Search Results (15,203)

Background: Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl-transferase (HQT) is an essential enzyme for chlorogenic acid (CGA) biosynthesis in plants. Multiple HQT-encoding genes potentially involved in CGA synthesis in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) have been predicted. However, the functions of these genes have not been verified. Methods: In this study, the gene IbHQT1 was isolated from the sweet potato cultivar ‘Nanshu-88’ and functionally characterized using transgenic technology. Results: IbHQT1 encodes a protein comprising 431 amino acids, with conserved HXXXD and DFGWG motifs characteristic of BAHD acyltransferase family members. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that IbHQT1 has a close evolutionary relationship with StHQT in Solanum tuberosum. According to qPCR data, IbHQT1 is highly expressed in young leaves, and its expression is affected by exogenous MeJA (100 µM), ABA (100 µM), GA₃ (50 µM), and SA (100 µM). Analyses of cis-acting regulatory elements indicated that the IbHQT1 promoter contains multiple elements responsive to MeJA, ABA, SA, GA₃, and light. In plants overexpressing IbHQT1, CGA contents in mature leaves and storage roots increased 1.30- to 1.44-fold and 1.28- to 1.43-fold, respectively. Conversely, in IbHQT1-RNAi lines, CGA contents in mature leaves and storage roots decreased by 16–38% and 18–40%, respectively. Conclusions: These findings indicate that IbHQT1 positively regulates CGA biosynthesis in sweet potato plants. Full article

Streptococcus agalactiae is a major cause of bovine mastitis, which affects the quality and yield of milk. The main strategy for controlling this pathogen on dairy farms is the use of antibiotics. This study investigated the clonality, serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, and presence of resistance and virulence genes in 46 S. agalactiae isolates obtained from raw bovine milk in northeastern Brazil. Capsular types were determined using multiplex PCR and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined using disc diffusion or the gradient strip method. Clonal diversity was evaluated via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eight isolates were sequenced using short- and long-read methods. There was high overall genetic diversity, whereas the resistance and virulence profiles were largely homogeneous within herds. Tetracycline and macrolide resistance was frequent and mediated by tetO and ermB and less frequently by tetM. Genome analysis demonstrated that resistance genes are present in mobile genetic elements that are also present in human isolates, and phylogenomic analyses identified ST-103 as the predominant and multi-host-adapted lineage, whereas ST-91 clustered with the bovine-adapted lineage. These findings expand the molecular epidemiology of S. agalactiae in dairy farms of a region in northeast Brazil and highlight the importance of surveillance strategies for guiding mastitis control and mitigating the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Full article

OsHKT1;1, a member of the high-affinity K⁺ transporter (HKT) family, plays a key role in Na⁺ homeostasis and salinity tolerance in rice. In our previous study, multiple potential OsHKT1;1 splicing variants were identified, as well as the full-length (FL) OsHKT1;1 transcript from the salt-tolerant rice Pokkali. However, most previous studies focused solely on the full-length protein, leaving the transport functions of splice variants largely unexamined. In this study, we focused on the splice variant OsHKT1;1-V2 and compared its function and gene expression with those of OsHKT1;1-FL. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that the 1st start codon of OsHKT1;1-V2 is functional to exhibit bidirectional currents in bath solutions containing NaCl. Unlike the Na⁺-selective feature of OsHKT1;1-FL, OsHKT1;1-V2 primarily mediated Cl⁻ transport with weak Na⁺ selectivity, which was supported by the higher Cl⁻ accumulation in OsHKT1;1-V2–expressing oocytes. Subcellular localization analyses using oocytes and Arabidopsis mesophyll cells indicated plasma membrane localization of OsHKT1;1-V2, similar to OsHKT1;1-FL. Functional assays using a yeast mutant further indicated that OsHKT1;1-FL, but not OsHKT1;1-V2, mediates Na⁺ uptake. The same OsHKT1;1 variants were identified in the japonica cultivar Nipponbare, and OsHKT1;1-V2 of the cultivar showed Cl⁻ transport properties similar to the one from Pokkali. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed higher abundance of OsHKT1;1-FL transcripts in Nipponbare than in Pokkali with markedly lower OsHKT1;1-V2 levels in Pokkali under salt stress. This study provides a new insight into HKT-mediated ion homeostasis under salinity stress. Full article

Biopolymer-based films have attracted increasing attention as sustainable and bioactive materials for wound management. Among them, chitosan (CTS) and starch (ST) blend represent promising candidate due to their natural origin, biodegradability, and intrinsic biological activity; however, their mechanical weakness and limited stability necessitate additional modification. This study reports the development and characterization of CTS-ST thin films crosslinked with dialdehyde alginate (ADA), synthesized via controlled oxidation. Two ADA variants differing in aldehyde group content were prepared to investigate the effect of crosslinking on the structural, physicochemical, and biological performance of the materials. The films were fabricated by blending 2% w/v CTS and ST in varying mass ratios (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75), followed by the addition of ADA (5% w/w) and glycerol (5% w/w) as a plasticizer. The mixtures were then cast onto plates and dried under ambient conditions. Comprehensive characterization included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, moisture content analysis, contact angle measurements, antioxidant activity assay, hemolysis testing, and cytotoxicity evaluation using human keratinocyte cells. The results demonstrated that both the ADA variant and CTS/ST ratio significantly influenced crosslinking efficiency, hydrophilicity, and antioxidant behavior. All samples exhibited non-hemolytic behavior and no significant cytotoxic effects, indicating their favorable biocompatibility. The combination of biostability, antioxidant ability, and absence of cytotoxic effects highlights the potential of ADA-crosslinking CTS/ST films for further development as wound dressing materials and other biomedical applications. Full article

Quantum technology, a critical 21st-century strategic frontier science, has been a key technological competition between China and the U.S. This study employs natural language processing (NLP) techniques and a technology analytical framework to analyze the quantum technology policies of both countries. While the U.S. emphasized free-market innovation and global technological leadership on quantum technology from 2018 to 2024, China prioritized government-led development and socioeconomic stability. Moreover, the Chinese government adopts a systematic top-down approach characterized by government planning and direct intervention. However, the U.S. fosters innovation through market mechanisms and industry-academia collaboration. U.S. policies have gradually shifted from pure technological innovation to national security considerations. On the other hand, China has moved from breakthrough research to industrial deployment and application. These policy differences reflect distinct political systems and governance models, which may also resonate with their respective cultural traditions and philosophical foundations. Our findings fill a critical gap in comparative quantum technology policy research, offering significant insights for policymakers, researchers, and international stakeholders. Full article

Background: Catheter ablation is a validated treatment for ventricular arrhythmias (VA), but conventional radiofrequency (RF) energy may cause collateral injury due to non-selective thermal damage. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), a non-thermal modality based on irreversible electroporation, offers myocardial tissue selectivity and enhanced safety. While PFA is widely adopted for atrial arrhythmias’ ablation, its application in the ventricles remains an evolving frontier. Methods: We report a single-center experience using the Centauri PFA system integrated with a focal, contact-force sensing irrigated catheter (Tacticath™ SE, Abbott Laboratories, St. Paul, MN, USA) in four consecutive patients with drug-refractory VA. Two patients presented with frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC) arising from the right and left ventricular outflow tract, respectively, while two had ischemic cardiomyopathy with recurrent scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT). All procedures were guided by high-density mapping using the EnSite X system (Abbott Laboratories, St. Paul, MN, USA). Procedural safety, acute efficacy, and early follow-up outcomes were assessed. Results: All ablations achieved acute procedural success without complications. In both PVC cases, PFA led to immediate and complete suppression of ectopy, with a ≥95% reduction in arrhythmic burden at 12- and 9-months follow-up, respectively. In the VT cases, the arrhythmogenic substrate was effectively modified, rendering the clinical VT non-inducible. ICD interrogation during a 9-month follow-up showed complete absence of recurrent sustained VT. No coronary spasm, atrioventricular block, pericardial effusion, or other adverse events occurred. Conclusions: In this initial experience, focal PFA using a contact-force sensing catheter appeared feasible and effective for both focal and scar-related VA. This system provides an intuitive workflow similar to RF ablation. While our data suggest a favourable safety profile, larger studies are required to definitively confirm safety margins near critical structures. Full article

Improving the thermal performance of building envelopes is an effective approach for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in cold and heating-dominated regions. This study presents an experimentally calibrated thermal–economic optimization of external wall insulation systems for residential buildings in Northwest China, using Xi’an as a representative cold–dry continental climate. A guarded hot-box apparatus was employed to measure the steady-state thermal transmittance (U-value) of multilayer wall assemblies incorporating expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and rock wool at different insulation thicknesses. The measured U-values were integrated into a dynamic building energy simulation model (DeST-h), and the simulated energy demand was subsequently evaluated through life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis to identify cost-optimal insulation configurations. The results indicate a nonlinear reduction in heating energy demand with increasing insulation thickness, with diminishing marginal returns beyond approximately 50 mm. Among the investigated materials, XPS exhibits the most favorable thermal–economic performance. For the climatic and economic conditions of Xi’an, a 50 mm XPS insulation layer minimizes total life-cycle cost while reducing annual building energy consumption by approximately 23–24% compared with the uninsulated reference case. This experimentally calibrated framework provides practical and policy-relevant guidance for insulation design and retrofit strategies in cold and dry regions. Full article

This study presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of an integrated fastening monitoring platform for vehicle ground equipment, aimed at supporting structural maintenance and operational safety. Rather than introducing a fundamentally new sensing principle, the work focuses on the system-level integration and verification of existing sensing, communication, and control technologies for reliable bolt loosening detection and torque-controlled pneumatic fastening. The proposed platform consists of a Smart Control Gateway (SCG), a Signal Transducer Socket (STS), and a Smart Washer Set (SWS), incorporating smart nuts and clamping-force sensing washers for M50 and M35 bolts. Sub-GHz wireless RF communication and wired RS-485 transmission are employed to provide scalable and robust connectivity among system components. The SCG hardware and firmware are fully implemented and verified, enabling continuous acquisition and transmission of fastening-state data. Experimental evaluations include functional verification, mechanical integration tests, and durability assessments. The smart washers demonstrate stable sensing performance over 100 assembly and disassembly cycles without observable degradation. The STS is validated through 200,000 impact cycles under intermittent loading conditions (3 s impact, 3 s pause), confirming its suitability for repeated industrial operation. Real-time data transmission tests verify the system’s capability to detect bolt loosening events induced by vibration or external interference. The results indicate that the proposed platform provides a practical and reliable solution for fastening-state monitoring in safety-relevant ground equipment. This work contributes validated engineering evidence for deploying integrated smart fastening systems in industrial maintenance applications and establishes a foundation for future studies on environmental robustness, false-alarm characterization, and real-time performance guarantees. Full article

Incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into early childhood education has been associated with children’s holistic development. STEM education not only enhances critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and other 21st-century skills but also contributes significantly to cognitive growth, emotional regulation, and social abilities. Within the early childhood context, the use of play and toys emerges as a natural and powerful medium for introducing STEM concepts in developmentally appropriate and engaging ways. Play and toys have a prominent role, and previous studies have provided strong evidence on their educational benefits. Toys enhanced with technological characteristics (Technology-Enhanced Toys—TETs), such as coding and interactive toys, are increasingly being viewed as cultural tools that mediate learning and nurture cognitive and collaborative skills among young learners. However, the impact TETs have on young children’s STEM learning remains largely unexplored. This qualitative observational study, grounded in a socio-cultural perspective, explored how 37 children aged 3 to 4 years in four early childhood settings in Greece exhibited STEM-related behaviours during free play with technology-enhanced toys. Data were collected through systematic video recordings and written observations over a three-month period that involved interacting with various TETs, such as Bee-Bot, Coko Robot, a remote-controlled dog, and others. Results indicate that playing with TETs enhanced problem-solving, computational thinking, and collaboration, thus affirming the positive influence of digital technology and the potential of TETs to enrich early STEM education. Implications for equity, the importance of teachers’ professional development in effectively integrating TETs into early childhood curricula and the need for further research will also be discussed. Full article

Background: Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in 400 live births. Although familial clustering supports a genetic contribution, the molecular basis of PE remains poorly defined. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on genetic variants associated with PE to guide future genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across all electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and arXiv, from inception to November 2025. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The search strategy utilized the terms “pectus excavatum”, “genetic variants”, “SNPs”, and “GWAS”, combined with Boolean operators. Eligible studies reported genetic associations, family-based analyses, or mechanistic investigations. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Results: No population-level GWAS of isolated PE was identified. Fourteen genetic loci were reported across diverse study designs, including family-based exome sequencing (REST, SMAD4, COL5A1, COL5A2), case reports (COL1A1, COL27A1, NF1, BICD2, PTPN11), candidate gene analyses (ACAN), mouse models (GPR126, GAL3ST4), and linkage analysis implicating chromosome 18q. These genes converge on four key biological pathways: extracellular matrix and collagen metabolism, TGF-β/BMP signaling, cartilage development, and transcriptional regulation. Importantly, none of the included studies reported SNP-level effect sizes, allele frequencies, or odds ratios, precluding construction of valid MR instruments. Conclusions: Current genetic evidence for PE is largely derived from rare variants and family-based studies, with no population-level GWAS available. This critical gap limits causal inference, underscoring the urgent need for large-scale international GWAS to identify common variants and clarify the genetic architecture of PE. Full article

This study analyzes the observed patterns of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) use by students in higher education through the lens of the sociotechnical systems (STS) theory, focusing on the academic subsystem. The empirical basis is a survey of 2083 students (3686 responses) from seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Central Africa. Based on these data, two proxy indicators are proposed: A₁, reflecting the overall academic use of Generative AI and A₂, characterizing the use of Generative AI in a research context. The results show that Generative AI is widely incorporated into students’ academic activities (A₁ = 79.06%), while research-oriented use remains less common (A₂ = 46.66%) and varies significantly across subsamples. A joint analysis of A₁ and A₂, visualized as a zoned space A₁–A₂, reveals different configurations of academic practices: from a predominance of routine educational use to a more pronounced focus on research tasks. Cross-country comparisons show that in certain contexts (e.g., Kazakhstan and one of the Ukrainian subsamples), Generative AI is more often used in a research context, while in other cases, its use remains predominantly educational and routine. In this sense, the results indicate that Generative AI is beginning to fulfill the role of an emerging student research assistant in students’ academic life: technology has already become a familiar tool for completing educational tasks, but its use in supporting research activities remains fragmented. The proposed model and proxy indicators allow us to describe and compare current configurations of Generative AI use in the academic subsystem. The obtained results provide a basis for further research aimed at a deeper understanding of the factors determining the inclusion of Generative AI in student research practice, as well as for the development of management approaches regarding its use in higher education. Full article

Respiratory infections represent one of the leading causes of pediatric consultations and hospitalizations in Chile, where rapid etiological identification is essential for clinical decision-making. We evaluated the impact of implementing the BIOFIRE^® SPOTFIRE^® Respiratory (R) Panel in the pediatric Emergency Department of a public referral hospital in Santiago, using a pre–post cross-sectional design comparing two winter periods (July 2023 vs. July 2024). Clinical records, laboratory data, and operational indicators were analyzed to assess changes in diagnostic yield, turnaround time, hospitalizations, discharges, supplementary test requests, and antimicrobial use. A total of 470 patients were included (224 in 2023; 246 in 2024). The etiological detection rate increased from 58.0% to 87.8% after the implementation of Spotfire^® (p < 0.0001), with marked increases in the identification of adenovirus, RSV, rhinovirus/enterovirus, and seasonal coronaviruses. Rapid molecular testing was associated with a significant rise in emergency department discharges (23.7% vs. 57.3%; p < 0.0001) and a reduction in hospitalizations (76.3% vs. 42.7%; p < 0.0001) and readmissions (9.2% vs. 0.5%; p < 0.0001). Requests for complete blood counts, chest X-rays, and antimicrobial prescriptions at discharge also decreased significantly. These effects persisted in key subgroups, including infants and children with comorbidities. In this high-demand winter setting, the BIOFIRE^® SPOTFIRE^® R Panel improved diagnostic performance and supported more efficient and targeted clinical management. Full article

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is a major pathogen threatening China’s poultry industry, causing severe economic losses, and clarifying its epidemiology is pivotal for disease control and flock purification. In this study, a total of 3215 chicken samples collected from 643 broiler farms across 15 provinces in China in 2024 were analyzed. PCR detected 14% positivity (450 samples), and 18 isolates obtained from these positive samples (4.0% isolation rate). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST, 7 housekeeping genes) and neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis (integrating 425 reference sequences from public databases) identified 13 distinct sequence types (STs), demonstrating considerable genetic diversity among circulating MS strains. Pathogenicity assessment of the five isolates revealed that the infected chickens exhibited varying degrees of infectious synovitis, while no respiratory signs were observed. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 10 commonly used antibiotics was conducted on the 18 strains, providing urgently needed guidance for rational drug use in the clinical treatment of both breeder and broiler flocks. This large-scale epidemiological study yields crucial insights into the current prevalence and genetic diversity of MS in China and lays a scientific foundation for formulating targeted prevention strategies and optimizing management practices. Full article

(1) Background: Advance-stage endometrial cancer is a rare disease that encompasses a heterogeneous group of patients. Primary surgery is the treatment of choice, while neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) seems to be an alternative option for inoperable frail patients. The aim of this study was to identify possible prognostic factors for advance-stage endometrial cancer patients. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with endometrial cancer that underwent surgery in the 1st Department of Obstetrics–Gynecology from 2012 to 2023. Patients with advance-stage disease (FIGO stage III–IV) were included, while those with incidental microscopic lymph node metastases after staging lymphadenectomy were excluded. (3) Results: The population of this study consisted of 89 women. Patients were obese, with moderate comorbidities and a median age of 64 years old. The majority of them (75.3%) had FIGO stage IIIC disease, while one-fourth (24.7%) presented with peritoneal metastases (FIGO stage IV). Most patients had endometrioid, high-grade tumors, with substantial lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and deep myometrial invasion. Complete gross resection was achieved in 92.1% of the patients. NACT was administrated in 14.6% of the population. Deep myometrial invasion and non-endometrioid histology were recognized as independent prognostic factors for worse PFS, but no association was found for OS. Concerning survival rates, the median progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival were 44 and 70 months, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Myometrial invasion and histological subtypes seem to affect the recurrence rate of advanced endometrial cancer patients. NACT could likely be an alternative for primarily inoperable and frail patients, but does not appear to alter survival rates. Full article

Klebsiella pneumoniae is commonly known to cause a vast range of community-acquired or nosocomial infections. The isolation of K. pneumoniae has also been noted in diseased food-producing animals, including swine. The main goals of this study were to document clinical manifestation of a septicaemia outbreak in suckling piglets due to K. pneumoniae ST25 and provide molecular characterisation of the isolates. For the purpose of this investigation, 13 dead suckling piglets with cyanosis were selected. All the isolates obtained from affected lungs were susceptible to apramycin, ceftiofur, gentamycin, neomycin, and spectinomycin, presented intermediate susceptibility to florfenicol, and were resistant to other tested antibiotics. Histopathological examination of lungs, kidneys, and livers revealed lesions typical of septicaemia. MLST analysis of the isolates demonstrated a complex metabolic profile of the bacteria with genes attributable to the hypervirulent phenotype. To the best of our knowledge, we documented the first outbreak of K. pneumoniae septicaemia in suckling piglets reared in Poland. Full article