Search Results (2,480)

Seed dormancy is an important adaptive mechanism in plants. However, some seeds, such as those of Xanthoceras sorbifolium (a valuable economic and medicinal species), exhibit strong dormancy, resulting in a very low natural germination rate. This work investigated the mechanism by which low temperatures (LT: −20 °C storage for 60 days) release seed dormancy and promote germination. This was achieved by examining seed germination conditions, applying scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and measuring physiological indicators of seeds and the hormone levels. Targeted metabolomic analysis of sugar and fatty acid metabolism was also performed. The results were as follows: (1) A high germination rate of 47.3% was observed under LT condition, compared to 32.7% at room temperature (RT: 25 °C). Of four germination methods, direct GMS (germination in moist sand) was the most effective. (2) The two stages of VI (after storage) and VII (on the 7th day of germination) were key stages to breaking the seed dormancy and triggering germination. At both stages, the high integrity of the seed shells and kernels—particularly, the kernels—was observed using SEM. The activities of SOD, CAT, and POD, as well as the levels of IAA and IPA, and the ratios of IAA/ABA and (IAA + GA3 + ZR + IPA)/ABA (tHor/ABA) were found to be higher, especially in stage VII, where tHor/ABA increased by 62.7%, while ABA decreased by 23.2% in the LT treatment compared to the RT treatment. An optimal germination condition (GMS) created a suitable microenvironment, and this could have maintained highly active antioxidant enzymes and kept H₂O₂ (one of reactive oxygen species, or ROS) within signal transduction levels, and cross-talk to hormones. These changes (enzymes, hormones, ROS, and microenvironment) ensured the seeds reaching an optimal state for dormancy release in the VI stage, and facilitated the seed germination in the VII stage. (3) LT treatment promoted the degradation of starch and fats in the seeds. Significant accumulations of eight soluble sugars, such as glucose, D-fructose, and trehalose, as well as three fatty acids, such as Cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (C20-3n3) and γ-linolenic acid (C18-3n6), were observed, while two soluble sugars and one fatty acid decreased under LT conditions. In conclusion, low temperature, as an external signal, together with ROS and GA-ABA-IAA co-regulated the seed dormancy release and germination. The moist-sand microenvironment was also a key factor in awakening the embryos of X. sorbifolium seeds. Full article

Background/Objectives: Liver transplantation (LT) is life-saving, yet its long-term impact on quality of life (QoL) remains complex and incompletely characterized. A standardized, transplant-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for routine use in European LT recipients is currently lacking. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional survey assessed QoL among 794 adult LT recipients across 22 European countries using a purpose-built, 48-item transplant-specific questionnaire developed within the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Patient Inclusion Initiative. The instrument has not undergone psychometric validation and was used as an exploratory research survey. Respondents were grouped by time since LT (0–5, 6–12, and ≥13 years). Group comparisons used chi-square tests with Benjamini–Hochberg correction, followed by multivariable analyses adjusted for relevant sociodemographic factors. Results: Median time since LT was 6 years (IQR 3–12). After multiple-testing correction, alcohol consumption (q < 0.001), feeling that life is worth living (q = 0.029), and changes in social life (q = 0.029) differed between groups. In multivariable analysis, only alcohol consumption remained independently associated with time since LT, with progressively higher odds at 6–12 years (aOR 4.18, 95% CI 2.56–6.82) and ≥13 years (aOR 7.09, 95% CI 4.27–11.77) compared with 0–5 years. Physical health, emotional functioning, sexual health, satisfaction with care and medication adherence did not differ between groups. Conclusions: This large European survey provides hypothesis-generating information on self-reported well-being after LT. Alcohol consumption was the only outcome independently associated with time since transplantation. These findings support prospective studies using psychometrically validated patient-reported measures. Full article

Background/Objectives: Severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (SAH) is a complication of alcoholic liver disease associated with high mortality. Effective identification of factors predicting the course, outcome, and need for early liver transplantation (eLT) in patients with SAH is crucial. Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), a syndrome characterized by an acute decompensation of cirrhosis, failure of one or more organs, and high short-term mortality, can occur in SAH, and its impact on management, prognostication, and need for eLT should be clarified. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study of patients with SAH admitted to the ASST GOM Niguarda in Milan between April 2016 and May 2023. Results: One hundred patients were included. Median Maddrey’s discriminant function (MDF) was 72.1 (IQR 51.6–101.3), and the median model for end-stage liver disease—sodium (MELD-Na) score was 28.5 (IQR 25.0–32.5). At presentation, 57 patients (57%) had ACLF 0–1 (54 ACLF 0—no organ failure [OF] or single non-renal OF with serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dl and no hepatic encephalopathy; 3 ACLF 1—defined by the presence of at least renal failure or any other single OF if associated with renal dysfunction and/or grade I–II hepatic encephalopathy), and 43 patients (43%) had ACLF 2–3 (31 ACLF 2—defined by the presence of two OFs, 12 ACLF 3—defined by the presence of three or more OFs). In the latter group, circulatory failure was present in two (4.65%) and respiratory failure in three (6.98%). SAH was the only precipitating factor in 3 (100%) and 39 (90.7%) patients with ACLF 1 and ACLF 2–3, respectively, with infection being an associated factor in 5 (11.63%) and GI bleeding in 2 (4.65%) of subjects with ACLF 2–3. Non-response to medical treatment (MT) was significantly higher in patients with ACLF 2–3 (38/43, 88.4%) than in those with ACLF 0–1 (25/57, 43.8%). ACLF 2–3 was associated with a corresponding higher need for eLT (ACLF 2–3: 15/43, 34.9% vs. ACLF 0–1: 10/57, 17.54%%; p = 0.0474). ACLF status at presentation (ACLF 2–3 vs. ACLF 0–1) has a similar predictive accuracy of outcome (death or liver transplantation [LT]) to MELD-Na (as a 1-unit increase) (3.261 [1.999; 5.318], concordance index 0.702 vs. 1.154 [1.094; 1.217], concordance index 0.708). Conclusions: ACLF 2–3 is a frequent presentation of SAH, 43% of the cases. Given that most of these patients do not respond to MT (approximately 90%), fast-track evaluation for LT is advised for patients with a favorable psycho-social profile. Full article

T helper cells (Th) are central to mucosal IgA induction and key targets for modulation by vaccine adjuvants. To improve understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying mucosal vaccine-induced immunity, we analyzed antigen-specific peripheral blood Th responses elicited by the oral enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) vaccine ETVAX, administered with or without the double mutant heat-labile toxin (dmLT) adjuvant. ETVAX, consisting of inactivated E. coli overexpressing colonization factors CFA/I, CS3, CS5, and CS6 with a heat-labile toxin B-subunit toxoid, was given orally in two doses to adult volunteers, either alone or with 10 or 25 µg dmLT. Antigen-specific Th-associated cytokine responses were assessed in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 15 to 18 individuals/group using ELISA and electrochemiluminescence assays. ETVAX predominantly induced Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th17 (IL-17A) responses, with minimal Th2-associated cytokines. Responses were markedly reduced after CD4+ T-cell depletion, supporting a Th cell origin. The strongest responses targeted LTB and CS3, with IFN-γ responses detected in 60–80% and IL-17A in 40–60% across all vaccinees. Responses to CFA/I, CS5 and CS6 were generally weaker. Exploratory comparisons suggested broader IFN-γ responses and more consistent IFN-γ and IL-17A responses to lower-dose antigens, particularly CS6, in recipients receiving vaccine plus 10 µg dmLT. These trends paralleled IgA antibody-secreting cell response patterns, with significantly enhanced IgA responses to CS6 in the vaccine plus 10 µg dmLT group. In conclusion, ETVAX induces antigen-specific Th1- and Th17-type responses in peripheral blood, supporting a role for cellular immunity in mucosal responses to oral ETEC vaccines. Full article

Background/Objectives: Successful endodontic treatment depends on preserving sufficient radicular dentine to prevent perforations. Mandibular first molars present with complex root morphology and “danger zones,” especially of the mesial root. This study aimed to address the limited South African dentine thickness data. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 77 first mandibular molars obtained from 45 Black South African mandibular micro-CT scans. A novel software program developed for this study was used for the first time to generate automated orthogonal virtual sections and measurements at 0.1 mm intervals along the entire root length adapting to its curved axis. Statistical analyses were performed to assess variations according to root surface, root level, sex, side, and age. Results: Despite statistically significant effects of co-factors on dentine thickness, variations between left and right molars, sexes, or in relation to age were not significant. In both roots dentine thickness tapered toward the apex. Thinner dentinal walls were noted in the mesial root (on distal aspect 0.98 mm at furcation tapering to 0.28 mm at apex) than the distal. Up to the apical third, buccal and lingual surfaces remained significantly thicker (2.61 and 2.48 mm respectively at furcation tapering to 0.66 and 0.52 mm at the apex) than mesial and distal. Conclusions: Comprehensive three-dimensional data on mandibular first molar dentine thickness in a Black South African sample is provided. Dentine thickness was thinner than reported using micro-CT scans and a novel software program (Unity 2022.3 LTS, Unity Technologies, San Francisco, CA, USA), emphasizing the need for increased clinical caution. Findings should be cautiously applied and experimentally validated. Full article

Family-related factors play a fundamental role in students’ development. However, the relationship between family-related factors and the acquisition of Learning to Learn (LtL) competence in higher education remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the association between family-related factors and the development of LtL competence among undergraduate students enrolled in Education degree programmes at the University of Valencia (Spain). A sample of 723 students completed two validated questionnaires: one assessing family-related factors in university students’ learning and another assessing the acquisition and level of mastery of LtL competence. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between family structure, family dynamics, family support, and LtL competence. The final model demonstrated a satisfactory fit to the data and showed a strong, statistically significant positive association between Family Factors and LtL competence (γ = 0.71, p < 0.001), consistent with the hypothesised structural model. Family dynamics and family support made the greatest contributions to the Family Factors latent construct, whereas family structure showed a comparatively lower contribution. These findings highlight the relevance of considering the family as an ecological context associated with university students’ LtL competence and provide empirical support for incorporating family-related variables into research on this competence. Full article

Groundcover chrysanthemums exhibit inherently poor low-temperature adaptability, making them highly vulnerable to cold stress and thereby constraining their large-scale regional cultivation. Interspecific hybridization was conducted between diploid Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium (Fisch. ex Trautv.) Makino (pollen donor) and hexaploid cultivar Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat., cv. ‘Yannong Qiujin’ (seed parent) to generate cold-tolerant groundcover chrysanthemum germplasm. Comprehensive physiological profiling and integrated multi-omics analyses were performed on both parental plants and their hybrid progeny to identify candidate molecular pathways associated with cold adaptation in ploidy-divergent Chrysanthemum hybrids. Hybrid progeny exhibited significantly lower semi-lethal temperature (LT₅₀), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and relative electrical conductivity compared with the female parent, indicating heterosis-mediated enhancement of cellular membrane integrity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling identified significant enrichment of glycerophospholipid metabolism in the hybrid progeny. Upregulated expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) genes promoted substantial accumulation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and phosphatidic acid (PA). We found that higher expression levels of GPAT and LPAAT were positively associated with increased accumulation of LPA and PA. PA further contributes to phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis, potentially improving plasma-membrane permeability and sustaining plasma membrane integrity under chilling stress. Meanwhile, transcript abundance of the inducer of CBF expression (ICE), cold-regulated (COR) genes were markedly elevated. This study identifies candidate molecular pathways underlying cold adaptation in hybrid progeny derived from ploidy-divergent Chrysanthemum, thereby providing a robust theoretical foundation for breeding novel cold-tolerant chrysanthemum cultivars. Full article

Strong and optically conspicuous frontal boundaries are common in the river-dominated Louisiana–Texas Shelf (LTS). Variable wind stress forcing along cross-shelf density gradients results in convergences/divergences that may lead to rapid vertical water mass displacements. In cases where near-bottom shelf waters are displaced to the surface, the associated optical anomaly is often distinct in satellite ocean color data. A satellite-observed optical feature consistent with near-bottom-water ventilation is examined over the LTS with multiple satellite-based ocean color radiometers (OLCI, VIIRS), as well as data from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on the geostationary GOES-R platform. In the aftermath of an atmospheric cold front passage and sustained northerly winds, the combined satellite analysis reveals a rapidly westward moving optical front delineated by a sharp visible-band reflectivity gradient. Ocean model simulations reproduce a qualitatively similar displacement of surface density fields that is consistent with advection by the along-front current with a potentially modulating influence from the diurnal heating. This study serves as an example of the kind of analyses that may be possible from future geostationary ocean color missions. Full article

It is of utmost importance to investigate the effect of carbon-based nanostructures on plants in order to fully unlock their potential for enhancing productivity and stress tolerance. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of the effect of pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds with fullerenol (PHF [C₆₀(OH)₂₄], 0.1 mg/L) solution on a number of physiological and biochemical parameters in seedlings under optimal and low temperature (LT, 4 °C, 5 days) conditions was carried out. Seedlings primed with PHF differed from control variant in accelerated growth (by 27–34%), increased biomass (by 10%), larger area of chloroplasts and mesophyll cells (by 40%), more intensive photosynthesis (1.5-fold higher), increased content of chlorophyll a (by 11%), proteins (by 28%) and ascorbic acid, reduced level of MDA and H₂O₂, decreased SOD activity (by 45%) and a higher level of COR-genes (WCOR15, WCOR726) transcription (p < 0.05). Under LT conditions, PHF nanopriming enhanced photosynthesis intensity by increasing chloroplast area, content of chlorophyll b (by 22%) and proportion of chlorophyll in LHC (by 11%), as well as increasing the expression of RBCS (fourfold higher), content of proline, and COR-gene expression (p < 0.05). All these changes are adaptive and expand the adaptive potential of plants. It is concluded that nanopriming with PHF is an active metabolic modulator that reduces ROS generation and enhances cold acclimation of wheat. Full article

Background: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) is characterized by persistent autoimmune activity and increased oxidative stress, which may contribute to thyroid follicular injury and disease progression. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown potential beneficial effects on thyroid function and autoimmunity; however, its independent effect on systemic antioxidant status, particularly serum glutathione (GSH), has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thyroid-directed PBM on serum GSH concentrations and thyroid-related outcomes in treatment-naïve euthyroid women with CAT. Methods: This prospective, non-randomized, open-label, parallel-group comparative interventional study included 50 treatment-naïve euthyroid women with CAT. Participants were allocated to receive either thyroid-directed transdermal PBM (n = 25) or selenium plus vitamin D supplementation (n = 25). The primary outcome was the change in serum GSH concentration. Secondary outcomes included changes in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg), thyroid volume, and anthropometric parameters. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0), after the intervention period (T1), and three months after intervention completion (T2). Results: A significant time × group interaction was observed for serum GSH concentrations (F = 19.101, p < 0.0001). Significant interactions were also observed for anti-TPO (F = 7.513, p = 0.001), anti-Tg (F = 7.389, p = 0.002), and thyroid volume (F = 13.081, p < 0.0001). In the PBM group, GSH increased from baseline to T1 and remained higher at T2, while TSH, anti-TPO, anti-Tg, and thyroid volume decreased, and FT3 and FT4 increased. No significant longitudinal changes in GSH or thyroid autoantibodies were observed in the supplementation group. No participant in the PBM group required levothyroxine (LT4) initiation during follow-up, whereas 24% of participants in the supplementation group initiated LT4 therapy at T1, with some requiring dose escalation by T2. Conclusions: Thyroid-directed PBM was associated with improved systemic GSH status and favorable changes in thyroid autoimmunity, thyroid function parameters, and thyroid volume compared with selenium plus vitamin D supplementation in treatment-naïve euthyroid women with CAT. These findings suggest that modulation of oxidative stress may represent one potential biological pathway underlying the observed effects of PBM. Larger randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required to confirm these findings and define the clinical role of PBM in autoimmune thyroid disease. Full article

Multi-tier hydroponic systems improve land use efficiency in protected strawberry production; however, shading in the lower cultivation tier can substantially limit plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality. This study evaluated whether supplemental LED lighting with different spectral compositions could compensate for lower-tier light deficiency in the strawberry ‘Seolhyang’. Plants were grown under an upper-tier control (UT-C), a lower-tier control (LT-C), and four lower-tier supplemental lighting treatments: blue (LT-B), red (LT-R), red + white (LT-RW), and red + white + far-red (LT-RWF). The lower tier received 6–8 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ less daily light integral (DLI) than the upper tier, whereas supplemental lighting increased DLI by approximately 6.5 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹. Among the tested spectra, LT-RW consistently produced the greatest improvements in vegetative growth, reproductive performance, fruit quality, and total yield. LT-RW increased total yield from 102.4 g·plant⁻¹ in LT-C to 359.1 g·plant⁻¹, corresponding to 65.6% of the UT-C yield, and achieved an estimated gross margin equivalent to 48.0% of the UT-C level, compared with 18.5% for LT-C. LT-RW also maintained a higher soluble solids content, SSC/TA ratio, fruit weight, and firmness than the other lower-tier treatments. LT-B showed the highest total sugar concentration on a dry-weight basis and the highest ellagic acid content, but these biochemical responses were not accompanied by comparable improvements in overall productivity or fresh fruit quality. LT-RWF showed intermediate performance, whereas LT-R provided only partial improvement. Principal component analysis further suggested that LT-RW produced the overall plant response most similar to that of UT-C. These findings demonstrate that red + white supplemental lighting is an effective strategy for improving lower-tier productivity, fruit quality, and estimated economic performance in multi-tier hydroponic strawberry production. Full article

In aquaculture, reduced water exchange helps constrain exogenous pathogen invasion, lower pumping costs, and improve management efficiency; nevertheless, its effects on the growth of cultured aquatic animals remain poorly characterized. This study compared two daily water-exchange rates (100% and 0%) to evaluate growth and associated intestinal responses in Babylonia areolata (ivory shell). Growth performance and intestinal enzyme activities were measured, while 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were used to characterize microbial composition and metabolite profiles. The low-water-exchange group exhibited significantly lower weight gain rate (WGR, p < 0.0001), specific growth rate (SGR, p < 0.0001), daily increments in shell length (DISL, p = 0.0060), and shell width (DISW, p = 0.0012). Intestinal total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD, p < 0.0001) and lipase (LIP, p = 0.0011) activities were also significantly lower. The relative abundances of Vibrio, Halodesulfovibrio, and Fusibacter were higher, whereas that of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was lower. Lipid-related metabolic pathways showed the most pronounced intestinal differences. Intestinal levels of prostaglandins (PGs), leukotrienes (LTs), and sphingosine (Sph) were significantly higher under low-water-exchange conditions. The relative abundance of Halodesulfovibrio correlated positively with PGs and LTs but negatively with lysophospholipids (Lpc) and T-SOD activity. The relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group correlated positively with LIP activity and was significantly associated with metabolites involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis. Overall, low-water-exchange conditions were associated with coordinated changes in growth, intestinal enzyme activities, microbial composition, and metabolite profiles, although the underlying mechanisms require functional validation. These findings provide new insights into intestinal microbiota–metabolite responses to low-water-exchange conditions and may guide future validation and intervention studies in RAS-based ivory shell culture. Full article

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), particularly Meloidogyne enterolobii, pose a severe threat to global agriculture, necessitating the development of sustainable and highly effective management alternatives. Herein, we report the rational design, physicochemical characterisation, and nematicidal evaluation of lemon oil-loaded ionic liquid nanoemulsions. Three distinct ionic liquids (ILs)—1,3-dimethylimidazolium acetate ([DMIM][OAc]), 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride ([DMIM][Cl]), and 1-methylimidazolium acetate ([MIM][OAc])—were integrated into oil-in-water nanoemulsions to assess their structural influence on formulation stability and bioactivity. The formulated ionic liquid nanoemulsions (IL-NEs) exhibited excellent colloidal properties, characterised by monodisperse nanometric droplets (18.13–24.42 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) < 0.4) and stable pH profiles with no visible phase separation over 120 days under the tested storage conditions. In vitro bioassays against M. enterolobii revealed a distinct structure–activity relationship (SAR) driven by the IL cation-anion composition, alongside strong concentration- and time-dependent efficacy. The [MIM][OAc]-based formulation demonstrated superior nematicidal performance, achieving the lowest terminal LC₅₀ (0.23% at 20 h) and the most rapid mortality kinetics (LT₅₀ of 7.63 h at 5.0%). Microscopic observations revealed marked morphological alterations, including internal structural damage and disruption of the integument. These findings unequivocally highlight the potential of structurally tunable IL-NEs as a potent, sustainable delivery platform for essential oil-based biopesticides in modern crop protection. Full article

The effect of Ti content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 1Cr10Co6MoVNbN steel was systematically investigated by comparing a low-Ti steel (LTS, 0.0066 wt.%) with a high-Ti steel (HTS, 0.02 wt.%). Increasing the Ti content was found to markedly alter the precipitate distribution and, consequently, the creep and high-temperature tensile behavior. In HTS, the higher Ti level promoted the preferential formation of (Ti,Nb)N inclusions during solidification; EDS analyses indicated that the matrix of HTS was substantially depleted of Nb, N, Mo, and V relative to LTS, consistent with this preferential nitride formation. In the tempered state, HTS exhibited larger NbC particles that were frequently attached to (Ti,Nb)N inclusions, whereas LTS contained finer, more uniformly dispersed NbC and abundant needle-like Cr₂N precipitates within martensitic laths. These microstructural differences correlated with a substantially higher 100 h creep strain in HTS compared with LTS at 550 °C and 325 MPa, and with a 550 °C tensile strength in HTS that fell below the aerospace standard requirement. Post-creep examination further revealed void formation around (Ti,Nb)N inclusions in HTS, suggesting that these inclusions act as stress concentrators that reduce the effective load-bearing area during creep. The results indicate that strict control of Ti content is essential in Nb–N-strengthened martensitic steels to avoid excessive (Ti,Nb)N formation and the associated degradation of high-temperature mechanical performance. Full article