Search Results (14,054)

Potential evaporation (PE) from saturated bare surfaces is the basis for estimating actual evaporation (E_s) in agricultural and related disciplines. Most models estimate PE using meteorological data. Thus, the dependence of soil temperature (T) on PE is often simplified in applications. To address this gap, we conducted an in situ lysimeter experiment in the Guanzhong Basin, China, continuously measuring PE, T, and soil heat flux (G) at high temporal resolution over three fully saturated sandy soils. Results show that annual PE over fine sand was 7.1% and 11.0% higher than that of coarse sand and gravel. The observed PE differences across textures can be quantitatively explained using the surface energy balance equation and a radiatively coupled Penman-Monteith equation, accounting for the dependence of T on net radiation (R_n) and G. In contrast, PE estimates diverged from observations when R_n and G were assumed to be independent of T. We further evaluated the influence of T and other influencing variables on PE. The random forest model identified that near-surface heat storage variations (∆S) contribute most significantly to PE estimation (relative importance = 0.37), followed by surface temperature (0.24) and sensible heat flux (0.23). These findings highlight the critical role of near-surface temperature in PE estimation. Full article

To understand the potential uses of strawberry leaves and their application in the industrial sector, it is important to study their metabolic and lignocellulosic profile. The objective of the study was to characterize the metabolic profile of strawberry leaves grown with biostimulants and to verify whether this by-product can be utilized as a matrix for bioethanol production. The eight treatments studied were the absence and presence of biostimulants, as follows: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Ascophyllum nodosum (AN), Trichoderma harzianum (TH), AMF + AN, AMF + TH, AN + TH, and AMF + AN + TH. Treatments were applied monthly, either manually (AMF) or with a micropipette (AN and TH), from June 2023 to March 2024. Hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis identified 11 metabolites in the leaves, including 5 amino acids, 4 organic acids, and 2 carbohydrates, which may be of industrial interest. The leaves were used for bioethanol production through saccharification with cellulolytic enzymes, followed by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in a total reducing sugar content of 21.12 g·L⁻¹. Alcoholic fermentation yielded 8.97 g·L⁻¹ of bioethanol in 12 h, which corresponds to 45.48 L·t⁻¹ of dry leaves. In conclusion, regardless of biostimulation, strawberry leaves are an important repository of metabolites that can be used as raw material in different processes. Additionally, the leaves are suitable as raw material for bioethanol production in a biorefinery concept. Full article

The prolonged retention of senescent branches and needles (canopy litter) in Cunninghamia lanceolata canopies is an evolutionary adaptation, yet its impacts on stand microenvironment and understory succession remain poorly quantified. To address this gap, we conducted a 5-year field experiment across six planting densities (1800, 2400, 3000, 3600, 4200, and 4800 trees·ha⁻¹), aiming to evaluate the effects of canopy litter removal on canopy structure, forest light environment, and understory biodiversity. Results demonstrated that leaf area index (LAI) and mean tilt angle of the leaf (MTA) significantly increased with density (p < 0.05), leading to marked reductions in photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and light transmittance (T). Canopy litter removal significantly reduced LAI across all densities after 4–5 years (p < 0.05) and consistently enhanced PPFD and transmittance (p < 0.01). MTA and light quality parameters (red:blue and red:far-red ratios) both exhibited variable responses to litter removal, driven by density and time interactions, with effects diminishing over time. Understory vegetation diversity exhibited pronounced temporal dynamics and density-dependent responses to canopy litter removal, with increases in species richness (S), Simpson diversity (D), and Shannon–Wiener diversity (H), while Pielou Evenness (J) responded more variably. The most notable increase in species richness occurred in the 4th year, when 21 new species were recorded, largely due to the expansion of light-demanding bamboos (e.g., Indocalamus tessellatus and Pleioblastus amarus), heliophilic grasses (e.g., Lophatherum gracile) and pioneer ferns (e.g., Pteris dispar and Microlepia hancei). Correlation analyses confirmed PPFD as a key positive driver of all diversity indices (p < 0.01), whereas LAI was significantly negatively correlated with PPFD, light transmittance, and understory diversity (p < 0.01). These findings demonstrate that strategic management of canopy litter incorporating stand density regulation can improve understory light availability, thereby facilitating heliophilic species recruitment and biodiversity enhancement in subtropical coniferous plantations. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize a novel, high-molecular-weight acyclic heterocyclic compound, compound 5, via a one-pot reaction between Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and ethanolamine, and evaluate its anticancer, antioxidant, and antifungal activities. Methods: Its complex tetrameric structure, assembled through N-N linkages, was unequivocally confirmed by a full suite of spectroscopic techniques including IR, ¹H & ¹³C NMR, ²D-NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF/MS). The MTT assay was used to assess the anticancer activity of compound 5 against four different human cancer cell lines. Results: The findings indicate that human colon (HT29) and ovarian (OVCAR3) cancer cells were sensitive to the treatment, whereas brain (glioblastoma) (T98G) cancer cells were resistant. The most pronounced cytotoxic effect was observed in pancreatic (MiaPaCa2) cancer cells. Notably, compound 5 exhibited potent antifungal properties, achieving 100% inhibition of the pathogenic water mould Saprolegnia parasitica zoospores at 100 µM after 10 min. Molecular docking studies corroborated the biological data, revealing a high binding affinity for key cancer and fungal targets (Thymidylate Synthase and CYP51), providing a strong mechanistic basis for its observed activities. Conclusions: These findings establish compound 5 as a promising dual-action agent with significant potential as both a targeted anticancer lead and an eco-friendly antifungal for applications in aquaculture. Full article

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common malignancy with poor prognosis, and exhausted T (TEX) cells, a subset of T cells characterized by progressive loss of effector functions, play a critical role in its progression. This study aimed to investigate the impact of TEX-related genes on immune function, prognosis, and drug sensitivity in GBM through multiomics analysis. Initially, we identified a novel set of TEX-related genes specific to GBM and screened hub genes (CCL5, IL18, CXCR6, FCER1G, TNFSF13B) using conventional statistical methods combined with machine learning. A prognostic risk model was subsequently constructed based on TCGA data and validated in the CGGA cohort. Single-cell and pharmacogenomic analyses revealed significant differences in tumor microenvironment composition and drug sensitivity between risk groups. Notably, Palbociclib emerged as a potential therapeutic agent targeting the novel discovered biomarker CCL5. RT-qPCR results showed that T cells with low CCL5 expression exhibited reduced expression of immune checkpoint-related genes (PD1, TIM3, LAG3) and increased expression of CD28, suggesting enhanced immune function. In conclusion, our findings highlight five hub genes as prognostic markers that could stratify GBM patients with different immune landscapes and levels of drug sensitivity. Furthermore, experimental results suggest that low CCL5 expression could alleviate T cell exhaustion and represent a promising therapeutic target, offering new strategies for improving GBM prognosis. Full article

The overuse of pesticides has raised serious food-safety and environmental concerns. Carbon dots (CDs) can act as biostimulants by enhancing photosynthesis, thereby promoting plant growth and stress tolerance. However, their roles in plant pesticide detoxification remain unclear. This study synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) with strong blue fluorescence, excellent biocompatibility, and no cytotoxicity observed in HEK 293T cells. The N-CDs were synthesized from 1.025 g citric acid and 0.379 g urea, producing particles with a size of around 2.42 nm and abundant hydrophilic groups. When applied to tomato plants, N-CDs (especially at 150 mg·L⁻¹) significantly reduced chlorothalonil (CHT) residues affecting tomato, by up to 66%. Importantly, N-CDs also improved tomato plant growth, reversing the negative effects of CHT on key parameters such as height, leaf area, and biomass. Indeed, under CHT conditions, N-CDs significantly reduced the contents of malondialdehyde, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, N-CDs significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase to 117.57%, 158.53%, 162.79%, and 152.23%, respectively. Notably, N-CDs dramatically changed the glutathione pool for tomato detoxification. Overall, this study synthesized the non-cytotoxic N-CDs that not only promote tomato growth but also alleviate CHT toxicity by strengthening the tomato’s antioxidant defense system. Full article

Coastal boulder deposits (CBDs) are important geomorphic indicators of extreme wave activity, yet integrated morphometric and hydrodynamic analyses remain limited along the Moroccan Atlantic coast. This study characterizes the morphology, spatial distribution, and transport thresholds of supratidal boulders at Oued Cherrat and Mansouria, and quantifies the wave energy required for their mobilization. Between 2021 and 2025, 85 boulders were surveyed, supported by lithological analyses, GPS mapping, and pre-/post-storm photographic documentation. At Oued Cherrat, boulders ranged from 0.01 to 3.56 m³ (≤7.84 t), with solitary blocks located 30–94 m inland and larger imbricated clasts up to 150.5 m. At Mansouria, dimensions reached 22 × 20 × 3.5 m (>2032 t), positioned 5–140 m from the shoreline. Storms in January and March 2025 displaced boulders up to 4.5 m at Oued Cherrat (e.g., 6.39 t) and up to 3 m at Mansouria (e.g., 21.42 t), with new blocks deposited and megaboulders showing slight in situ rotations. Hydrodynamic modelling estimated sliding thresholds of 1.1–4.0 m/s at Oued Cherrat and 2.7–11.0 m/s at Mansouria, while rolling thresholds reached 18.23 m/s. These values confirm the dependence of transport on boulder mass, imbrications, and topography. The findings demonstrate that extreme storms can rapidly reorganize multi-tonne CBDs, while the largest megaboulders require rare, exceptionally high-energy events. Full article

The unimolecular alkene elimination reaction class of fatty acid alkyl esters (FAAEs) is a crucial component in the low-temperature combustion mechanism for biodiesel fuels. However, thermo-kinetic parameters for this reaction class are scarce, particularly for the large-size molecules over four carbon atoms and intricate branched-chain configurations. Thermo-kinetic parameters are essential for constructing a reaction mechanism, which can be used to clarify the chemical nature of combustion for biodiesel fuels. In this paper, the B3LYP method, in conjunction with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set, is used to carry out geometry optimization of the species participating in the reactions. Frequency calculations are further executed at the same level of theory. Additionally, coupled with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set, the B3LYP method acts as the low-level ab initio approach, while the Gaussian-4 (G4) composite method serves as the high-level ab initio approach within the isodesmic reaction correction scheme. The CCSD(T) approach is employed to verify the consistency of the electronic energy ascertained through the G4 method. The isodesmic reaction method (IRM) is used to obtain the energy barriers and reaction enthalpies for unimolecular alkene elimination reaction class of FAAEs. Based on the reaction class transition state theory (RC-TST), high-pressure-limit rate coefficients were computed, with asymmetric Eckart tunneling corrections applied across 500~2000 K temperature range. Rate rules at the high-pressure-limit are obtained through the averaging of rate coefficients from a representative collection of reactions, which incorporate substituent groups and carbon chains with different sizes and lengths. Ultimately, the energy barriers, reaction enthalpies, and rate rules at the high-pressure-limit and kinetic parameters expressed as (A, n, E) are supplied for developing the low-temperature combustion mechanism of biodiesel fuels. Full article

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) depends on patients’ self-management abilities, supported by nursing interventions that extend beyond technical skills to include psychosocial and educational domains. Evidence from Saudi Arabia on how these behaviors relate to clinical and quality-of-life outcomes remains limited. Aim: To assess self-management behaviors among adult PD patients, examine their associations with clinical and quality-of-life outcomes, and explore the mediating role of emotional well-being, with implications for nursing practice. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 158 adult PD patients at King Saud University-affiliated centers in Riyadh. Validated Arabic versions of the Chronic Illness Self-Management Scale and KDQOL-SF were administered. Clinical indicators were extracted from medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, multivariate linear regression, and mediation analysis. Results: Technical skills achieved the highest self-management scores (mean 3.78 ± 0.62), while emotional coping was lowest (mean 2.71 ± 0.69). Participants with higher self-management had fewer hospitalizations (0.9 ± 0.5 vs. 1.6 ± 0.8, p = 0.01), higher serum albumin (3.60 ± 0.56 vs. 3.44 ± 0.61 g/dL, p = 0.04), and better emotional well-being (60.1 ± 14.9 vs. 55.3 ± 12.4, p = 0.03) than their counterparts. Educational level (β = 0.208, p = 0.001) and emotional well-being (β = 0.197, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of self-management, with partial mediation by emotional well-being (indirect β = 0.062, p = 0.004). Conclusions/Clinical Implications: Optimizing nursing support for PD patients requires moving beyond technical instruction to address health literacy, emotional resilience, and culturally sensitive education. Nurse-led interventions integrating psychosocial support with skill-building may enhance self-management, reduce hospitalizations, and improve quality of life in PD populations. Full article

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex chronic disease, with a prevalence that has reached alarming proportions in recent decades. In this study, we aimed to analyze the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with certain insulin resistance (IR) indicators, according to the gender of the participants enrolled in the PREDATORR study. Biomarkers such as the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index and its derivates, triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c), and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), as well as recent indicators, like cholesterol, HDL, the glucose (CHG) index and its derivates, CHG–body mass index (CHG-BMI), and CHG–waist circumference (CHG-WC), as well as its newly proposed derivates, such as CHG–waist-to-height ratio (CHG-WHtR), CHG–neck circumference (CHG-NC), and CHG–neck-to-height ratio (NHtRs were analyzed in 2080 subjects, divided into two groups, according to gender). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the relationships between IR indicators and T2DM. Regardless of gender, all the analyzed indicators presented statistically significantly higher values in T2DM (+) compared to T2DM (−). For both studied groups, CHG–WHtR had the largest AUROC curve: in males, the AUROC curve was 0.809, the cut-off value being 3.22, with a 70.7% sensitivity and 75.3% specificity; in females, the AUROC curve was 0.840, the cut-off value was 3.20, with a 79.3% sensitivity and 75.5% specificity, respectively. Regardless of gender, the age-adjusted model for multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that TyG and CHG were predictive factors for T2DM. Full article

Background and objectives: Large language models (LLMs) show promise in automating open-ended evaluation tasks, yet their reliability in rubric-based assessment remains uncertain. Variability in scoring, feedback, and rubric adherence raises concerns about transparency and pedagogical validity in educational contexts. This study introduces CourseEvalAI, a framework designed to enhance consistency and fidelity in rubric-guided evaluation by fine-tuning a general-purpose LLM with authentic university-level instructional content. Methods: The framework employs supervised fine-tuning with Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) on rubric-annotated answers and explanations drawn from undergraduate computer science exams. Responses generated by both the base and fine-tuned models were independently evaluated by two human raters and two LLM judges, applying dual-layer rubrics for answers (technical or argumentative) and explanations. Inter-rater reliability was reported as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(2,1)), Krippendorff’s α, and quadratic-weighted Cohen’s κ (QWK), and statistical analyses included Welch’s t tests with Holm–Bonferroni correction, Hedges’ g with bootstrap confidence intervals, and Levene’s tests. All responses, scores, feedback, and metadata were stored in a Neo4j graph database for structured exploration. Results: The fine-tuned model consistently outperformed the base version across all rubric dimensions, achieving higher scores for both answers and explanations. After multiple-testing correction, only the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT-4)—judged Technical Answer contrast remains statistically significant; other contrasts show positive trends without passing the adjusted threshold, and no additional significance is claimed for explanation-level results. Variance in scoring decreased, inter-model agreement increased, and evaluator feedback for fine-tuned outputs contained fewer vague or critical remarks, indicating stronger rubric alignment and greater pedagogical coherence. Inter-rater reliability analyses indicated moderate human–human agreement and weaker alignment of LLM judges to the human mean. Originality: CourseEvalAI integrates rubric-guided fine-tuning, dual-layer evaluation, and graph-based storage into a unified framework. This combination provides a replicable and interpretable methodology that enhances the consistency, transparency, and pedagogical value of LLM-based evaluators in higher education and beyond. Full article

Given the climate change observed in the past few decades, sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources are urgent. In this scenario, hydrogen production through electrolyzers is a promising renewable source and energy vector because of its ultralow greenhouse emissions and high energy content. Hydrogen can be used in a variety of applications, from transportation to electricity generation, contributing to the diversification of the energy matrix. In this context, this paper presents an autonomous isolated DC microgrid system for generating and storing electrical energy to be exclusively used for feeding an electrolyzer hydrogen production plant, which has been retrofitted for green hydrogen production. Experimental verification was performed at Itaipu Parquetec, which consists of an alkaline electrolysis unit directly integrated with a battery energy storage system and renewable sources (e.g., photovoltaic and wind) by using an isolated DC microgrid concept based on DC/DC and AC/DC converters. Experimental results revealed that the new electrolyzer DC microgrid increases the system’s overall efficiency in comparison to the legacy thyristor-based power supply system by 26%, and it autonomously controls the energy supply to the electrolyzer under optimized conditions with an extremely low output current ripple. Another advantage of the proposed DC microgrid is its ability to properly manage the startup and shutdown process of the electrolyzer plant under power generation outages. This paper is the result of activities carried out under the R&D project of ANEEL program No. PD-10381-0221/2021, entitled “Multiport DC-DC Converter and IoT System for Intelligent Energy Management”, which was conducted in partnership with CTG-Brazil. Full article

Background: Cefazolin is being increasingly used to treat central nervous system infections caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) to mitigate the side effects of existing anti-Staphylococcal drugs. This study aims to develop a cerebrospinal pharmacokinetic (PK) model to predict the cefazolin concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and to individualize the dosing regimen for MSSA meningitis. Methods: A cerebrospinal PK model was developed based on the existing literature and used to estimate the probability of attaining PK/ pharmacodynamic (PD) targets. These targets were set as 100% time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T > MIC) in CSF. The cerebrospinal PK/PD breakpoint was defined as the highest MIC at which target attainment probability in CSF was ≥90%. The mean CSF/serum ratio estimated from the literature was 0.0525 after a dose of 1–3 g (sampling time: 1–9 h after dose) in adult patients with suspected meningitis. This ratio was incorporated into this PK model based on a hybrid approach. Results: For patients with creatinine clearance (CL_cr) = 90 mL/min, the cerebrospinal PK/PD breakpoint MICs of continuous infusion regimens (6–12 g/day) reached 0.5 µg/mL, which can inhibit the growth of 90% of the MSSA population (MIC₉₀). Furthermore, for patients with renal dysfunction (CL_cr = 30 mL/min), a dose reduction (4 g/day) may be required to avoid excessive drug exposure. Conclusions: High-dose continuous infusion of cefazolin may be appropriate for MSSA meningitis in patients with normal renal function, while dose adjustments are needed for those with renal impairment. Full article

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), a major swine pathogen, causes severe neurological, respiratory, and reproductive disorders, resulting in substantial economic losses to the global swine industry. Previous studies have shown that the gD glycoprotein of PRV has an effective protective effect. In this study, we constructed a plasmid DNA vaccine (pVAX1-GD-Fc) encoding a gD protein fused with pig IgG Fc and evaluated the adjuvant effects of porcine cGAS, the universal STING complex mimic (UniSTING), or IFN-α in mice. The mice were immunized three times (days 0, 14, and 21) with pVAX1-GD-Fc in the presence or absence of an adjuvant, followed by lethal challenge with PRV-HLJ8 3 days after the final immunization. The results revealed that the pVAX1-GD-Fc group exhibited 20% mortality (1/5 mice) on day 7 postchallenge, and all adjuvanted groups achieved 100% survival during the 14-day observation period. Flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes one week after the second immunization revealed significantly greater CD8+ T cell proportions in the adjuvant groups than in both the mock and pVAX1-GD-Fc-only control groups (p < 0.01). Furthermore, T cell proliferation assays demonstrated a significantly increased stimulation index in the adjuvant-treated mice, confirming enhanced cellular immunity. These findings demonstrate that cGAS, UniSTING, and IFN-α can serve as effective vaccine adjuvants to rapidly enhance cellular immune responses to PRV, highlighting their potential application in veterinary vaccines. Full article

Lardizabala biternata is a culturally valued, endemic vine of the Chilean Winter Rainfall–Valdivian Forest biodiversity hotspot, traditionally harvested for its sweet, edible fruits. Despite its ecological singularity as the sole species in a monotypic genus, the species remains biologically and agronomically understudied, with no formal cultivation systems. There is currently no baseline information on its fruit morphology, which limits the design of conservation strategies and the development of its agronomic potential. This study provides the first phenotypic characterisation of L. biternata fruits, aimed at supporting germplasm evaluation, ex situ conservation, and sustainable domestication of this rare species. A total of 205 fruits were sampled across two seasons and two geographically distant populations. We measured 14 traits, including weight, length, diameter, pulp content, and seed metrics, and analysed morphological variation using t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and principal component analysis or PCA. Fruits averaged 21.0 g in weight, 54.2 mm in length, and 23.8 mm in diameter. Edible pulp constituted 44.4% of total fruit weight and showed strong positive correlations with fruit size, seed number, and seed weight. Significant differences were observed across seasons and populations, with cooler, wetter conditions associated with larger fruits and higher pulp yield. Our findings reveal substantial morphological variability and climate sensitivity, providing a crucial baseline for selecting desirable traits. This work informs ongoing efforts in plant domestication, sustainable agriculture, and the conservation of underutilised species of cultural and ecological importance. Full article