

Grain quality in bread wheat is a complex trait determined by multiple genetic factors and their interaction with environmental conditions. This study investigated the genetic architecture of key grain quality traits in the Avalon × Cadenza double haploid (DH) population under contrasting climatic conditions in Kazakhstan. A set of 101 spring-type DH lines was evaluated over three years in three major wheat-growing regions of Kazakhstan, representing northern, central, and southern environments. Grain yield and nine grain quality traits were assessed, including amylose content (Amc, %), test weight per liter (TWL, g/L), grain protein content (GPC, %), gliadin content (Gli, %), glutenin content (Glu, %), grain hardness (GH, %), grain vitreousness (GV, %), falling number (FN, s), and sedimentation value determined in a 2% acetic acid solution (SV, mL). The objectives were to characterize phenotypic variation, examine trait relationships, and identify major and environmentally stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling grain quality. QTL mapping identified 89 QTLs associated with the nine studied traits, including 82 major QTLs explaining more than 10% of phenotypic variation and 16 stable QTLs detected in two or more environments. The largest numbers of QTLs were found for GPC, SV, and TWL. Stable QTLs were distributed across all three wheat genomes, with important regions detected on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2D, 4A, 4D, 5A, 6A, and 7D. Several stable QTLs co-localized with genomic regions previously associated with grain quality and developmental regulation, including loci near Wx-B1, Rht-D1, and Ppd-D1, suggesting biologically meaningful links among gluten composition, starch biosynthesis, plant development, and grain physical properties. These results improve understanding of the genetic control of wheat grain quality across diverse environments in Kazakhstan and provide promising targets for marker-assisted selection to combine improved end-use quality with wide environmental adaptation. Full article

The increasing consumption of pharmaceuticals associated with global population growth has intensified concerns regarding their release into aquatic environments and potential ecotoxicological effects. In this context, this study evaluated the ecotoxicity and biodegradation of the widely used corticosteroid prednisone. Ecotoxicity assays were performed using aquatic organisms representing different trophic levels: Artemia salina (microcrustacean), Aliivibrio fischeri (marine bacterium), and the cyanobacterium Microcystis novacekii. Biodegradation assays were conducted using M. novacekii. Prednisone was tested at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 mg/L, corresponding to its maximum solubility in water. All experiments were carried out in accordance with standardized protocols (ABNT NBR 16530, ABNT NBR 15411-3, ISO 11348-3, and OECD 201). No toxic effects were observed for prednisone in any of the tested organisms, as responses at all tested concentrations, including the highest, were not significantly different from the control. Therefore, it was not possible to estimate EC50 values within the tested concentration range. According to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), substances with effect concentrations above 100 mg/L are considered non-toxic to aquatic organisms. During biodegradation assays, a reduction in prednisone concentration was observed during the growth of M. novacekii, which was associated with an increase in the pH of the culture medium. These results suggest that prednisone degradation occurred indirectly through pH changes caused by cyanobacterial growth rather than through direct metabolic pathways. Full article

Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) fuel system architectures for aviation remain at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) due to limited experimental data and the challenges of modelling cryogenic hydrogen’s behavior. This paper presents a computationally efficient framework for sensitivity analysis that integrates cryogenic thermodynamics, tank geometry, external heat ingress, engine mass flow demands, and pressurization control strategies. A set of operational scenarios was modeled to demonstrate how tank pressure and temperature evolve under various control and geometric conditions, delivering five key insights: (1) Passive tank self-pressurization leads to continuous pressure rise and subcooled liquid. (2) LH₂ withdrawal alone may not fully stop pressurization with high heat ingress. (3) Gaseous hydrogen (GH₂) injection stabilizes pressure only up to moderate heat ingress during LH₂ extraction. (4) The addition of venting enables full pressure control. (5) Tank geometry and heat flux govern transient behavior. Spherical tanks show slower pressure and temperature rise than cylindrical ones, and both geometries maintain near-constant pressure at low heat flux. These insights offer practical guidance for designing reliable and thermally stable LH₂ storage systems for future aircraft applications, paving the way towards sustainable and zero-emission aviation. Full article

Background: Early postoperative changes in creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after bariatric surgery can be misread as a kidney injury. During rapid weight loss, indexing eGFR to a fixed body surface area (BSA) of 1.73 m² may alter apparent trajectories. We compared absolute (mL/min) and BSA-indexed (mL/min/1.73 m²) eGFR changes after sleeve gastrectomy, stratified by baseline glomerular hyperfiltration (GH). Methods: In this retrospective cohort of 145 adults undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, serum creatinine was obtained at baseline (≤30 days pre-op) and 3 months (post-op days 75–105). Indexed eGFR was calculated with the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2021 creatinine equation; BSA with the Mosteller formula; and absolute eGFR as indexed eGFR × (BSA/1.73). GH was defined as indexed eGFR ≥ 120 mL/min/1.73 m². A REML mixed-effects model (Group, Time, Group × Time) with patient-cluster bootstrap inference was used. An age-adjusted sensitivity model including Age and Age × Time was also fitted. Results: Fifty-four participants (37%) met the GH criteria. Absolute eGFR declined by −26.6 mL/min in GH versus −17.3 mL/min in non-GH (difference-in-differences [DiD] −9.3 mL/min; 95% CI −13.9 to −4.7; p < 0.001). The indexed eGFR changes were smaller (−4.2 vs. −0.5 mL/min/1.73 m²; DiD −3.7; 95% CI −7.3 to −0.03; p = 0.048; bootstrap p_sign = 0.052). In the age-adjusted sensitivity model, the Group × Time interaction for absolute eGFR attenuated but remained statistically significant (−6.57 mL/min; 95% CI, −13.09 to −0.06; p = 0.048), whereas the corresponding interaction for indexed eGFR was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (−3.99 mL/min/1.73 m²; 95% CI −9.15 to 1.16; p = 0.129). Conclusions: Within three months after sleeve gastrectomy, participants with higher baseline indexed filtration showed a larger decline in absolute eGFR but only a small change in indexed eGFR. These results show that early postoperative creatinine-based eGFR trajectories are scale dependent and should be interpreted cautiously during rapid weight loss. Because postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) was not adjudicated and direct kidney function markers were unavailable, this study does not distinguish physiological hemodynamic change from structural kidney injury. Reporting both absolute and indexed eGFR may improve early postoperative interpretation and help align dosing decisions with rapid changes in body size. Full article

Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, also known as Shiitake, is one of the most popular edible mushroom species containing high contents of polysaccharides, proteins and unique aroma, widely cultivated in China, Japan and Korea. A series of studies has been carried out on the extraction and active effect of the L. edodes polysaccharides, but the molecular mechanisms involved in the protein expression profiles during the whole life cycle are relatively unclear. This study employed an iTRAQ-MS/MS proteomic approach, combined with real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme activity assays, to systematically analyze the protein expression profiles and their relationship with lignocellulose degradation in L. edodes across four key developmental stages: mycelia (SF), brown film formation (BF), primordia (YF), and fruiting bodies (MF). A total of 2043 proteins were identified, with 1188 being differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that metabolic processes, carbohydrate metabolism, and related pathways were significantly active during development. The study specifically focused on carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), identifying 197 CAZyme proteins classified into 78 families. Key families such as glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and carbohydrate esterases (CEs) played crucial roles in lignocellulose degradation. The enzymatic activities of major lignin-degrading enzymes (laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase) were dynamically regulated across the developmental stages. qRT-PCR results largely corroborated the proteomic data, confirming the reliability of the protein expression profiles. This study provides a comprehensive, stage-resolved proteomic landscape of lignocellulose degradation during L. edodes development, revealing species-specific temporal dynamics, offering a valuable basis for understanding its growth and development, with implications for edible fungus cultivation and biomass conversion applications. Full article

Accurate prediction of transient melt pool thermal fields in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is essential for understanding melt pool geometry and defect formation mechanisms, yet conventional finite element methods (FEM) impose prohibitive computational costs for parametric process exploration. A variational physics-informed neural network (VPINN) framework is presented for 3D transient thermal modeling of a GH3536 single-track LPBF scan. The framework incorporates a continuously differentiable Goldak double-ellipsoid moving heat source, temperature-dependent thermophysical property surrogates, and an effective heat-capacity treatment of latent heat associated with solid–liquid phase change and vaporization. These components are embedded in a weak-form residual-minimization scheme with octree-adaptive domain decomposition, hierarchical Legendre test functions, and sequential sliding-window time marching. Effective absorptivity is inferred jointly with the network parameters, using sparse experimental melt pool profiles as supervision. Within a parametric study covering laser powers from 100 to 140 W and scan speeds from 1000 to 1500 mm/s, the predicted melt pool width, depth, and aspect ratio agree closely with FEM benchmarks and cross-sectional optical micrograph measurements across both supervised and held-out interpolation conditions, with total relative L₂ nodal temperature errors ranging from 3.23% to 6.75%. Following a one-time offline training investment of 15,323 s that simultaneously resolves the full parametric space, surrogate inference reduces per-condition query time from 3000–4000 s (FEM) to merely 4–5 s, delivering a speedup of two to three orders of magnitude and making the framework increasingly cost-effective for high-throughput parametric studies and digital-twin integration as the number of queried conditions grows. Full article

Background: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in childhood impairs linear growth and may affect body composition, metabolism, and quality of life; recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy improves outcomes, but response is highly variable, especially in idiopathic GHD (IGHD). Objective: To summarize current evidence on predictors of growth response to rhGH therapy in children with IGHD, focusing on clinical, biochemical, and treatment-related determinants. Methods: This is a narrative review dealing with studies assessing clinical, auxological, biochemical and treatment-associated factors that may influence response to rhGH in IGHD. Results: Early treatment initiation, baseline short stature, prepubertal status, and higher early height growth velocity are strong clinical predictors; biochemical markers, including GH peak, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3, provide complementary information. Modifiable factors such as GH dose, adherence to therapy, and therapy duration also influence outcomes. Integrated predictive models improve accuracy but require further validation. Conclusions: Growth response to rhGH in IGHD is multifactorial and could be individualized: early identification of suboptimal responders and personalized treatment strategies that integrate clinical, biochemical, and treatment-related data may optimize the final outcome. Future research studies should focus on validated predictive models incorporating genetic and molecular markers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early-phase clinical trials (EPCTs) focus on safety and preliminary efficacy, often assessed by RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours) tumour response. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is rarely evaluated in EPCTs and may not align with radiological outcomes. Methods: The PEARLER (Patient Experience in Early-Phase Cancer Clinical Trials) study evaluated the demographics, tumour response, HRQoL, and therapy type in two early-phase trial units in Australia between August 2023 and 2024. Patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline and follow-ups. The Global Health Status (GHS) score was selected as the primary HRQoL measure. Tumour response was assessed using RECIST 1.1. Spearman correlation and Kruskal–Wallis testing assessed the associations between RECIST, cross-sectional GHS change (ΔGHS; follow-up minus baseline), and therapy types. Multilevel models were used to evaluate longitudinal GHS values per RECIST category. Results: Of 122 patients recruited to the PEARLER study, 74 patients had paired RECIST and HRQoL data (complete response (CR) n = 0; partial response (PR) n = 15; stable disease (SD) n = 39; progressive disease (PD) n = 20). The median change in GHS was zero across RECIST groups, with broad individual variability. Notably, 18 of 54 patients (33.3%) with stable or responding disease experienced HRQoL decline. Meanwhile, 10 of 20 (50%) patients with PD experienced stable or improving HRQoL. The best RECIST response and ΔGHS showed a weak but statistically significant negative relationship (Spearman ρ = −0.28, p = 0.017), with the Kruskal–Wallis test demonstrating χ² = 6.20 (p = 0.045), indicating modest group differences driven by the deterioration in PD patients. The multilevel model demonstrated a lower GHS in patients with PD, with no statistically significant interaction of GHS change over time with the RECIST response (p = 0.226). Conclusions: HRQoL change is largely independent of radiologic tumour response and therapy type in EPCT participants. Patients experienced a HRQoL decline despite tumour response. Incorporating patient-reported outcomes alongside RECIST and safety outcomes is important to fully capture the impact of investigational therapies and guide patient-centred trial designs. Full article

Meltblown polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabrics are widely used in medical and daily protective facemasks. However, the incorporation of nanomaterials such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) into meltblown PP structures remains insufficiently investigated, particularly regarding the physical and thermophysiological comfort properties of facemask materials. This study investigated the weight, thickness, morphology, air permeability, water vapour permeability, and moisture management properties of meltblown PP nonwoven fabrics incorporated with different concentrations of nano-TiO₂. A commercial 3-ply meltblown PP facemask and laboratory-fabricated 3-ply facemasks containing 5% and 10% nano-TiO₂ were tested. The 3-ply with 10% nano-TiO₂ facemask showed increases in fabric weight and thickness of 58% and 64%, respectively, compared to the commercial facemask. The SEM and EDX confirmed the deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the fabric surfaces. In terms of comfort performance, the 10% nano-TiO₂ facemask demonstrated the highest air permeability with approximately 197.27 + 3.95 mm·s⁻¹, while water vapour permeability values for all samples were similar, ranging between 123 and 125 g·h⁻¹·m⁻². The moisture management tests exhibited a low liquid transport in all samples due to the hydrophobicity of polypropylene. Overall, the study shows the development of facemask material with enhanced structural properties and acceptable comfort performance. Full article

Fruit branch length in cotton is a key trait influencing plant architecture and suitability for mechanisation; elucidating its molecular regulatory mechanisms is crucial for breeding varieties with desirable plant architecture. In this study, an F₂ segregating population was established using the long-fruit-branch upland cotton line L16 and the short-fruit-branch line S14 as parents. By integrating morphological, cytological, and omics approaches, we systematically analysed the underlying mechanisms of variation in fruit branch length. Phenotypic analysis indicated that the inter-node elongation rate of the first fruit branch in L16 was significantly higher than that in S14. Tissue section observations revealed that the length of cortical parenchyma cells in L16 was significantly greater than that in S14, suggesting that the difference in fruit branch length primarily stems from variations in the extent of cortical parenchyma cell elongation. BSA-Seq analysis identified five QTL regions significantly associated with fruit branch length, encompassing 82 coding genes. Further RNA-Seq analysis of the fruit branch initiation stage (T0) and rapid elongation stage (T1) identified 3106 differentially expressed genes common to both stages. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to plant hormone signalling, the cytoskeleton, and microtubule organisation. By integrating BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq data, three candidate genes were screened that simultaneously harboured non-synonymous mutations and were significantly highly expressed in the short fruit branch line S14. Combined with bioinformatics analysis, GH_D02G0744 was predicted to be the most likely key candidate gene regulating cotton fruit branch length. This study provides important genetic resources to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of cotton fruit branch length and lays a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding to improve cotton plant architecture. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-ablative vaginal Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Er:YAG) laser therapy has been proposed as a minimally invasive option for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), yet objective anatomical data using standardized measures remain limited. This study evaluated short-term anatomical and functional outcomes in a real-world care setting. Methods: This prospective single-arm interventional cohort study included women with PFD who underwent two sessions of non-ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, first follow-up (FU1), and second follow-up (FU2). Anatomical changes were measured using POP-Q parameters, including vaginal hiatus (Gh), total vaginal length (TVL), and compartmental staging. Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed using the Oxford Scale. Non-parametric tests were used for repeated measures, and correlations between delivered laser energy and clinical outcomes were explored. Results: A total of 163 women were enrolled; 136 completed FU1 and 59 completed FU2. Median vaginal hiatus decreased significantly from baseline to FU1 and remained reduced at FU2 (p < 0.001). Improvements in anterior and posterior prolapse staging were observed, with a shift toward lower POP-Q stages at both follow-up visits. FSFI total scores did not change significantly across visits, although small changes were observed in specific domains, including a transient decrease in orgasms at FU1 (Δ = −0.2, p = 0.021) and a modest improvement in pain at FU2 (Δ = −0.4, p = 0.045). The magnitude of anatomical changes was modest, and their clinical relevance remains uncertain. Conclusions: Non-ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy was associated with short-term improvements in vaginal hiatus and POP-Q prolapse staging in women with PFD, while sexual function remained stable. These findings provide objective anatomical data on early treatment effects in routine care, informing future evaluation of minimally invasive care models for pelvic floor dysfunction. Full article

Cotton Verticillium wilt seriously threatens global cotton production, necessitating the development of resistant cultivars through molecular breeding. Members of the ethylene response factor (ERF) family function as pivotal transcriptional regulators of the ethylene signaling pathway, orchestrating plant defensive responses against pathogen invasion. Here, through comprehensive phenotypic and transcriptional analyses of lignin biosynthesis genes in AtERF49-overexpressing lines, loss-of-function mutants, dominant repressor plants, and GhERF49-silenced cotton plants (TRV-VIGS), we demonstrate that AtERF49 functions as a negative regulator of Verticillium wilt resistance. Overexpression of AtERF49 significantly compromised defense responses in Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas GhERF49 silencing enhanced cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. Transcription analysis showed that ERF49-mediated susceptibility correlates with suppression of lignin biosynthesis-related genes following pathogen challenge, suggesting that ERF49 interferes with inducible cell wall fortification. These findings elucidate a previously unrecognized negative regulatory node linking ethylene signaling to lignin-mediated disease resistance, providing promising biotechnological targets for engineering durable Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton and related crops. Full article

Objective: Clinical remission is a major therapeutic goal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because of its association with improved long-term outcomes. However, its relationship with patient-reported burden, quality of life, and disease perception remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with SLE in clinical remission, identify factors associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and assess physician–patient discordance in disease activity perception. Methods: A total of 106 adult patients with SLE in clinical remission according to the definition proposed by Zen et al. were enrolled at a single rheumatology center. Patients were classified into complete remission, clinical remission off corticosteroids, or clinical remission on corticosteroids. Demographic, clinical, and treatment-related data were collected, including organ damage (SLICC-SDI) and disease activity (SLEDAI-2K). Patients completed PRO measures including SF-36, Global Health (GH), pain VAS, STAI-Y1 and STAI-Y2, Zung Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and HAQ. Disease activity was assessed by both the patient (PGA) and the physician (PhGA); a PGA–PhGA difference >25 mm was considered clinically relevant discordance. Results: Among patients in clinical remission, mild anxiety was observed in 17.1% according to STAI-Y1 and in 27.9% according to STAI-Y2, mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms in 47.1%, and mild insomnia in 25.5%. Of the 106 patients, 24 (22.6%) were in complete remission, 27 (25.5%) in clinical remission off corticosteroids, and 55 (51.9%) in clinical remission on corticosteroids. Patients in clinical remission on corticosteroids showed worse patient-reported outcomes than those in complete remission or clinical remission off corticosteroids. In multivariable analyses, poorer physical HRQoL was independently associated with functional disability, pain intensity, and depressive symptoms, whereas poorer mental HRQoL was independently associated with trait and state anxiety. Clinically relevant physician–patient discordance was observed in 22.6% of the cohort and was almost exclusively driven by higher patient than physician scores. Pain intensity emerged as the most robust independent correlate of discordance. Conclusions: A substantial patient-reported burden may persist in patients with SLE despite clinical remission. Pain, psychological distress, insomnia, and functional disability contribute to impaired HRQoL, while physician–patient discordance appears to reflect a broader mismatch between inflammatory disease control and the patient’s lived experience of illness. These findings support a more comprehensive and patient-centered approach to remission assessment in SLE. Full article

The tensile and low-cycle fatigue properties of a Fe-Ni-based GH1059 superalloy were investigated at room temperature (RT, about 25 °C) in air and at 550 °C in high vacuum. The tensile curve at 550 °C indicated that dynamic strain aging in the material at high temperature. The fatigue life and stress-strain behavior were analyzed, and fatigue parameters were obtained. The fatigue life decreased with increasing temperature. The cyclic deformation behaviors were composed of three stages at RT: cyclic hardening, gradual cyclic softening, and final rapid rupture. The cyclic deformation behaviors at 550 °C were different: the second stage of specimen at 0.4% strain amplitude was cyclic hardening and the second stage of specimen at 0.9% strain amplitude was stress saturation. The difference is because of dynamic strain aging at high temperature. Based on the fatigue data, the changes of friction stress were analyzed, and the results reflected microstructural evolution associated with fatigue behavior. The microstructural evolution during fatigue process was observed using a scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. The changes in dislocation densities accounted for the effects of temperature and strain amplitude on the fatigue behavior of GH1059. Full article

Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is a promising green technology for high-speed milling of GH4169. However, the full-chain oil mist penetration mechanism remains unclear, limiting precise parameter regulation. Based on a cross-scale mechanism, this study develops a semi-empirical oil mist penetration efficiency model coupling four key parameters and conducts single-factor and orthogonal high-speed milling experiments to validate the model and analyze the regulation mechanism using milling force and surface roughness. The experimental results show relative deviations below 6%, demonstrating good model validity and robustness. The influence hierarchy is spindle speed > nozzle orientation > nozzle angle > nozzle distance. Spindle speed and nozzle orientation are strongly coupled dominant parameters with a “drive-adaptation” mechanism, while nozzle distance and nozzle angle are weakly coupled, only notable under extreme conditions. The optimal parameters obtained via BP neural network and NSGA-II are nozzle orientation −X, angle 22.43°, distance 14.96 mm, and spindle speed 16,581 rpm. Under this combination, minimum Surface Roughness Ra of 0.17 μm and milling force of 24.27 N are achieved, reducing surface roughness by 85.32% and milling force by 53.52% versus the worst condition and reducing roughness by 28.57% versus the baseline while maintaining milling force within a reasonable range. This study clarifies the physical mechanism of MQL oil mist penetration, extending conventional macroscopic parameter optimization. The proposed cross-scale framework offers theoretical and engineering guidance for MQL parameter design in green precision machining of nickel-based superalloys. Full article