Search Results (6,536)

Background: Lead (Pb) exposure remains a major global health issue, and Pb stable isotope ratio analysis is a powerful tool for identifying potential exposure sources. However, traditional whole blood collection is difficult to implement in remote or resource-limited settings. We developed and validated a novel method for measuring Pb isotopic composition in dried blood spots (DBS) using a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) and applied it in a pilot study of DBS collected from children in Suriname, South America. Methods: Method accuracy was evaluated by comparing isotopic ratios (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) measured in laboratory-spiked DBS (15 µL of blood per DBS) with those from matched whole blood samples (1 mL) across a range of Pb concentrations (2.1–28.9 µg/dL). The method was then applied to DBS collected from 18 children, ages 6 months to 5 years, in Suriname. Potential local exposure sources, including soil, shotgun pellets, and cooking utensils, were also analyzed for lead isotopic composition and compared with DBS isotope ratios to assess source concordance. Results: DBS isotopic ratios accurately reflected whole blood values when Pb concentrations exceeded ~315 pg/punch (~2.1 µg/dL), with greater accuracy observed above 5 µg/dL. In the Suriname DBSs, blank-corrected ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios were consistent across regions (mean 2.12 ± 0.018; n = 15) and showed no significant geographic stratification (p = 0.11). DBS signatures (isotope ratios) most closely aligned with shotgun pellets and soil samples, whereas those from cooking utensils did not match DBS signatures. A positive correlation was observed between estimated blood total Pb and soil Pb concentrations (ρ = 0.60, p = 0.20). Conclusions: Overall, DBS provided reliable Pb isotopic ratio measurements above ~2–5 µg/dL, spanning the current CDC reference value of 3.5 µg/dL at which children’s exposures warrant investigation. These findings support DBS as a minimally invasive, scalable tool for exposure source identification in environmental epidemiology, particularly in remote settings where traditional venipuncture is impractical. What this study adds: This study establishes the first validated method for high-precision lead (Pb) stable isotopic ratio analysis using dried blood spots (DBS). By implementing a sample blank correction, we demonstrate that DBS can accurately resolve isotopic signatures even at low blood lead concentrations. Applied in DBS collected in Suriname, the method successfully linked DBS signatures to local shotgun pellets and soils, illustrating a common exposure profile across diverse regions. This work expands the utility of DBS beyond simple screening, offering a minimally invasive, scalable tool for source attribution in global health research and environmental epidemiology in remote regions. Full article

Rainbow tables are precomputed tables used to cache the output of cryptographic hash functions in a collection of chains consisting of alternating password and hash values constructed using a cryptographic hash function and a reduction function. Generating these tables is computationally intensive, and several researchers have proposed utilizing parallel computing to speed up the generation process. However, very little work was done on heterogeneous CPU clusters in the rainbow tables generation context. In this paper, we bridge this gap by proposing a parallel MPI-based rainbow tables generation method designed for heterogeneous CPU environments. We utilized the static load balancing algorithm using a simple weighting scheme to assign a different number of chains to different processes based on their speeds and capabilities. The experiments were executed on a cluster with ten nodes with heterogeneous CPU architectures: five nodes with the i7-12700 architecture featuring a hybrid architecture of P-cores and E-cores and an additional five with the i7-6700 architecture. In the experiments, rainbow tables were generated for four different cryptographic hash functions: SHA-256, SHA-512, MD5 and NTLMv2, with 90,000 rows each with 50,000 entries. During the experiments, we observed lower execution times as more processes join the work compared to a naïve implementation that shows jumps in execution times. Also, the speedup gained is much higher compared to the equivalent naïve implementation. In addition, our benchmark-based load balancing strategy significantly reduces the load imbalance to below 6%. Full article

Plant extracts contain multiple bioactive compounds and have been extensively investigated as alternatives to antibiotic-based feed additives in aquaculture. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with galangal (Alpinia officinarum) extract (AO) on the growth, immune response, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, gut microbiota, and resistance to A. hydrophila in red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). Crayfish with an initial body weight of 0.83 ± 0.05 g were randomly assigned to 18 tanks (6 groups × 3 replicates) and were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, or 7 g/kg of AO for 8 weeks. The weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) of crayfish were significantly higher in the 3 g/kg and 5 g/kg groups than in the control group. Dietary supplementation with 3–5 g/kg AO significantly elevated the crude protein content and reduced the crude lipid content in the muscle. AO supplementation at 3–5 g/kg significantly enhanced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP), and phenol oxidase (PO), whereas the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly reduced. Dietary AO supplementation markedly increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Cytophaga, and norank_o_Saccharimonadales. Moreover, dietary AO significantly upregulated the expression of multiple functional genes in the hepatopancreas, including ecCu, Zn-SOD, Trx1, ALF, C-LZM, GPx, and Se-GPx, and improved the survival of the C. quadricarinatus under challenge with A. hydrophila. Collectively, the findings of the present study indicate that dietary supplementation with 3–5 g/kg AO enhances the growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, immune function, and disease resistance in the red claw crayfish (C. quadricarinatus). Full article

Retinol, a bioactive small molecule of the vitamin A family, contributes epidermal and dermal tissue repair through retinoic acid receptor γ (RARγ)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation of keratinocyte differentiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and barrier restoration. However, the relationship between applied concentration, tissue-level regenerative outcomes, and tolerability remains incompletely characterized. This prospective, randomized, single-blind study compared biophysical effects and tolerance of two retinol concentrations in EU-compliant facial creams, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-verified as 0.104% and 0.247% (w/w). Thirty-eight women aged 40–61 years (Fitzpatrick phototypes II–III) participated across three independent sub-studies: 28 were randomized to either concentration for 12 weeks; 5 underwent split-face ultrasound imaging (0.247% versus retinol-free control) for 8 weeks; and 5 participated in a tape stripping sub-study quantifying stratum corneum interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) by ELISA before and after 6 weeks of 0.247% retinol treatment. Main cohort assessments included transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, melanin, erythema, pH, sebum, biomechanical parameters, and wrinkle grading. Both concentrations significantly improved barrier parameters—hydration, TEWL, brightness, pH, and sebum—with no inter-group differences. In the ultrasound sub-group, 0.247% retinol increased epidermal thickness (+12.4 μm), epidermal density (+3.84%), and dermal density (+1.81%) versus control, consistent with ECM reorganization and epidermal stratification. Biomechanical parameters showed no significant changes, consistent with retinol’s remodeling timeline. Consumer assessment indicated comparable efficacy; 0.247% demonstrated superior smoothing but higher erythema incidence. In the tape stripping sub-study, IL-1α decreased in all participants (median: 25.1 → 13.2 picograms per tape [pg/Tape]; 5/5 concordant), while IL-1ra increased in 4/5 participants (median: 352.8 → 1403.1 picograms per three sequential tapes [pg/3sT]), indicating a directionally consistent shift in the IL-1α/IL-1ra balance; these results are exploratory and require replication in larger cohorts. These findings collectively support clinically meaningful barrier restoration and structural remodeling within current EU safety limits (Commission Regulation EU 2024/996), with 0.104% offering a favorable efficacy-to-tolerability profile for initial therapy. Full article

With global restrictions on in-feed antibiotics, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed to combat weaning-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. Fucoidan, a bioactive seaweed polysaccharide, exerts beneficial effects on gut health due to its immunomodulatory and prebiotic properties, but its mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of dietary fucoidan supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota composition, and microbial metabolites in weaned piglets. The extracted fucoidan was characterized by a sulfate content of 23.7%, a molecular weight of 29.3 kDa, and fucose as the predominant monosaccharide. A total of 48 weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups (n = 24 per group): a control group and a 500 mg/kg fucoidan treatment group. Growth performance was evaluated throughout the experiment. On day 28, jejunal and colonic tissues were collected to assess mucosal morphology (n = 6 per group), while cecal and colonic contents were collected for analysis of the gut microbiota and bacterial metabolites. Fucoidan supplementation significantly enhanced average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, p < 0.05) and mitigated diarrhea during the trial. Notably, piglets fed fucoidan exhibited increased villus height compared to controls (p < 0.05). Fucoidan modulated the gut microbiota by increasing cecal microbial diversity (p < 0.05) and shifting bacterial composition. These modifications involved an altered Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, as well as an enrichment of Prevotellaceae, Lactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05). Consistently, metabolite profiling analysis revealed increased cecal concentrations of lactate (p < 0.05) and butyrate (p < 0.05), which were positively associated with the growth of beneficial taxa. These findings demonstrate that fucoidan alleviates weaning-induced intestinal disorders by improving intestinal morphology and modulating gut microbiota and their metabolites. This study provides a strategy for utilizing marine-derived polysaccharides as functional feed additives to enhance animal health. Full article

Turbidite sandstones of the Chang 6 member and delta-front sandstones of the Chang 8 member in the Yuele Block, southwestern Yishan Slope, Ordos Basin, serve as the primary tight oil reservoirs. In this study, a total of 243 continuous core samples from multiple wells were collected for integrated analyses, including cast thin-section observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) of clay minerals, routine core physical property measurements and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), to systematically compare sedimentary–diagenetic disparities between semi-deep lacustrine turbidites (Chang 6) and delta-front sandstones (Chang 8). Measured data indicate that the two intervals have similar average porosities of 9.27% and 9.88%, while their respective geometric mean permeabilities differ markedly, with values of only 0.142 × 10⁻³ μm² for Chang 6 and 0.260 × 10⁻³ μm² for Chang 8. Micro-pore-throat size and connectivity dominate reservoir fluid flow capacity, and total porosity alone cannot objectively evaluate reservoir quality. Delta-front sandstones of the Chang 8 member are supplied by a proximal magmatic-rich provenance from the southwest, and widespread grain-coating chlorite forms during early diagenesis, effectively mitigating compaction damage and inhibiting quartz overgrowth, leading to well-preserved primary pores. As mixed-provenance deposits lacking protective chlorite rims, Chang 6 turbidites experience more intensive compaction, and abundant fibrous illite and carbonate cements precipitate in the subsequent diagenetic stage to fill and separate pore throats, forming an isolated micropore network. Quantitative comparison with baseline parameters of the Longdong region reveals that the Yuele Block is located closer to the southwestern sediment source, resulting in higher contents of magmatic lithics and chlorite in Chang 8 as well as elevated illite concentrations in Chang 6 relative to regional averages, which verifies that source-to-sink transport distance regulates reservoir quality by driving the differentiation of clay mineral assemblages. A complete quantitative coupling sequence of “provenance supply–authigenic clay mineral-pore evolution” is defined herein, and two distinct sedimentary–diagenetic evolutionary routes are classified: high-quality delta-front reservoirs protected by grain-coating chlorite, and low-quality turbidite reservoirs blocked by illite–carbonate cements. This research refines the diagenetic differentiation rules for continental tight sandstones with diverse sedimentary origins in the Ordos Basin and provides quantitative mineralogical criteria for identifying tight oil sweet spots in proximal provenance blocks. Full article

Background: Individuals with autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and transplants face a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and breakthrough hospitalizations. It is essential to understand the magnitude and durability of vaccine-induced humoral immune response in these populations. Methods: We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody levels and avidity in autoimmune, IBD, transplant, and healthy cohorts following multiple COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses. Serum samples were collected approximately 1 month (8–52 days) and 6 months (158–202 days) post-vaccination. Antibody levels and avidity were measured using validated ELISA and chaotropic-based avidity assays. Results: Individuals with IBD and individuals with autoimmune disease, especially systemic autoimmune disease, exhibited lower antibody levels and avidity compared with healthy individuals at certain doses and time points. Transplant recipients demonstrated substantial impairments in both antibody levels and avidity, with avidity reduced across all doses and time points. Significantly lower avidity levels were observed in transplant recipients, suggesting challenges in developing or maintaining antibody quality. For example, geometric mean anti-spike IgG levels were substantially lower in transplant recipients than in healthy individuals at both 1 month (635 vs. 7685 BAU/mL; p < 0.0001) and 6 months (1146 vs. 3277 BAU/mL; p = 0.0057) post third dose. Similarly, transplant recipients had lower antibody avidity than healthy individuals after the third dose, with geometric mean AI80 values of 4.5 M vs. 5.5 M at 1 month (p < 0.0001) and 4.6 M vs. 5.4 M at 6 months (p < 0.0001). Age, sex, and vaccine manufacturer may further influence humoral immune responses in the transplant cohort. Conclusions: Vaccine-induced humoral immunity varies across autoimmune, IBD, and transplant cohorts, with the most persistent impairment observed in transplant recipients across vaccine dose groups and at both post-vaccination time points. These findings reveal immune response patterns that may guide future studies evaluating vaccination schedules, immune monitoring, and clinical outcomes in these populations. Full article

Astragalus membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used as a feed additive in livestock production; however, the molecular mechanisms by which it influences meat quality in sheep remain poorly understood. In this study, 96 Ao-Hu crossbred rams were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments receiving 0%, 2%, 4%, or 6% Astragalus membranaceus powder (AMP) over a 70-day feeding trial. At the end of the trial, one sheep per pen (n = 6 per treatment) was selected for longissimus dorsi muscle collection and subsequent meat quality traits, proteomic and metabolomic analyses. Phenotypically, only the 6% AMP inclusion significantly reduced cooking loss, while all the other quality traits remained unchanged. Metabolomic analysis identified 24, 33, and 86 differential metabolites in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively, with the high-dose group showing additional enrichment in arginine-proline metabolism, pantothenate/CoA biosynthesis, and cAMP/cGMP signaling pathways. Proteomic analysis revealed 11, 7, and 19 differentially expressed proteins, with collagen family members (COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1) down-regulated exclusively at the high dose, though shear force was unaffected. Correlation analysis suggested associations between cooking loss and metabolites involved in fatty acid oxidation and redox balance. These findings provide clues for understanding the effects of AMP on meat quality and offer candidate pathways and protein targets for future mechanistic investigations. Full article

Background: Complex wounds present significant reconstructive challenges owing to impaired healing, infections, and tissue loss. Skin grafting remains a widely used reconstructive technique; however, outcome data from the Gulf region are limited to a few studies. This study aimed to evaluate early graft outcomes and complications following skin graft reconstruction for complex wounds at a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), including all patients who underwent split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafting between 2023 and 2025. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and wound-related data were collected. The main outcomes were graft take on postoperative days 5–7, time to complete re-epithelialization, and the occurrence of postoperative complications. Results: A total of 50 patients were included; 72% were males, with a median age of 45.5 years. Diabetes mellitus was present in 34% of patients. Trauma (28%) and infection/necrotizing causes (22%) were the most common etiologies of wounds. Complete graft take (>90%) was achieved in 90% of the patients, whereas 10% had partial graft take. The median time to complete re-epithelialization was 13 days. Complications were infrequent and minor, including postoperative infection (8%), hypertrophic scar formation (6%), and wound dehiscence (2%). No significant differences in healing time were observed between the diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Conclusions: In this descriptive institutional cohort, a combined protocol of wound-bed preparation, skin graft reconstruction, and postoperative NPWT-assisted stabilization was associated with favorable early graft take and fewer complications. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of wound heterogeneity, unavailable wound size measurements, and limited subgroup sizes. Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate the predictors of graft success. Full article

Objective: Our objective was to compare clinical safety and postoperative efficacy between transvesicoscopic Politano–Leadbetter (TPL) and laparoscopic Lich–Gregoir (LLG) ureteral reimplantation in infants and toddlers under 36 months diagnosed with primary obstructive megaureter (POM). Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with POM who underwent ureteral reimplantation between January 2018 and April 2025. Patients were stratified into TPL and LLG groups by surgical approach. Baseline characteristics, perioperative outcomes, perioperative complications, imaging findings, renal functional outcomes, and long-term complications were collected and analyzed. Primary group comparisons were unadjusted, with additional multivariable linear regression performed for operative duration. Results: We enrolled 65 children: 30 in the TPL group and 35 in the LLG group. Baseline characteristics showed no statistically significant differences across the two study cohorts. There were no open conversions in either group. Total operative duration did not differ significantly between the TPL and LLG groups (145.8 ± 30.6 min vs. 136.9 ± 25.2 min; mean difference, 8.9 min; 95% CI, −4.9 to 22.7; p = 0.210). In multivariable linear regression, TPL showed a non-significant trend toward longer operative time after adjustment for age, preoperative ureteral diameter, and surgery year (B = 10.4 min; 95% CI, −3.7 to 24.4; p = 0.141). Time to postoperative oral intake was slightly shorter in the TPL group (6.1 ± 2.3 h vs. 8.2 ± 2.9 h; mean difference, −2.1 h; 95% CI, −3.4 to −0.8; p = 0.002). No statistically significant differences were detected in estimated blood loss, ureteral tapering rate, double-J stent placement rate, postoperative pain score, acetaminophen use, urinary catheterization duration, or length of hospital stay. Perioperative complications occurred in 3 patients in the TPL group and 5 patients in the LLG group (10.0% vs. 14.3%; risk difference, −4.3%; 95% CI, −20.1% to 11.5%; p = 0.716). No Clavien–Dindo grade III or higher complications occurred in either group. During follow-up, both groups showed reductions in anteroposterior pelvic diameter (APD) and ureteral diameter (UD), with preserved differential renal function (DRF). Low-grade postoperative vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was detected in two LLG patients, including one grade I case at 4 months and one grade II case at 6 months after surgery; both were managed conservatively. Neither group experienced recurrent ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO) nor required reoperation during follow-up. Conclusions: In this single-center retrospective cohort of infants and toddlers with POM, no statistically significant differences were detected in the main perioperative and follow-up outcomes between TPL and LLG. TPL enables intravesical reconstruction and better preserves the natural anatomical course of the ureter and may serve as an alternative minimally invasive option for this patient population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diaper dermatitis (DD) is a common dermatological condition that is often exacerbated by antibiotics. Probiotics may restore microbiota balance and influence the incidence of DD. This study aimed to evaluate whether 6 weeks of Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri DSM 17938 supplementation during and after antibiotic treatment affects the incidence of DD. Methods: A secondary analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that included 89 term neonates treated with antibiotics during the first 3 weeks of life was conducted. Neonates were assigned to receive either a probiotic supplement or a placebo for a total of 6 weeks. DD incidence, onset of DD, and skin care data were collected for 87 infants. Faecal samples were collected 6 weeks after study enrolment to analyse the composition of gut microbiota. Results: Twenty-four (28%) infants developed DD, of whom six (25%) had fungal DD. There was no significant difference in the incidence of DD or fungal DD between the probiotic and placebo groups (30% vs. 25% and 7% in both groups, respectively). Probiotic supplementation had no significant effect on the gut microbiota composition or diversity. In an exploratory binary logistic regression analysis based on six fungal DD events, probiotic supplementation was not associated with fungal DD, whereas breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of fungal DD; however, the overall model was not statistically significant, and this finding should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of events. Conclusions: In this exploratory secondary analysis, supplementation with L. reuteri DSM 17938 was not associated with a reduced incidence of DD or alterations in gut microbiota composition in antibiotic-treated neonates. Breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of fungal DD; however, this finding should be confirmed in larger, adequately powered studies. Full article

The calcium ion-transporting ATPase (Ca²⁺-ATPase) gene family maintains plant intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis and regulates growth, development and stress immunity; however, its functions remain poorly characterized in Malus domestica. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of apple Ca²⁺-ATPase genes and obtained 45 members, which were classified into MdACA (39) and MdECA (6) subfamilies and unevenly distributed on 14 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis of Ca²⁺-ATPase genes from Malus domestica, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa classified these proteins into five subgroups. The ACA and ECA subfamilies were highly conserved across species, whereas Group D was apple-specific. Collinearity and Ka/Ks analyses indicated that segmental duplication and purifying selection dominated the evolution of apple Ca²⁺-ATPase genes. Promoter cis-element prediction uncovered numerous regulatory elements related to phytohormone signaling, growth, development and stress defense. Codon usage bias analysis indicated that AUG (methionine) was the dominant codon. Tissue expression profiles showed differential expression of apple Ca²⁺-ATPase genes in various organs. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays demonstrated widespread responses of Ca²⁺-ATPase genes to Alternaria alternata infection, exogenous CaCl₂, salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), among which MdACA39 was strongly induced under all treatments. Subcellular localization verified that MdACA39 resides on the plasma membrane. Moreover, transient overexpression of MdACA39 significantly enhanced apple resistance to A. alternata, likely due to the activation of SA, MeJA and Ca²⁺ signaling-mediated immune pathways, the induction of disease resistance-related genes, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity. Collectively, this study systematically characterizes the apple Ca²⁺-ATPase family and identifies MdACA39 as a key regulator of fungal resistance, providing valuable gene resources for dissecting Ca²⁺ signaling-mediated disease resistance in apple. Full article

GDSL esterases/lipases constitute a large and functionally versatile gene family in plants, yet their systematic characterization in bamboo—perennial woody grasses with exceptionally rapid shoot elongation—remains scarce. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of the GDSL family in allohexaploid Dendrocalamus farinosus and characterized the function of a candidate gene in secondary wall synthesis. A total of 265 DfGDSL genes were identified and classified into nine clades; rice xylan deacetylases BS1 and DARX1 fell within Clade VIII, which harbors 75 members. Chromosomal distribution, exon–intron organization, conserved motifs, and collinearity analyses indicated that whole-genome and tandem duplications drove family expansion, with purifying selection as the predominant evolutionary force. Expression profiling across tissues and shoot developmental stages pinpointed DfGDSL58 as the sole highly expressed OsDARX1 homolog in D. farinosus, showing specific upregulation during rapid elongation (50–400 cm). Its promoter contains auxin-responsive elements, and exogenous NAA treatment significantly induced its expression, with a peak at 6 h. Heterologous overexpression of DfGDSL58 (designated DfDACX1) in tobacco increased plant height and basal diameter while reducing lignin and hemicellulose deposition, xylem width, and transcript levels of xylan synthase (NtIRX9) and lignin biosynthetic genes (NtC4H, NtCOMT, NtCAD), whereas cellulose content and cellulose synthase genes (NtCESA4, NtCESA7) remained largely unchanged. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that DfDACX1 negatively regulates secondary wall thickening and promotes longitudinal growth, likely via modulating xylan deacetylation and downstream lignin biosynthesis. This study presents the first systematic characterization of the GDSL family in D. farinosus and identifies DfDACX1 as a key modulator of the trade-off between cell wall deposition and rapid shoot elongation, offering mechanistic insights into bamboo’s extraordinary growth and a potential target for engineering plant architecture. Full article

Global population growth has emphasised the need to have sustainable and alternative sources of nutrients. In this context, microalgae have emerged as a potential solution due to their rich biochemical composition, including high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and pigments. This study investigates the variation in microalgal growth and biochemical composition over a light:dark cycle, with a focus on the night period. Batch experiments were performed with eight Chlorella vulgaris cultures over a 7-day period. On the seventh day, biomass samples were collected at four time points in four-hour intervals and stored for subsequent biochemical analyses. During the eight-hour dark period, biomass, carbohydrate, and total chlorophyll concentrations decreased by 9%, 12.5%, and 14.4%, respectively. After four hours of light exposure, these parameters increased significantly by 6%, 15.4%, and 12.7%, respectively. Total protein, carotenoids, and fatty acid contents remained relatively stable throughout the evaluated cycle, although variations were observed in the carotenoid profile. During the dark phase, zeaxanthin decreased by 38.0%, whereas violaxanthin increased by 27.2%, suggesting complementary pigment interconversion consistent with xanthophyll cycle activity. Overall, these results highlight the importance of optimising harvesting time to enhance the production of target compounds in a sustainable production of microalgal biomass. Full article

Potato quality is determined by multiple physicochemical indicators, including dry matter content (DC), starch content (SC), and color parameters (lightness L*, redness a*, yellowness b*, and browning index (BI)). Conventional spectrometers are costly, non-portable and lack wireless in-situ monitoring, restricting efficient postharvest quality assessment. Chemical methods are destructive and inefficient for field inspection and high-throughput detection. The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a low-cost wireless 12-channel visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectral sensing system, comprising 6 Vis channels and 6 NIR channels, for the real-time non-destructive prediction of six potato quality indicators. After preprocessing the spectral data with mean normalization, a multiple linear regression (MLR) model was established to optimize the prediction performance of quality parameters. The six indicators evaluated were DC, SC, L*, a*, b*, and BI. Statistical analysis and cross-validation were further conducted to quantitatively evaluate the stability and credibility of the prediction model. Among these, the b* parameter demonstrated the most robust predictive performance, achieving a cross-validated coefficient of determination (R²_CV) of 0.881. The MLR model was integrated into the sensing hardware to realize synchronous data collection and prediction. This study provides a validated, low-cost, wireless solution for rapid potato quality assessment under controlled conditions, offering a potential alternative to conventional spectrometers and destructive chemical methods. Full article