Search Results (445)

Introduction: Two-stage revision with an antibiotic-loaded, temporary static cement spacer is a common treatment for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee. However, limited data exists on in vivo antibiotic elution kinetics after spacer implantation. This pilot study uses the technique of microdialysis (MD) to collect intra-articular knee samples. The aim was to evaluate MD as an intra-articular sampling method to detect spacer-eluted antibiotics within 72 h after surgery and to determine whether they show specific elution kinetics. Methods: Ten patients (six male, four female; age median 71.5 years) undergoing two-stage revision for knee PJI were included. A MD catheter was inserted into the joint during explantation of the infected inlying implant and implantation of a custom-made static spacer coated with COPAL cement (0.5 g gentamicin (G) and 2 g vancomycin (V)). Over 72 h postoperatively, samples were collected and analyzed for spacer-eluted antibiotics, intravenously administered antibiotics (e.g., cefazolin and cefuroxime), metabolic markers (glucose and lactate), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Local and systemic levels were compared. Results: All catheters were positioned successfully and well tolerated for 72 h. Antibiotic concentrations in MD samples peaked within the first 24 h (G: median 9.55 µg/mL [95% CI: 0.4–17.36]; V: 37.57 µg/mL [95% CI: 3.26–81.6]) and decreased significantly over 72 h (for both p < 0.05, G: 4.27 µg/mL [95% CI: 2.26–7.2]; V: 9.69 µg/mL [95% CI: 3.86–24]). MD concentrations consistently exceeded blood levels (p < 0.05), while intravenously administered antibiotics showed higher blood concentrations. Glucose in MD samples decreased from 17.71 mg/dL to 0.89 mg/dL (p < 0.05). IL-6 and lactate concentrations showed no difference between MD and blood samples. Conclusions: Monitoring antibiotics eluted by a static spacer with intra-articular MD for 72 h is feasible. Gentamicin and vancomycin levels remained above the minimal inhibitory concentration. Differentiating infection from surgical response using metabolic and immunological markers remains challenging. Prolonged in vivo studies with MD are required to evaluate extended antibiotic release in two-stage exchanges. Full article

This study investigated the influence of cane diameter on vegetative, productive, and physiological behaviors in Actinidia chinensis, cv. Gold 3. Conducted over two years (2021–2022), the experiment compared canes with larger (HD) and smaller (LD) proximal diameters. This research focused on parameters such as shoot morphology, leaf gas exchange, fruit quality, and hydraulic resistance. The results revealed that HD canes promoted more vigorous growth, with a higher proportion of long and medium shoots, whereas LD canes resulted in shorter shoots. Additionally, the HD canes demonstrated a higher leaf area and more extensive leaf coverage, contributing to enhanced photosynthetic activity, as evidenced by enhanced gas exchange, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates. This higher photosynthetic efficiency in HD canes resulted in more rapid fruit growth, with a larger fruit size and weight, particularly in fruits from non-terminate shoots. By contrast, fruits on LD canes exhibited slower growth, particularly in terms of fresh weight and dry matter accumulation. Despite these differences, maturation indices, including soluble solids and acidity levels, were not significantly affected by cane type. The findings suggest that selecting HD canes during winter pruning could lead to earlier harvests, with improved fruit quality and productivity, making this practice beneficial for optimizing vineyard management in Actinidia chinensis. Full article

Pinus radiata D. Don is planted in South Central Chile on a wide range of sites using genetically improved genotypes for timber production. As drought events are expected to increase with ongoing climatic change, the variability in gas exchange, which could impact growth and water use, needs to be evaluated. In this study, we assessed the genotypic variability of leaf-level light-saturated photosynthesis (A_sat), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E), intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), and Chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP-test parameters) among 30 P. radiata genotypes (i.e., full-sib families) from third-cycle parents at age 6 years on three sites in Central Chile. We also evaluated tree height (HT), diameter at breast height (DBH), and stem index volume (VOL). Families were ranked for HT as top-15 and bottom-15. In the OJIP-test parameters we observed differences at the family level for the maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the probability that a photon trapped by the PSII reaction center enters the electron transport chain (ψ_Eo), and the potential for energy conservation from photons captured by PSII to the reduction in intersystem electron acceptors (PI_ABS). Fv/Fm, PI_ABS, and ψ_Eo ranged from 0.82 to 0.87, 45 to 95, and 0.57 to 0.64, respectively. Differences among families for growth and not for leaf-level physiology were detected. DBT, H, and VOL were higher in the top-15 families (12.6 cm, 8.4 m, and 0.10 m³, respectively) whereas A_sat, g_s, E, and iWUE were similar in both the top-15 and bottom-15 families (4.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, 0.023 mol m⁻² s⁻¹, 0.36 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹, and 185 μmol mol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively). However, no family by site interaction was detected for growth and leaf-level physiology. The results of this study suggest that highly improved genotypes of P. radiata have uniformity in leaf-level physiological rates, which could imply uniform water use at the stand-level. The family variation found in PI_ABS suggests that this parameter could be incorporated to select genotypes tolerant to environmentally stressful conditions. Full article

A recent high-throughput screening of the NatureBank marine extract library (7616 samples) identified an extract from the Australian marine sponge Agelas axifera with in vitro activity against an economically important parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus (barber’s pole worm). The bioassay-guided fractionation of the CH₂Cl₂/MeOH extract from A. axifera led to the purification of a new diterpene alkaloid, agelasine Z (1), together with two known compounds agelasine B (2) and oxoagelasine B (3). Brominated compounds (–)-mukanadin C (4) and 4-bromopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (5) were also isolated from neighbouring UV-active fractions. All compounds, together with agelasine D (6) from NatureBank’s pure compound library, were tested for in vitro anthelmintic activity against exsheathed third-stage (xL3s) and fourth-stage larvae (L4s) of H. contortus and young adult Caenorhabditis elegans. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 induced an abnormal “skinny” phenotype, while compounds 2 and 6 also reduced the motility of H. contortus L4s by 50.5% and 51.8% at 100 µM, respectively. The minimal activity of agelasines against C. elegans young adults suggests a possible species-specific mechanism warranting further investigation. For the first time, the unexpected lability of agelasine H-8′ was explored using kinetic studies, revealing rapid deuterium exchange in MeOH-d₄ at room temperature. Full article

In this research, an analysis of the thermomagnetic properties of a nanoscale spin-2 and spin-3/2 system is conducted. This system is modeled with as a quasi-spherical Ising-type nanoparticle with a diameter of 2 nm, in which atoms with spin-2 and spin-3/2 configured in body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices interact within their relevant nanostructures. To determine the thermomagnetic behaviors of the nanoparticle, numerical simulations using Monte Carlo techniques and thermal bath class algorithms are performed. The results exhibit the effects of exchange couplings ($J_1,J_2^{\prime }$), magnetocrystalline anisotropies ($D_{3/2}^{\prime },D_2^{\prime }$), and external magnetic fields ($h^{\prime }$) on the finite-temperature phase diagrams of magnetization ($M_T$), magnetic susceptibility (${\chi }_T$), and thermal energy ($k_B{T}^{\prime }$). The influences of the exchange, anisotropic, and external field parameters are clearly reflected in the compensation, hysteretic, and pseudocritical phenomena presented by the quasi-spherical nanoparticle. When the parameter reflecting ferromagnetic second-neighbor exchanges in the nanosphere ($J_2^{\prime }$) increases, for a given value of the external magnetic field, the compensation ($T_{comp}$) and pseudocritical ($T_{pc}$) temperatures increase. Similarly, in the ranges $0<J_2^{\prime }⩽4.5$ and $-15⩽h^{\prime }⩽15$ at a specific temperature, an increase in $J_2^{\prime }$ results in the appearance of exchange anisotropies (exchange bias) and and increased hysteresis loop areas in the nanomodel. Full article

Magnesium alloys are lightweight metals but suffer from high corrosion susceptibility due to their chemical reactivity, limiting their large-scale applications. To enhance corrosion resistance, this work combines Li–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with triethylenetetramine (TETA) inhibitors to form an efficient corrosion protection system. Electrochemical tests, SEM, FT-IR, XPS, and 3D depth-of-field microscopy were employed to evaluate TETA-modified Li–Al LDH coatings at varying concentrations. Among them, the Li–Al LDHs without the addition of a TETA corrosion inhibitor decreased significantly at |Z|_{0.01 Hz} after immersion for 4 h. However, the Li–Al LDHs coating of 23.5 mM TETA experienced a sudden drop at |Z|_{0.01 Hz} after holding for about 60 h, and the Li–Al LDHs coating of 70.5 mM TETA also experienced a sudden drop at |Z|_{0.01 Hz} after holding for about 132 h. By contrast, at the optimal concentration (47 mM), after 24 h of immersion, the maximum |Z|_{0.01 Hz} reached 7.56 × 10⁵ Ω∙cm²—three orders of magnitude higher than pure Li–Al LDH coated AZ31 (2.55 × 10² Ω∙cm²). After 300 h of immersion, the low-frequency impedance remained above 10⁵ Ω∙cm², demonstrating superior long-term protection. TETA modification significantly improved the durability of Li–Al LDHs coatings, addressing the short-term protection limitation of standalone Li–Al LDHs. Li–Al LDHs themselves have a layered structure and effectively capture corrosive Cl⁻ ions in the environment through ion exchange capacity, reducing the corrosion of the interface. Furthermore, TETA exhibits strong adsorption on Li–Al LDHs layers, particularly at coating defects, enabling rapid barrier formation. This inorganic–organic hybrid design achieves defect compensation and enhanced protective barriers. Full article

This research evaluates four hydrogen (H₂) production technologies via water electrolysis (WE): alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEME), anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEME), and solid oxide electrolysis (SOE). Two scoring and ranking methods, the MACBETH method and the Pugh decision matrix, are utilized for this evaluation. The scoring process employs nine decision criteria: capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX), operating efficiency (SOE), startup time (SuT), environmental impact (EI), technology readiness level (TRL), maintenance requirements (MRs), supply chain challenges (SCCs), and levelized cost of H₂ (LCOH). The MACBETH method involves pairwise technology comparisons for each decision criterion using seven qualitative judgment categories, which are converted into quantitative scores via M-MACBETH software (Version 3.2.0). The Pugh decision matrix benchmarks WE technologies using a baseline technology—SMR with CCS—and a three-point scoring scale (0 for the baseline, +1 for better, −1 for worse). Results from both methods indicate AWE as the leading H₂ production technology, which is followed by AEME, PEME, and SOE. AWE excels due to its lowest CAPEX and OPEX, highest TRL, and optimal operational efficiency (at ≈7 bars of pressure), which minimizes LCOH. AEME demonstrates balanced performance across the criteria. While PEME shows advantages in some areas, it requires improvements in others. SOE has the most areas needing enhancement. These insights can direct future R&D efforts toward the most promising H₂ production technologies to achieve the net-zero goal. Full article

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis; YFP) is the only freshwater cetacean species that remains in the Yangtze River, China. Poyang Lake is connected to the main stream of the Yangtze River, and the number of YFPs in Poyang Lake constitutes approximately half of the total species population. To implement effective conservation measures and formulate scientific genetic management strategies for the YFPs in Poyang Lake, we conducted population genetic analyses on 125 blood samples from the Poyang population and 46 tissue samples from the Anqing population, utilizing mitochondrial DNA D-loop and microsatellite loci. The genetic diversity analysis revealed two haplotypes in the Poyang population, with mitochondrial genetic diversity indices of Hd = 0.481 ± 0.020 and Pi = 0.00078 ± 0.00030. Microsatellite markers further demonstrated indices of Ho = 0.610 and He = 0.655. The genetic differentiation analysis indicated that the two populations exhibited moderate genetic differentiation (0.05 < Fst < 0.15). Upon excluding the dead samples from the Anqing population, the genetic differentiation between the two populations increased and the gene flow diminished. This indicated that certain dead samples from the Anqing population might have originated from Poyang Lake or had a background of Poyang Lake–Yangtze River migration and gene exchange. This finding was further corroborated by STRUCTURE analysis, which revealed genetic admixture between the two populations. We assessed the current genetic diversity of the Poyang population and its genetic differentiation from the Anqing population. This study provides fundamental data for formulating a conservation program for YFPs in Poyang Lake. Full article

The alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is a critically endangered species in China whose wild populations have precipitously declined due to habitat degradation and poaching. In response, China established the world’s first captive breeding facility for this species in 1990. Despite over three decades of closed breeding, the genetic consequences of long-term captivity remain unclear. Here, we present the first comprehensive assessment of mitochondrial genetic diversity in a captive population of 409 individuals, using three mitochondrial markers (D-loop, Cytb, and COI) and comparative data from wild conspecifics. Our results reveal a pronounced reduction in genetic diversity in the captive population compared to wild populations. Nucleotide diversity (π) and haplotype diversity (Hd) were consistently lower across all markers in captivity, with D-loop Hd = 0.639 and π = 0.01073. Further combined sequence analysis revealed a single dominant haplotype (Hap4) representing 56.99% of individuals, indicative of severe haplotype loss and homogenization. Although some haplotypes are shared with wild populations, captive populations exhibit strong genetic differentiation from wild populations, with the captive populations retaining only a limited fraction of the species’ maternal lineages. This pronounced genetic erosion driven by strong founder effects and genetic drift raises concerns about the viability and reintroduction success of this species. These findings highlight the inherent limitations of closed captive populations in preserving evolutionary potential and adaptive capacity. Our study emphasizes the urgent need for evidence-based genetic management, including founder augmentation and population exchange, to mitigate inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity. Full article

Urbanization, escalating agriculture, tourism, and industrial development in the Chiang Mai–Lamphun groundwater basin in northern Thailand have increased water demand, causing widespread groundwater extraction. Over the past few decades, there has been a rapid, unrecoverable steady drop in groundwater levels in several areas in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces. This study employed hydrogeological investigations, hydrometeorological data analyses, stable isotopic analysis (δ¹⁸O and δ²H), and groundwater flow modeling using a 3D groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) to quantify groundwater recharge and delineate important groundwater recharge zones within the basin. The results showed that floodplain deposits exhibited the highest recharge rate, 104.4 mm/y, due to their proximity to rivers and high infiltration capacity. In contrast, younger terrain deposits, covering the largest area of 1314 km², contributed the most to total recharge volume with an average recharge rate of 99.8 mm/y. Seven significant recharge zones within the basin, where annual recharge rates exceeded 105 mm/y (average recharge of the entire basin), were also delineated. Zone 4, covering parts of densely populated Muaeng Lamphun, Ban Thi, and Saraphi districts, had the largest area of 330 km² and a recharge rate of 130.2 mm/y. Zone 6, encompassing Wiang Nong Long, Bai Hong, and Pa Sang districts, exhibited the highest recharge rate of 134.6 mm/y but covered a smaller area of 67 km². Stable isotopic data verified that recent precipitation predominantly recharged shallow groundwater, with minimal evaporation or isotopic exchange. The basin-wide average recharge rate was 104 mm/y, reflecting the combined influence of geology, permeability, and spatial distribution. These findings provide critical insights for sustainable groundwater management in the region, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing water demand. Full article

Conventional micropropagation of cannabis struggles with excessive callus hyperhydration, slow growth, low rooting efficiency, and high contamination risk, all of which greatly restrict its feasibility for large-scale propagation. In contrast, photoautotrophic micropropagation (PAM) has emerged as an efficient and cost-effective propagation strategy that can significantly enhance plantlet growth and improve seedling quality by optimizing the LED lighting environment. This study investigated the effects of four light intensities (50, 100, 150, and 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and three photoperiods (16, 20, and 24 h d⁻¹) on the growth and rooting of two medicinal cannabis cultivars (the short-day cultivar ‘Charlotte’ and the day-neutral cultivar ‘Auto Charlotte’). Cluster analysis revealed that plantlets grown under the photoperiod of 20 h d⁻¹ and light intensity of 100–150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ exhibited optimal growth performance in terms of plant height, root length, leaf number, leaf area, biomass, and root activity. Moreover, increasing the light intensity from 50 to 100–150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ significantly enhanced net CO₂ exchange rates by 41.5% and 204.9% for Charlotte and Auto Charlotte, respectively, along with corresponding increases in dry matter accumulation of 44.3% and 27.9%. However, the plantlets exhibited photooxidative damage under continuous lighting and light intensity of 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, as evidenced by reduced photosynthetic pigment content and suppressed antioxidant enzyme activity. Therefore, PAM of medicinal cannabis is recommended under the LED lighting environment with light intensity of 100–150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and photoperiod of 20 h d⁻¹ to achieve optimal growth and rooting. These findings provide essential technical support for the large-scale propagation of vigorous, disease-free female plantlets with well-developed root systems and high genetic uniformity, thereby meeting the stringent quality standards for planting materials in the commercial cultivation of cannabis for medical and pharmaceutical use. Full article

Background/Objectives: Phosphate level is a critical factor in the health of dialysis patients, as it is linked to cardiovascular risk. In peritoneal dialysis (PD), phosphate removal is related to residual kidney function, dietary intervention, and the ability of the visceral peritoneum to transport phosphate. The role of dialysis prescriptions in phosphate management is not sufficiently enhanced. Standardizing a phosphate removal propensity marker could optimize the peritoneal dialytic program. Our preliminary report aims to evaluate a simple model of phosphate handling and to assess which marker during the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) could better describe the propensity of phosphate removal through the peritoneal membrane. Methods: We hypothesized a simple two-compartment model to describe phosphate removal driven by diffusion. We performed an explorer study on 10 PD patients to assess the reliability of the two-compartment model. In each patient, we evaluated the basal condition and performed a PET with 2 L of 3.86% glucose exchange to assess phosphate handling. We collected blood and peritoneal effluent samples at the beginning of the test (t0), after 1 h (t1), and after 4 h (t4). We proposed and examined the following biomarkers: the ratio between dialysis effluent phosphate and plasma at t4 (PHO-D/P4); the difference between dialysis effluent phosphate at t0 and t4 (PHOΔd0-d4); and phosphate permeability–area product at t4 (PHO-PxA4). Results: 9 men and one woman with a mean age of 58.7 ± 16.7 years and a mean dialysis vintage of 25 ± 18.3 months were enrolled. The PHO-D/P4 mean was 0.68 ± 0.18, the PHO-Δd0-d4 median was 0.89 mmol/L [0.7–1.19], and the PHO-PxA4 mean was 1.7 ± 0.85. PHO-D/P4was significantly related to creatinine D/P4 (beta 1.49, p < 0.001), PHO-Δd0-d4 was significantly influenced by plasma phosphate at t0 (beta 0.56, p < 0.001), and the PHO-PxA4 was significantly influenced by ultrafiltration (beta 0.003, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In our two-compartment model, we observed the independence of the PHO-D/P4marker, which could serve as a potential marker for standardizing phosphate handling. However, PHO-Δd0-d4 and PHO-PxA4 normalized by plasma phosphate at t0 and ultrafiltration rate were able to reserve a potential good performance as markers in phosphate handling standardization. Full article

A dysprosium-based metal–organic framework (MOF), namely [DyLH₂O]_n (1) (H₃L = 4-((bis(carboxymethyl) amino)methyl)benzoic acid), was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method. According to the structural characterization, metal centers in this complex are linked by four bridges (two oxygens and two carboxylic groups), leading to Dy₂ units. On further connection by single carboxylic groups, the dimeric units extend to form a two-dimensional layer with a 4⁴ topological structure. Finally, the 2D layers were assembled into a 3D framework by the L⁻³ anions. A thermogravimetric test shows that [DyLH₂O]_n can maintain high thermal stability after losing water, until the temperature reaches 426 °C. Magnetic studies on 1 reveal antiferromagnetic exchange interactions of Dy³⁺…Dy³⁺ at low temperatures. Additionally, frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals were observed in alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1, indicating that it has slow magnetic relaxation features. Full article

The integration of in vitro biological neural networks (BNNs) with robotic systems to explore their information processing and adaptive learning in practical tasks has gained significant attention in the fields of neuroscience and robotics. However, existing BNN-based robotic systems cannot perceive the visual environment due to the inefficiency of sensory information encoding methods. In this study, we propose a biomimetic visual information spatiotemporal encoding method based on improved delayed phase encoding. This method transforms high-dimensional images into a series of pulse sequences through convolution, temporal delay, alignment, and compression for BNN stimuli. We conduct three stages of unsupervised training on in vitro BNNs using high-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEAs) to validate the potential of the proposed encoding method for image recognition tasks. The neural activity is decoded via a logistic regression model. The experimental results show that the firing patterns of BNNs with different spatiotemporal stimuli are highly separable in the feature space. After the third training stage, the image recognition accuracy reaches 80.33% ± 7.94%, which is 13.64% higher than that of the first training stage. Meanwhile, the BNNs exhibit significant increases in the connection number, connection strength, and inter-module participation coefficient after unsupervised training. These results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly enhances the functional connectivity and cross-module information exchange in BNNs. Full article

This study investigated soil salinization processes in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan by comparing key soil parameters—namely, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions across different agro-climatic zones and soil types (Haplic Chernozems, Haplic Kastanozems). The focus was on understanding the effects of irrigation and natural factors on soil salinization. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and significance testing, was employed to evaluate differences between soil types, locations, and management practices. The research revealed secondary salinization (EC > 2 dS/m, ESP > 15%) in the topsoil of irrigated Haplic Kastanozems soils in the central Aksu district. This degradation was markedly higher than in non-irrigated plots or irrigated Haplic Chernozems in the northern Irtysh district, highlighting the high vulnerability of Haplic Kastanozems soils under current irrigation management given Aksu’s climatic conditions, which are characterized by high evaporative demand (driven by summer temperatures) and specific precipitation patterns that contribute to soil moisture deficits without irrigation. While ESP indicated sodicity, SAR values remained low. Natural factors, including potentially saline parent materials and likely shallow groundwater dynamics influenced by irrigation, appear to contribute to the observed patterns. The findings underscore the need for implementing optimized irrigation and drainage management, particularly in the Aksu district, potentially including water-saving techniques (e.g., drip irrigation) and selection of salt/sodicity-tolerant crops. A comprehensive approach integrating improved water management, agronomic practices, and potentially soil amendments is crucial for mitigating soil degradation and ensuring sustainable agriculture in the Pavlodar region. Further investigation including groundwater monitoring is recommended. Full article