Search Results (16)

Shoot branching, as an important architectural trait, influences the number of flower heads and the pattern of flowering in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.). However, the main genetic factors leading to extensive branching throughout the plant were not clearly understood. In this study, we analyzed branching inheritance and identified a significant locus using an F₂ population (n = 660) from a cross between the non-branched line 150A and the highly branched line PT326. The branching phenotypes varied from having no branches to complete plant branching, with segregation fitting a 3:1 ratio (χ² = 2.916, p > 0.05), suggesting that a single major gene controls this trait, with the non-branched phenotype being dominant. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and whole-genome resequencing, a strong and consistent signal was identified on chromosome 10 across three separate statistical analyses, pinpointing a primary candidate interval of approximately 3.40 Mb, named qBr10. Through the use of 10 developed Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers and recombinant screening, qBr10 was restricted to a 388.5 kb (Chr10:13,422,378–13,780,875). Analysis of this interval identified 21 genes, among which WRKY21 and MTB3 were prioritized as candidate genes for further functional validation. Our findings identified qBr10 as a strong candidate for cloning and offer closely associated markers to aid in marker-assisted improvement of branching and capitulum number in sunflower breeding. Full article

This study evaluated the influence of soil health in riparian and ecotone zones on water quality in four high-Andean rivers (Atillo, Ozogoche, Yasepan, and Cebadas) within the Cebadas River sub-basin, Ecuador. Soil and water samples were collected from 20 sites during three field campaigns (2022–2024). Soil properties included organic carbon concentration, soil organic carbon stock (SOC), bulk density, moisture, and potential microbial activity estimated through laboratory CO₂–C efflux. Water quality parameters were integrated into the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSF-WQI), and riparian condition was assessed using the QBR-And index. Multivariate statistical approaches, including Random Forest and Classification and Regression Trees (CART), were used to identify the most influential predictors of ecosystem quality. Results revealed marked spatial contrasts. Riparian SOC stocks ranged from 22.8 to 32.8 Mg C/ha in the more disturbed Cebadas and Yasepan rivers to 91.4–133.6 Mg C/ha in the better-conserved Atillo and Ozogoche systems. Sites with higher SOC and lower bulk density consistently exhibited better water quality, with NSF-WQI values classified as “good”, whereas more degraded sites showed lower riparian quality and “fair” water quality. Riparian forest quality was strongly correlated with water quality (r = 0.81). Random Forest models identified ammoniacal nitrogen, fecal coliforms, and altitude as the most influential predictors of riparian ecosystem condition. These findings demonstrate that soil health and riparian integrity are tightly linked to water quality patterns in high-Andean fluvial systems and support their integration into ecosystem-based watershed management. Full article

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) can restore motor function; however, achieving precise multi-joint control remains challenging due to nonlinear muscle dynamics and fatigue. Reinforcement Learning (RL) offers a promising solution, but practical deployment is hindered by the need for patient-specific calibration. This study investigates offline RL approaches for controlling planar arm movements using heterogeneous datasets, aiming to enable zero-shot transfer to new users. We develop a biomechanical arm model in MuJoCo and evaluate four RL algorithms coupled with three offline techniques: conservative Q learning (SAC-CQL and QBR-CQL), Randomized Ensemble (QBR-REM), and distributional RL (IQNBR). Across all conditions, IQNBR demonstrates robust learning and superior control performance, achieving an average RMSE of $3.8\pm 0.6$ cm, even when trained on mixed-quality data. These results highlight the potential of distributional RL as a base learning method to build generic FES controllers that can operate without exhaustive calibration, with broader implications for controlling robots with human-like actuation systems. Full article

This study assessed the water quality and ecological integrity of the Columbe River micro-watershed in the Ecuadorian Andes through a multidimensional approach incorporating biotic, physicochemical, and structural indices. Indices such as the Andean Biotic Index (ABI), Biological Monitoring Working Party index adapted for Colombian conditions (BMWP-Col), Fluvial Habitat Index (IHF), Riparian Quality Index adapted for Andean conditions (QBR-And), and Water Quality Index (WQI) characterized environmental quality gradients and evaluated the impact of human activities across 11 monitoring sites. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified sampling sites into three groups: less polluted (LP), moderately polluted (MP), and highly polluted (HP). HP sites showed elevated levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity, alongside low biotic and structural scores, indicating advanced ecological degradation. Conversely, LP sites demonstrated greater ecological integrity, despite elevated BOD₅ and COD levels across the watershed, suggesting widespread diffuse contamination. The findings identify anthropogenic activities such as livestock, agriculture, and domestic discharges as major pressures on water quality and macroinvertebrate biodiversity. Significant correlations between physicochemical parameters—including BOD₅ and EC—and declining biotic indices underscore the link between chemical water degradation and ecological fragmentation. In this context, this study highlights the critical need for comprehensive management and restoration strategies to combat pollution, safeguard relatively pristine areas, and rehabilitate the ecological integrity and connectivity of high-altitude Andean aquatic ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure. Full article

With the endless growth of the population and development of the economy and living standards, a high yield with good grain quality has become the prime objective of breeding. However, lodging is a major factor leading to a significant decline in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and quality. We conducted genome-wide association analysis to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL)-related lodging resistance, using 395 temperate geng accessions. A total of 50 QTL affecting the six traits were detected, using 1,438,279 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Five important QTL clusters were detected affecting the lodging resistance-related traits. The ten candidate genes were detected by performing gene differential expression analysis and haplotype analysis. Among them, LOC_Os07g48570 (OsDof-23) for qLA7.2, qSA7.2 and qPR7.3, LOC_Os08g29110 (wp2) for qLA8 and qSA8, and LOC_Os11g36440 (MHZ5) for qPR11 and qBR11.1 were considered the most likely candidate genes based on functional annotations. The results may facilitate the breeding of rice varieties resistant to lodging, to overcome the adverse effects of climate change. Full article

Two bruchid species, Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis, are the most significant stored insect pests of tropical legume crops. Previously, we identified a major QTL, qBr6.1, controlling seed resistance to these bruchids in the cultivated zombi pea (Vigna vexillata) accession ‘TVNu 240’. In this study, we have narrowed down the qBr6.1 region and identified a candidate gene conferring this resistance. Fine mapping using F₂ and F_2:3 populations derived from a cross between TVNu 240 and TVNu 1623 (susceptible) revealed the existence of two tightly linked QTLs, designated qBr6.1-A and qBr6.1-B, within the qBr6.1. The QTLs qBr6.1-A and qBr6.1-B explained 37.46% and 10.63% of bruchid resistance variation, respectively. qBr6.1-A was mapped to a 28.24 kb region containing four genes, from which the gene VvTaXI encoding a xylanase inhibitor was selected as a candidate gene responsible for the resistance associated with the qBr6.1-A. Sequencing and sequence alignment of VvTaXI from TVNu 240 and TVNu 1623 revealed a 1-base-pair insertion/deletion and five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5′ UTR and 11 SNPs in the exon. Alignment of the VvTAXI protein sequences showed five amino acid changes between the TVNu 240 and TVNu 1623 sequences. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the VvTaXI encoding xylanase inhibitor is the candidate gene conferring bruchid resistance in the zombi pea accession TVNu 240. The gene VvTaXI will be useful for the molecular breeding of bruchid resistance in the zombi pea. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Martil River rehabilitation project and recently constructed dam infrastructures to reduce flood risks and to promote local socio-economic development on the ecological integrity of the river. The assessment focused on changes in fluvial landforms over time and the evaluation of aquatic ecosystems based on six physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand), morpho-hydrological variables (stream width, water depth, and current speed), habitat indices (QBR, IHF, and MQI), and macroinvertebrate assemblages of EPT, OCH, and Chironomidae (Diptera) at five stations from autumn 2015 to spring 2018 (prior to and during the rehabilitation actions). The results showed that the river rehabilitation project led to profound changes in Martil River’s ecosystem and water quality over time. Physicochemical and habitat measurements at the rehabilitated sites revealed a major change in macroinvertebrate communities due to changes in fluvial landforms in relation to flow-sediment regimes. As a result, some typical species of lentic habitats disappeared, while alien, opportunistic, and lotic species appeared. Full article

Urban streams are ecosystems of great ecological and hydrological importance for human environments. However, they face pressure on biodiversity, hydromorphology, and water quality. In this study, an urban riparian system of a Mediterranean city (Thessaloniki, Greece) which interacts with several land-use classes, namely forests, pastures, cultivations, industrial-commercial infrastructure, and light and dense urban fabric, is assessed. The analyzed data were collected by implementing mainly QBR and ancillary RMP protocols on 37 plots of the Dendropotamos stream. The QBR protocol provided an assessment of total riparian vegetation cover, cover structure and quality, as well as channel alterations. The RMP protocol was used to enhance the quantitative assessment of dominant tree and shrub cover. Parts of Dendropotamos surrounded by agricultural (median QBR score: 27.5), industrial (50), and dense residential areas (27.5) suffer, in general, from low riparian vegetation cover, bad vegetation structure and quality, the continuous presence of alien/introduced species, and channel alterations. A variety of riparian habitat conditions characterize the sparse residential areas (60) where cover structure and quality of vegetation is improved. The reduction in grazing pressure has improved the riparian habitat in the greatest part of Dendropotamos that is surrounded by semi-natural pastures (65). Within forested areas (85), the stream conditions are considered quasi-natural. All previous land uses are differentiated in terms of the dominant trees found in the vegetation of Dendropotamos: Platanus orientalis in forested areas, alien Ailanthus altissima mainly in residential and industrial areas, and native shrubs, e.g., Quercus coccifera and Pyrus spinosa, in pastures. The QBR protocol could be a valuable tool in urban environment planning to help identify areas with potential for restoration, such as those with moderate residential pressure. Full article

Video streaming has become extremely widespread, especially with the growing number of users and the spread of mobile devices, along with the increase in the availability and diversity of multimedia applications and communication technologies. Real-time video communication requires awareness of the quality of experience (QoE) to provide customers with a satisfactory service, for example, in smart cities that use video surveillance systems. The quality of service (QoS) is dependent on network performance, which directly affects the QoE. However, reliance on traditional network infrastructure and routing protocols cannot assure QoS. The emergence of software defined networks (SDN) may eliminate current network limitations. Due to SDN’s global view and programmability characteristics, such capabilities could help in providing an automated QoS control and management. This paper introduces video streaming adaptive QoS-based routing and resource reservation (VQoSRR), which gives SDN networks the ability to meet video demands and enhance user experience over best effort networks, such as the ones required for video surveillance in smart cities. In order to implement QoS-based routing (QBR), we developed algorithms for calculating routing, installing routing paths in the forwarding devices, and shifting traffic to an alternative path when QoE is violated. As well, we used queuing mechanisms to allocate resources based on the QoE requirements of video streaming. Our results indicate that resource reservation mechanisms combined with QoS-based routing enable effective control over routes and resources. Our framework guarantees the video quality as well. This technique of using video streaming would improve the tools and applications used for smart cities such as surveillance systems for hospitals and civil defense organizations. Full article

Riparian zones play an important role in the ecological stability of rivers. In particular, the quality of the riparian vegetation is a significant component of the hydromorphological status. In Europe, the QBR index (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera) and the River Habitat Survey (RHS) are commonly used for the qualitative assessment of the riparian vegetation. In this study, we estimated the QBR index and the Riparian Quality index, which is derived from the RHS method, for 123 river reaches of the National Monitoring Network of Greece. Our field work included the completion of RHS and QBR protocols, as well as the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The aim of this study is to assess the riparian vegetation status and to identify linkages with the dominant land uses within the catchment. Correlation analysis was used to identify the relationships between hydromorphological alterations and the degradation of the riparian vegetation, as well as their connection to land uses in the catchment area. Our results highlighted severe modifications of the riparian vegetation for the majority of the studied reaches. We also showed a differentiation of the QBR with respect to changes in the altitude and the land uses in the catchment area. Overall QBR reflects the variation in the riparian vegetation quality better than RQI. Our findings constitute an assessment of the status of the riparian zones in Greek rivers and set the basis for further research for the development of new and effective tools for a rapid quality assessment of the riparian zones. Full article

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new coronavirus causing a worldwide pandemic. It is infecting respiratory organs and, in more severe cases, the lungs, where it is infecting the human cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In severe cases, it is characterized not only by difficulties in breathing through infected lungs, but also with disproportionally and, thus far, unexplained low levels of oxygen in the blood. Here, we propose that, besides the infection of respiratory organs through ACE2 receptors, there is an additional infection in the red blood cells (erythrocytes). There could be a possible for SARS-CoV-2 to pass through the alveoli membrane in the lungs and infect the red blood cells through another receptor. Using our own biophysical model, the Resonant Recognition Model, we propose that the red blood cell (RBC) Band3 protein on the surface of red blood cells is a possible entry point for the SARS-CoV-2 virus into red blood cells. Full article

Rice is generally consumed in the form of milled rice. The yield of total milled rice and head mill rice is affected by both the paddy rice yield and milling efficiency. In this study, three recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations and one F_4:5 population derived from a residual heterozygous (RH) plant were used to determine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting milling yield of rice. Seven traits were analyzed, including recovery of brown rice (BR), milled rice (MR) and head rice (HR); grain yield (GY); and the yield of brown rice (BRY), milled rice (MRY) and head rice (HRY). A total of 77 QTLs distributed on 35 regions was detected in the three RIL populations. Four regions, where qBR5, qBR7, qBR10, and qBR12 were located, were validated in the RH-derived F_4:5 population. In the three RIL populations, all the 11 QTLs for GY detected were accompanied with QTLs for two or all the three milling yield traits. Not only the allele direction for milling yield traits was unchanged, but also the effects were consistent with GY. In the RH-derived F_4:5 population, regions controlling GY also affected all three milling yield traits. Results indicated that variations of BRY and MRY were mainly ascribed to GY, but HRY was determined by both GY and HR. Results also showed that the regions covering GW5–Chalk5 and Wx loci had major effects on milling quality and milling yield of rice. These two regions, which have been known to affect multiple traits determining grain quality and yield of rice, provide good candidates for milled yield improvement. Full article

Branch number is one of the main factors affecting the yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.)). In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study combined with linkage analysis for the identification of a candidate gene controlling soybean branching. Five quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were associated with branch numbers in a soybean core collection. Among these QTNs, a linkage disequilibrium (LD) block qtnBR6-1 spanning 20 genes was found to overlap a previously identified major quantitative trait locus qBR6-1. To validate and narrow down qtnBR6-1, we developed a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) harboring high-branching (HB) and low-branching (LB) alleles of qBR6-1, with 99.96% isogenicity and different branch numbers. A cluster of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) segregating between NIL-HB and NIL-LB was located within the qtnBR6-1 LD block. Among the five genes showing differential expression between NIL-HB and NIL-LB, BRANCHED1 (BRC1; Glyma.06G210600) was down-regulated in the shoot apex of NIL-HB, and one missense mutation and two SNPs upstream of BRC1 were associated with branch numbers in 59 additional soybean accessions. BRC1 encodes TEOSINTE-BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS 1 and 2 transcription factor and functions as a regulatory repressor of branching. On the basis of these results, we propose BRC1 as a candidate gene for branching in soybean. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to assess the hydromorphological status of watercourses above and below the hydropower plants. To this end, four methods were selected which represent various groups of methods used in various member states of the EU. Particular focus was on the RHS method (assessment of the physical habitats—the method used in Poland). The following methods were also used: LAWA (assessment of physical habitats, Germany), QBR (assessment of bank habitats, Spain), and HEM (comprehensive morphological assessment, the Czech Republic). For each of these methods, appropriate hydromorphological status indicators were calculated (assessment on a five grade scale). The analysis revealed that despite the different assumptions, the methods lead to similar results and can be used in various countries, especially in Europe. Because of the broad spectrum of space and time data used in the analysis, the results of HEM are the most reliable; however, this method is also the most difficult to use. All the methods meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, which calls for rational water management. Based on the hydromorphological assessment, the results obtained helped us to evaluate the environmental changes on the river sections above and below the hydropower plants. Full article

When a second-order transition point is decreased to zero temperature, a continuous quantum phase transition between different ground states is realized at a quantum critical point (QCP). A recently synthesized organic charge-transfer complex, TTF-2,5-QBr ${}_2$ I ${}_2$ , provides a platform for the exploration of the quantum phenomena that accompany a ferroelectric QCP. Here, we summarize the recent results showing the quantum phenomena associated with the ferroelectric QCP in TTF-2,5-QBr ${}_2$ I ${}_2$ . Whereas the enhanced quantum fluctuations lead to quantitative changes in the critical exponents of the critical phenomena, they qualitatively change the nature of the domain-wall kinetics from thermally activated motion to temperature-independent tunneling motion. The present findings highlight the great influence of quantum fluctuations on the low-temperature physical properties and suggest that TTF-2,5-QBr ${}_2$ I ${}_2$ is a model system for the uniaxial ferroelectric QCP. Full article