Search Results (246)

Even though wheat’s response to nitrogen (N) is well studied, practical optimization remains challenging because yield and seed quality often react inconsistently across seasons. For winter wheat, the simultaneous quantification of efficiency indicators that capture N losses and diminishing returns is important. This study evaluated nitrogen (N) fertilization in two growing seasons. This study aimed to adjust N fertilization strategy through different combinations of granular N timing and foliar applications to improve winter wheat yield and technological seed quality while maintaining high fertilization efficiency. Field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023) using seven fertilization treatments (Control, TSE_1, TSE_2, TSEH_1, TSEH_2, TSEH_3, and TSH, which correspond to growth stage T—tillering stage; SE—stem elongation phase; H—heading stage) in the range of 140.5 to 194.5 kg ha⁻¹ N. Seed yield and seed quality traits (moisture, hectoliter weight, starch, protein, gluten, and sedimentation value) were measured, and treatment effects were evaluated with ANOVA, correlation, and regression analyses. In 2021/2022, no significant treatment effects were detected for yield or seed quality parameters, indicating that environmental variability dominated crop response. In contrast, in 2022/2023, seed yield, hectoliter weight, gluten content, and starch yield showed significant treatment effects (p ≤ 0.05–0.01), with fertilized variants generally outperforming the Control. Across both seasons, seed quality traits displayed strong internal structure: protein, gluten, and sedimentation were strongly positively correlated, while starch was strongly negatively correlated with these traits and the yield correlated positively with hectoliter weight but negatively with protein and gluten, highlighting a yield–quality trade-off. Importantly, partial factor productivity (PFP) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) showed the strongest treatment sensitivity, demonstrating their value for identifying efficient N strategies even when yield and quality responses were season-dependent. Regression analyses confirmed that seasonal conditions modulated nitrogen responsiveness, with NUE and starch yield showing much stronger relationships with nitrogen input in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, respectively. Full article

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a prevalent overuse injury among recreational cyclists worldwide. Despite its ubiquity, little is known about the lived experiences of people with PFP, especially in Saudi Arabia, where healthcare and cultural factors may have a specific impact on how the condition is managed. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of recreational cyclists with patellofemoral pain in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Method: A qualitative, descriptive design using reflexive thematic analysis was employed. Eleven male recreational cyclists aged 28–44 years diagnosed with PFP were purposely recruited from Al Madinah Physical Therapy Centre. Female participants were excluded due to cultural constraints regarding sports participation. The participants consented to participate in the study and to be audio recorded. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The interview data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using Atlas.ti, version 24. Results: The thematic analysis revealed six themes highlighting the multidimensional impact of PFP. The participants described localised mechanical impairment with rapid onset during activity and persistent symptoms lasting up to two weeks. Pain was exacerbated by eccentric loading and cycling-specific stressors, such as uphill riding, leading to significant anxiety and avoidance behaviours. To maintain activity, these cyclists employed adaptive strategies, including bike modifications and self-management. Notably, PFP imposed substantial cultural and social burdens, hindering spiritual practices, specifically Salah (prayer) postures, professional duties, and family caregiving. While the participants demonstrated resourcefulness through a hybrid of physiotherapy and independent research, pharmacological relief was viewed as a transient solution. Conclusions: Patellofemoral pain imposes significant multidimensional burdens on recreational cyclists in Al Madinah, which are exacerbated by cultural practices. Physiotherapy offers targeted interventions for pain relief, functional restoration, and participation enhancement, necessitating the need for culturally sensitive management programmes. Full article

Addressing the challenges of low resource-use efficiency and supply–demand mismatch in Hami melon production, this study investigated the interactive effects of irrigation and fertilization to identify an optimal regime that balances yield, water conservation, and resource-use efficiency (i.e., water use efficiency and fertilizer partial factor productivity). A greenhouse experiment was conducted in Hami, Xinjiang, employing a two-factor design with five irrigation levels (W1–W5: 60–100% of full irrigation) and three fertilization levels (F1–F3: 80–100% of standard rate), replicated three times. Growth parameters, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and partial factor productivity of fertilizer (PFP) were evaluated and comprehensively analyzed using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method, regression analysis, and the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm. Results demonstrated that irrigation volume was the dominant factor influencing growth and yield. The W4F3 treatment (90% irrigation with 100% fertilization) achieved the optimal outcome, yielding 75.74 t ha⁻¹—a 9.71% increase over the control—while simultaneously enhancing WUE and PFP. Both the entropy-weighted TOPSIS evaluation (C = 0.998) and regression analysis (optimal irrigation level at w = 0.79, ~90% of full irrigation) identified W4F3 as superior. NSGA-II optimization further validated this, generating Pareto-optimal solutions highly consistent with the experimental optimum. The model-predicted optimal regime for greenhouse Hami melon in Xinjiang is an irrigation amount of 3276 m³ ha⁻¹ and a fertilizer application rate of 814.8 kg ha⁻¹. This regime facilitates a 10% reduction in irrigation water and a 5% reduction in fertilizer input without compromising yield, alongside significantly improved resource-use efficiencies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of β-lactams (BL), BL/β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) combinations (BL/BLIc), and of fosfomycin may play a key role in optimizing antimicrobial therapy and in preventing resistance development, especially when used by continuous infusion in critically ill or immunocompromised patients. Unfortunately, analytical methods for simultaneously quantifying multiple BL/BLIc in plasma are still lacking. Methods: The aim of this study was to develop and validate two rapid, sensitive, and accurate UPLC–qTOF–MS/MS methods for the simultaneous quantification of five novel β-lactam or β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, cefiderocol, and ceftobiprole) along with fosfomycin. Methods: Human plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation using methanol containing isotopically labeled internal standards. Chromatographic separation was achieved within 10–12 min using two Agilent Poroshell columns (EC-C18 and PFP) under positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. The method was validated according to the EMA guidelines by assessing selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, matrix effects, extraction recovery, and stability. Results: The methods exhibited excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.998) across the calibration ranges for all of the analytes (1.56–500 µg/mL), with limits of quantification ranging from 1.56 to 15.62 µg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were always within ±15%. Extraction recovery always exceeded 92%, and the matrix effects were effectively corrected through isotopic internal standards. No carry-over or isobaric interferences were observed. All the analytes were stable for up to five days at 4 °C, but the BL and BL/BLIc stability was affected by multiple freeze–thaw cycles. Conclusions: These UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS multi-analyte methods enabled a simultaneous, reliable quantification in plasma of five novel beta-lactams and of fosfomycin. Robustness, high throughput, and sensitivity make these multi-methods feasible for real-time TDM, supporting personalized antimicrobial dosing and improved therapeutic outcomes in patients with severe or multidrug-resistant infections. Full article

A universal HPLC method with diode array detection was developed for the separation and determination of the lactone and acid forms of monacolin K in the presence of other active ingredients (vitamins B₁, B₆, B₁₂, and folic acid) found in selected dietary supplements. The method also enables the quantitative determination of citrinin in monacolin K. Chromatographic separation was performed on an ACE 5 C18-PFP column (250 × 4.6 mm) thermostated at 25 °C. The mobile phase consisted of 0.005 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.60) and acetonitrile under linear gradient elution conditions. Detection was carried out spectrophotometrically at 230 nm for monacolin K and 325 nm for citrinin. The total run time was 28 min. The method was validated and met the acceptance criteria for specificity, linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. Linearity was achieved over a broad concentration range: 12.48–37.44 μg·mL⁻¹ for MK and 3.48–5.22 μg·mL⁻¹ for CTN. The method is sufficiently sensitive, with LOD and LOQ values of 0.91–2.85 μg·mL⁻¹ and 2.18–3.48 μg·mL⁻¹ for MK and CTN, respectively. Good precision (RSD < 0.70%) and intermediate precision (RSD < 1.33%) were observed. The accuracy of the method, expressed as percentage recovery at three concentration levels, ranged from 98.73% to 100.64%. The analysis revealed that the monacolin K content in randomly selected dietary supplements did not comply with the manufacturer’s declaration in any case. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) on pain and function in individuals with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Search was performed across PubMed/Midline, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Springer, Cochrane CENTRAL, PEDro, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar from inception to January 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) examining PBM in individuals with PFPS were included. Data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment (RoB 2), and quality of evidence evaluation (GRADE) were performed independently by multiple reviewers. Primary and secondary outcomes were pain and function, respectively. A random effect meta-analysis was performed to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) at 95% confidence interval (CI) and overall effect size. Results: Eight trials (340 participants) met the inclusion criteria. PBM significantly reduced pain compared with the control (SMD = −0.83; 95% CI −1.40 to −0.27). Functional outcomes demonstrated a significant improvement favoring PBM (SMD = 0.68; 95% CI 0.08 to 1.27), although substantial heterogeneity was present (I² = 83%). RoB2 showed five high-risk studies. GRADE showed a very low quality of evidence due to study limitations, imprecision, and inconsistency which limit the confidence to the effect estimate. Conclusions: PBM, combined with exercise, provides improvements in pain and knee function in individuals with PFPS. While findings support PBM as an effective adjunct modality, standardized dosing protocols and larger, high-quality RCTs are needed to strengthen future clinical recommendations. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of water–fertilizer coupling on the water and fertilizer use efficiency, yield, and quality of fresh common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. For field water-saving, in 2022, six treatments were established, with irrigation rates of 100% FC (W1), 90% FC (W2), 80% FC (W3), 70% FC (W4), 60% FC (W5), and 50% FC (W6). Based on the experiment in 2022, a two-factor experiment (irrigation and fertilizer application rate) was implemented in 2023, and three fertilizer (N−P₂O₅−K₂O) gradients were established: F1 (260−192−255 kg/ha), F2 (195−144−192 kg/ha), and F3 (131−97−127 kg/ha). Based on 2022, three irrigation rates were established at percentages of FC: W7 (100% FC), W8 (80% FC), and W9 (60% FC). Experiments in both years revealed a quadratic relationship (parabola equation) between yield and the rates of both irrigation and fertilization. Excessive fertilization did not consistently enhance yield, and reduced fertilizer application resulted in higher fertilizer partial factor productivity (PFP). Both years of experiments indicated that maintaining soil moisture at 80%~90% field capacity (FC) significantly improved fresh pod yield and water use efficiency (WUE) compared to other treatments. Under the same fertilizer level, reduced irrigation increased key fresh pod quality indicators, such as single-pod weight and soluble sugar content. In contrast, across varying fertilizer rates, these same indicators showed a positive correlation with the amount of fertilizer applied. Vitamin C (VC), soluble protein (SP), soluble solids content (SSC), and nitrate content (NC) reached their highest levels under high fertilizer treatment (N−P₂O₅−K₂O: 260−192−255 kg/ha). Based on the differential comprehensive evaluation models, the study concluded that maintaining soil moisture at 80%~90% FC and applying fertilizer between N−P₂O₅−K₂O: 195−144−192 kg/ha and N−P₂O₅−K₂O: 260−192−255 kg/ha was the optimal strategy. This approach can alleviate the water scarcity pressure in high-latitude and high-altitude regions, and facilitate the selection of common bean management practices that maintain yield while improving quality and PFP, thereby offering theoretical and practical guidance for adapting water–fertilizer regimes to local climatic conditions. Full article

Introduction and Objectives: The thickness of the plantar fat pad (PFP) beneath the metatarsal heads may play a protective role in preventing forefoot disorders such as metatarsalgia. However, reference values for plantar adipose tissue thickness in this region among healthy individuals are currently unavailable. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine, by means of ultrasound imaging, the thickness of the PFP beneath the five metatarsal heads and to analyze its possible relationship with body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five young adults (17 males and 18 females) with neutral feet, free from deformities or pain, participated in the study. Using a VINNO E35 ultrasound device, the thickness of the PFP beneath each of the five metatarsal heads was quantified. A linear transducer was positioned longitudinally along the axis of each metatarsal. The distance between the dermis and the flexor tendon was measured from the second to the fifth metatarsal heads, and from the fibular sesamoid for the first metatarsal head. Results: The central forefoot showed the greatest PFP thickness (2nd metatarsal head, 7.1 ± 0.9 mm; 3rd metatarsal head, 6.9 ± 0.9 mm). No significant differences in PFP thickness were found between sexes. However, a positive correlation was observed between BMI and PFP thickness at the fourth metatarsal head (r = 0.358, p = 0.035). Conclusions: The study demonstrated greater PFP thickness beneath the second and third metatarsal heads, with no significant sex-related differences. These findings indicate a consistent anatomical pattern independent of sex in young, healthy individuals. Moreover, a moderate influence of BMI was identified at the fourth metatarsal head, which could represent a potential protective mechanism against forefoot overload. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study is to summarize recent evidence of the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in managing symptoms related to endometriosis and adenomyosis. Methods: The review protocol was registered previously (CRD42022236516). A systematic search was conducted in the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for studies published up to 23 July 2025 that reported the effects of any rehabilitation intervention in women diagnosed with endometriosis or adenomyosis. Risk of bias was assessed, and meta-analyses were performed. Results: A total of 970 studies were identified, of which 19 reports from 17 trials met the inclusion criteria. Approximately one-third of the trials focused on electrophysical agents, another third on exercise programs, and the remaining studies included manual therapy-based interventions—such as pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFP), or Swedish massage—as well as other modalities. Most trials assessed changes in pain, quality of life (QoL), and mental health, showing consistent improvements following intervention. Additional outcomes evaluated included lumbopelvic impairments, sexual function, and bone mineral density. Meta-analyses of eleven studies on pain and five on QoL revealed significant effects, favoring the intervention groups. Conclusions: This review highlights promising benefits of physical rehabilitation, particularly in patients with endometriosis. A range of approaches—including therapeutic exercise, electrophysical agents, and PFP—may contribute to improvements in endometriosis-related clinical outcomes, especially pain and QoL. Full article

The method of effectiveness-number of heat transfer units (ε-NTU) is adopted to establish a design indicator prediction model for plate fin precooler (PFP), and experimental verification is conducted. The average error between the experimental heat transfer capacity and the calculated heat transfer capacity is 4.65%, and the predicted mass matches the mass computed via the commercial software SolidWorks 2020. This outcome confirms the model’s reliability. An investigation is conducted into the influences of parametric factors, including hot stream flow length, cold stream flow length, hot side number of layers, and hot side fin pitch on the heat transfer capacity and mass of the PFP. To realize the maximization of heat transfer capacity and the minimization of mass, optimization is performed on the four sensitive configuration parameters by leveraging the multi-objective grey wolf optimizer (MOGWO). This optimization can significantly reduce the mass while ensuring the stability of the heat transfer capacity. Three classes of optimal configurations were derived from Pareto optimal points. Compared to the original structure, the selected schemes exhibit an average 2.95% rise in heat transfer capacity and a 10.7% reduction in mass. These findings show that the optimization method proposed in this study is effective and provides valuable guidance for precooler design. Full article

The present paper proposes a novel approach for the estimation of the in-cylinder pressure and heat release in diesel engines from basic testbed measurements (i.e., brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP360), peak firing pressure (PFP), crank angle at which 50% of fuel mass has burnt (MFB50) and exhaust gas temperature (T_exh). The method exploits a previously developed low-throughput combustion model, based on the accumulated fuel mass approach, which has been tuned by a genetic algorithm (GA) optimizer. The latter adjusts the main combustion model parameters to minimize an objective function, which depends on the prediction errors of BMEP, IMEP360, PFP, MFB50 and T_exh. Several scenarios were evaluated in which different subsets of the four previous quantities were assumed to be known from experimental activities. The proposed method is particularly useful when in-cylinder pressure traces are unavailable and only basic testbed data exist. The results show that the in-cylinder pressure and heat release profiles are estimated with a high level of accuracy, since the root mean squared error is of the order of 1–2.5 bar and 2–2.7 × 10⁻² kJ, respectively, depending on the considered scenario, while requiring a modest computational effort which is of the order of 3–6 min per test. Moreover, the low-throughput nature of the method makes it straightforward for other researchers to implement and reproduce results on different engines. The approach is also fuel-independent and can be applied to engines running on alternative/zero-carbon fuels, which are currently being extensively studied as potential ways to reduce the environmental impact of internal combustion engines. Full article

A field experiment was conducted on 16-year-old ‘Wen 185’ walnut trees in Aksu, Southern Xinjiang, to identify optimal water and fertilizer management under subsurface drip irrigation. Four irrigation levels were established: 75% ET_c (W1), 100% ET_c (W2), 125% ET_c (W3), and 150% ET_c (W4). These were combined with three fertilizer levels: N 270, P 240, K 300 kg ha⁻¹ (F1), N 360, P 320, K 400 kg ha⁻¹ (F2), and N 450, P 400, K 500 kg ha⁻¹ (F3). This resulted in a total of 12 treatments. This study assessed the impact of different water and fertilizer treatments on walnut growth dynamics, yield, fruit quality, water and fertilizer use efficiency, and soil nitrate residue. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to construct comprehensive growth and photosynthesis indices (CGI and CPI). Parameters significantly correlated with yield and quality were then screened via Pearson analysis, and a game theory-based combination weighting method was adopted to determine weights for integrating six categories of indicators: growth, photosynthesis, yield, quality, resource use efficiency, and environmental impact. A coupled TOPSIS-GRA model was developed for comprehensive evaluation. Furthermore, binary quadratic regression was employed to optimize the application ranges of water and fertilizer. The results showed that the W2F2 treatment achieved the highest rank by synergistically enhancing growth, photosynthetic performance, yield, and quality. This treatment also maintained high water use efficiency (WUE) and partial factor productivity of fertilizer (PFP) and effectively reduced nitrate accumulation in deep soil layers. The CGI and CPI, derived from PCA, effectively quantified phenological growth and photosynthetic characteristics. Correlation analysis identified seven core parameters, among which IV-CPI correlated most strongly with yield. In contrast, II-CPI was more closely associated with increased single-fruit weight and reduced tannin content. Within the comprehensive evaluation system that used game theory-based combination weighting, yield received the highest weight (0.215), while IV-CPI was assigned the lowest (0.011). The TOPSIS-GRA coupled model identified the W2F2 treatment as the highest-ranked. Furthermore, regression optimization determined the optimal total seasonal application ranges to be 5869.94–6519.81 m³ ha⁻¹ for irrigation and 975.54–1107.49 kg ha⁻¹ for fertilization. The coupled TOPSIS-GRA model enabled a balanced assessment of the objectives: high yield, superior quality, resource use efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Thus, it provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of subsurface drip-irrigated walnut orchards in Southern Xinjiang. Full article

Background and Objectives: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the most prevalent running-related injury due to underlying biomechanical factors, particularly among female runners. Although instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a popular therapeutic technique, the optimal application site for the short-and long-term outcomes of PFP has not been well established. This aim of this study was to compare the immediate and short-term (1-week) effects of a single IASTM treatment applied to the hip and knee versus the knee alone on running-related pain. Range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and functional performance were also assessed to compare change between the two treatment conditions. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight female runners with PFP were randomly assigned to either the Hip and Knee (HK) group (n = 14) or the knee-only (K) group (n = 14). The HK group received a 7-min IASTM treatment targeting the quadriceps, patella, iliotibial band (ITB), and gluteus medius, whereas the K group received a 3-min treatment targeting the quadriceps and patella. Visual analog scale (VAS), hip adduction ROM, hip abduction/external rotation strength, and step-down test scores were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 1 week later. Results: Running-related pain significantly decreased in both groups (main effect of time, p < 0.001) from baseline (HK: 5.49 ± 2.14 [95% CI: 4.78–6.68]; K: 5.30 ± 1.45 [95% CI: 4.69–5.91]) to week 1 (HK: 1.30 ± 1.08 [95%CI: 0.69–1.90]; K: 1.57 ± 1.20 [95%CI: 0.93–2.21]). However, no significant difference was found between the groups. Significant improvement was also observed in hip adduction ROM (p < 0.001), hip abduction strength (p = 0.02), step-down pain (p < 0.001), and patellofemoral function (p < 0.001) immediately after the intervention, which was sustained at the 1-week follow-up. However, no significant difference was found between the groups. Also, hip external rotation strength showed no significant change over time or between groups (p = 0.737). Conclusions: A single IASTM session effectively reduced pain and improved function in female runners with PFP. However, the hip treatment did not show a significant additional benefit compared with knee treatment alone. IASTM can provide immediate and short-term relief of pain and functional limitations. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of children with acute peripheral facial palsy (PFP) in a single medical center. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of children under 19 years of age treated for acute PFP between January 2009 and July 2023. A total of 109 patients were enrolled, and 7 patients showed recurrence. Of all the patients included, only 68 patients followed up for over 1 month (the follow-up cohort), in whom clinical outcomes were analyzed. The recovery period was calculated as the duration between the first day of facial palsy development and the last follow-up day on which the patient achieved a House–Brackmann (H–B) grade of I or II. Patients were categorized into two groups depending on the initial severity of their facial palsy using the H–B grade: “incomplete palsy”, defined as H–B grade ≤III; and “complete palsy”, defined as H–B grade ≥IV. Results: When comparing the group of patients which had recurrence (n = 7) and the group with no recurrence (n = 91), the age in the group with recurrence was younger (79.1 ± 29.9 vs. 143.8 ± 52.5, months, p = 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test). In the follow-up cohort, four (5.9%) patients continued to have mild facial palsy (H–B grade II). Age, the time lag between the onset of palsy and treatment initiation, the type of etiology and the use of antiviral agents were not associated with the recovery period. The initial severity of facial palsy was significantly associated with the recovery period (incomplete palsy group 26.7 ± 18.4 days, complete palsy group 75.1 ± 96.0 days, unstandardized regression coefficient = 50.5, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The outcome of acute PFP in children showed a good prognosis. The recurrence of PFP was observed in younger patients. An initial severity of “complete palsy” entailed a significantly longer recovery period. Full article

Passion fruit peel (PFP) is a common byproduct of industrial passion fruit processing, yet it serves as a valuable source of diverse bioactive compounds and nutrients. However, limited attention has been paid in the literature to the nutritional properties and practical applications of PFP. This review summarizes methods for extracting bioactive substances from PFP, examines their potential health benefits, and explores their prospects for utilization in the food industry. Recent studies have quantified various bioactive components, such as flavonoids, vitamins, and dietary fiber (DF), while reporting the corresponding extraction yields or concentrations. Furthermore, these compounds exhibit significant potential in promoting human health, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut health-improving effects. The analysis also highlights the bioavailability of bioactive constituents in PFP. Consequently, PFP presents a promising yet underexplored area for scientific research, though substantial challenges remain in optimizing its utilization, enhancing extraction efficiency, and advancing innovative applications. Full article