Search Results (107)

The quality of wine largely depends on the quality of wine grapes, which is determined by their chemical composition. Therefore, measuring parameters related to grape ripeness, such as soluble solids content (SSC), is crucial for harvesting high-quality grapes. Visible–Near-Infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy enables effective, non-destructive detection of SSC in grapes. However, commercial Vis/NIR spectrometers are often expensive, bulky, and power-consuming, making them unsuitable for on-site applications. This article integrated the AS7265X sensor to develop a low-cost handheld IoT multispectral detection device, which can collect 18 variables in the wavelength range of 410–940 nm. The data can be sent in real time to the cloud configuration, where it can be backed up and visualized. After simultaneously removing outliers detected by both Monte Carlo (MC) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods from the raw spectra, the SSC prediction model was established, resulting in an ${\mathrm{R}}_V^2$ of 0.697. Eight preprocessing methods were compared, among which moving average smoothing (MAS) and Savitzky–Golay smoothing (SGS) improved the ${\mathrm{R}}_V^2$ to 0.756 and 0.766, respectively. Subsequently, feature wavelengths were selected using UVE and SPA, reducing the number of variables from 18 to 5 and 6, respectively, further increasing the ${\mathrm{R}}_V^2$ to 0.809 and 0.795. The results indicate that spectral data optimization methods are effective and essential for improving the performance of SSC prediction models. The IoT Vis/NIR Spectroscopic System proposed in this study offers a miniaturized, low-cost, and practical solution for SSC detection in wine grapes. Full article

Hyperspectral microscope imaging (HMI) was employed to evaluate the physiochemical properties of and the large intra-variability in individual fruit of ‘Xia Hui 6’ peaches during storage, which gave insights into the heterogeneity of peach fruits at the microscale. The physicochemical characteristics such as firmness (FI), soluble sugar content (SSC), and L* value of peaches showed significant changes, while the microstructure of the tissues broke down. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to peach tissues from the sunny side and shady side at different storage stages, which allowed us to clearly visualize the distribution of sugars, water, and pigments at the cellular scale. Single-feature variables were constructed to clarify the correlation between the characteristic bands and physicochemical parameters based on Pearson correlation analysis, with an R² of 0.99 for firmness at 588 nm, 0.98 for titratable acidity (TA) at 432 nm, 0.88 for the L* value at 430 nm and 0.83 for the b* value at 426 nm. This work demonstrated that HMI technology as an accurate and highly effective tool in evaluating the quality of ‘Xia Hui 6’ peaches and targeting, allowing us to visualize the spatial heterogeneity within peach fruit tissues. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared (VIS/NIR/SWIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics for non-destructive prediction of nutritional components in Galia-type melon fruit. A total of 175 fully ripened melons were analyzed for soluble solids content (SSC), dry matter (DM), pH, and titratable acidity (TA) using partial least squares regression (PLSR), principal components regression (PCR), and multilinear regression (MLR) models. Reflectance spectra were captured at three fruit locations (pedicel, equatorial, and blossom end) in the 350–2500 nm range. The PLSR models yielded the highest accuracy, particularly for SSC (R = 0.80) and SSC/TA (R = 0.79), using equatorial zone data. Variable selection using the genetic algorithm (GA) successfully identified the spectral regions critical for each nutritional parameter at the pedicel, equatorial, and blossom end areas. Key wavelengths for SSC were found around 670–720 nm and 900–1100 nm, with important wavelengths for pH prediction located near 1450 nm, and, for dry matter, in the ranges 1900–1950 nm. Variable importance in projection (VIP) analysis confirmed that specific wavelengths between 680 and 720 nm, 900 and 1000 nm, 1400 and 1500 nm, and 1900 and 2000 nm were consistently critical in predicting the SSC, DM, and SSC/TA ratio. The highest VIP scores for SSC prediction were noted around 690 nm and 950 nm, while dry matter prediction was influenced most by wavelengths in the 1450 nm to 1950 nm range. This study demonstrates the potential of VIS/NIR/SWIR spectroscopy for rapid, non-destructive melon quality assessment, with implications for commercial postharvest management. Full article

In this work, we present updated models of the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for two high-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects (HBLs), that is, 1ES 0414+009 and 1ES 1959+650. The hard gamma-ray spectra observed during their flaring states suggest the presence of an additional emission component beyond the standard synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenario. We explore the possibility that this hard gamma-ray emission arises from inverse Compton (IC) scattering by Bethe–Heitler pairs produced along the line of sight, pointing to a more complex high-energy emission mechanism in these sources. Full article

Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis) is the primary pathogen responsible for Glässer’s disease and poses a significant threat to the global pig industry. MicroRNAs are a class of short, endogenous, single-stranded noncoding RNAs that play crucial roles in inflammation, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and invasion in various organisms. This study analyzed the characteristics of porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) cells infected with G. parasuis through the knockdown and overexpression of ssc-miR-129a-3p. We constructed a cellular model with ssc-miR-129a-3p knockdown invaded by G. parasuis strain XX0306, screening 160 differentially expressed genes via high-throughput sequencing. GO enrichment analysis revealed that 376 GO entries were enriched. KEGG enrichment analysis found that mRNA target genes were enriched in 17 cell signaling pathways, including G protein-coupled components, PPAR, and other signaling pathways that can mediate inflammatory pathways. By examining the expression of relevant inflammatory factors and signaling pathways, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms through which ssc-miR-129a-3p targets the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to regulate inflammatory injury. This study establishes a foundation for further research into the role of miRNA in the pathogenesis of Glässer disease and is highly significant for the prevention and control of bacterial diseases within the pig industry. Full article

Stem cells, both normal somatic (SSC) and cancer stem cells (CSC) exist in minimally two states, i.e., quiescent and activated. Regulation of these two states, including their reliance on different metabolic processes, i.e., FAO and glycolysis in quiescent versus activated stem cells respectively, involves the analysis of a complex array of factors (nutrient and oxygen levels, adhesion molecules, cytokines, etc.) to initiate the epigenetic changes to either depart or enter quiescence. Quiescence is a critical feature of SSC that is required to maintain the genomic integrity of the stem cell pool, particularly in long lived complex organisms. Quiescence in CSC, whether they are derived from mutations arising in SSC, aberrant microenvironmental regulation, or via dedifferentiation of more committed progenitors, is a critical component of therapy resistance and disease latency and relapse. At the beginning of vertebrate evolution, approximately 450 million years ago, a gene duplication generated the two members of the Kat3 family, CREBBP (CBP) and EP300 (p300). Despite their very high degree of homology, these two Kat3 coactivators play critical and non-redundant roles at enhancers and super-enhancers via acetylation of H3K27, thereby controlling stem cell quiescence versus activation and the cells metabolic requirements. In this review/perspective, we discuss the unique regulatory roles of CBP and p300 and how specifically targeting the CBP/β-catenin interaction utilizing small molecule antagonists, can correct lineage infidelity and safely eliminate quiescent CSC. Full article

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by a widespread accumulation of extracellular matrix components leading to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Vascular changes occur in all involved tissues and are responsible for several distinctive clinical manifestations of the disease. This review focuses on the usefulness of various diagnostic tools in clinical practice for the early identification of clinical, functional, and/or structural RV impairment in SSc patients at risk of PH. It aims to identify specific causes of RV dysfunction, describe potential differences in outcome measures, and, ultimately, determine different cut-off values compared to subjects with PH not related to SSc. Full article

Innovative magnetic techniques are pivotal for advancing mineral exploration. This study presents a self-structural constraint (SSC) method that jointly inverts aeromagnetic and gradient data to resolve high-resolution magnetic susceptibility models for concealed ores. The SSC framework integrates gradient structures from multi-component data as mutual constraints, enhancing signal differentiation and noise suppression. Unstructured tetrahedral grids and Poisson-derived analytical expressions address complex terrains, enabling robust inversions. Synthetic tests show SSC improves resolution by 40%–60% over conventional methods and resists 10% Gaussian noise. Applied to gold exploration in western Henan, China, SSC delineated concealed ore bodies (300–2000 m depth) along NE- and NW-trending faults, correlating with andesite-hosted magnetic anomalies. Combined with volcanic facies analysis, magma migration through these faults provided metallogenic materials and structural traps. The SSC-derived 3D model identified new drill targets, bridging geophysical imaging with geological processes. This advancement enhances the detection of deep, structurally controlled mineralization, offering a transformative tool for resource discovery. Full article

Supersulfated cements (SSCs) are one of the promising binders characterized by low CO₂ emissions. A significant advantage of SSC is the possibility of using phosphoanhydrite binders as a sulfate component, obtained by the calcination of phosphogypsum—a waste product of acid and fertilizer production. The utilization of phosphogypsum is a global problem. Differences in the properties of phosphogypsums from various industrial enterprises are determined by the difference in phosphate rock and the technological mode of production. This gives reason to believe that phosphoanhydrite binders (FABs) will also have differences in properties, which in turn will influence the process of structural formation of SSC. In the article, the effect of FAB produced at calcination temperatures of 600, 800, and 1000 °C using phosphogypsum of two different industrial enterprises was studied. It is established that the morphology and pH value of FAB particles, and the ratio of components in the binder have the greatest influence on the physical and mechanical characteristics of the SSC. The use of FAB with a high pH value (≈12) allows for obtaining free-of-cement SSC, with compressive strengths of up to 50 MPa at the age of 90 days. Full article

The present study highlights the possibility of using sewage sludge-derived compost (SSC) or biochar (SSB) as valuable organic amendments. Such utilization of sewage sludge fulfills the principles of a carbon farming and nature-based solution strategy (NBS). This study focused on a detailed analysis of quantitative and qualitative changes in soil C compounds (total carbon—TC, total organic carbon—TOC, humic substances—CHS, labile carbon—LC, and water extractable organic carbon—WEOC), which resulted from the application of SSC or SSB; an assessment of variability in total and available forms of N and S as biogenic components that are integrally related to the organic matter of the amendments used in the experiment; and an indication of the possible relationships between C compounds and available nutrients. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with terra rosa soil amended with SSC or SSB at different application rates (25, 50, 75, 100% by mass). Soil samples were analyzed for the abovementioned parameters using appropriate analytical methods. Regardless of the organic amendment, the values of tested parameters increased with the applied dose, with the differences being significantly greater in relation to the contents determined for the control soil. In general, the application of SSC was more favorable than SSB, which was manifested by 12–49-fold higher TOC, 6–24-fold higher total N, and 10–41-fold higher total S levels. An exception was found for the content of available sulfur, which was significantly higher in the soil fertilized with biochar. In addition, SSC contributed more humic acid carbon (12.5–24.15 g∙kg⁻¹) and labile carbon (10.34–27.37 g∙kg⁻¹). On the other hand, SSB had a greater effect on fulvic acid carbon levels (2.18–2.75 g∙kg⁻¹), which were comparable to the levels of LC (3.44–6.86 g∙kg⁻¹) and WEOC (2.56–6.28 g∙kg⁻¹). The research results highlighted the validity of processing SS into compost or biochar for further use for agricultural/reclamation purposes. Despite their different impacts on the studied soil properties, both organic amendments are important for maintaining soil health and can play a significant role in carbon farming as NBS practices. The findings allow us to conclude that the strategy of increasing the amount of C through SSC or SSB fertilization is the advisable direction in sustainable soil management. Full article

The carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur (CNPS) ratios of soils are known to be relatively stable parameters, characterizing different land uses. We hypothesized that the long-term application of sewage sludge compost (SSC) would not change these ratios but would increase the concentration of these elements and change the quality of organic matter (OM), as well as soil enzyme activities. Hence, soil chemical and microbiological properties were studied in a 20-year long-term experiment. The plots were grouped into five blocks and treated every third year with SSC at the rates of 0, 9, 18, or 27 t ha⁻¹. Three plants, in a crop rotation, were tested and sown every year as follows: rye, rye with hairy vetch, and maize. The results showed that basic soil parameters (pH, OM content, E4/E6 ratio, NO₃-NO₂-N, AL-P₂O₅, and soil moisture content) were increased, along with the SSC doses in soil for the rye. Similar trends were found in CNPS concentrations, β-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities, while the acidic phosphatase activity was reduced. The C:N, C:S, and N:S ratios were not affected by the compost application. The main factors of treatment effects were plant-available phosphorus (ammonium lactate (AL)-soluble P₂O₅), total P, and NO₃-NO₂-N, based on principal component analysis. The canonical correspondent analyses revealed that phosphatase activities were affected by C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios and β-glucosidase was correlated with P forms and the E4/E6 ratio, while the soil pH strongly affected all soil enzymes. Based on the alkaline and acidic phosphatase activities, the role of microbes became more important with increasing compost doses in phosphorus mobilization. We conclude that the addition of SSC could improve soil health through increasing the pH, OM, nutrient content, and microbial activity. Also, some elemental ratios have an important role in the regulation of soil enzyme activities. Full article

The formation of mature spermatozoa originates from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) located near the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. This developmental process, known as spermatogenesis, is tightly regulated to ensure continuous sperm production. A critical aspect of this regulation is the balance between SSC differentiation and self-renewal, which is directed by various factors guiding SSCs in either of these two directions. The SSC niche, defined functionally rather than anatomically, includes all factors necessary for SSC maintenance. These factors are produced by cells surrounding the SSC niche, collectively creating the microenvironment of the seminiferous tubules. Coordination between the cells in this microenvironment is essential for the proper function of the SSC niche and successful spermatogenesis. Testicular mast cells (MCs) significantly influence the regulation of this niche, as they contain various biologically active substances that regulate a wide range of physiological processes and contribute to different pathological conditions affecting fertility. This review explores the effects of testicular MCs on SSCs, their role in regulating spermatogenesis under normal and pathological conditions, and their interactions with other components of the testicular microenvironment, with a focus on their potentially critical impact on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Affective touch is crucial in infant development, particularly in regulating emotional, cognitive, and physiological processes. Preterm infants are often deprived of essential tactile stimulation owing to their early exposure to the external environment, which may affect long-term developmental outcomes. This review aimed to examine the neurobiological mechanisms of affective touch and highlight effective interventions, such as skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and kangaroo care (KC), to promote development in preterm infants. Methods: This review summarizes recent studies in the literature on affective touch, the role of C-tactile fibers, and the effects of tactile interventions in neonatal care. Studies were selected based on their relevance to the care and development of preterm infants, with a focus on physiological and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Key interventions, including SSC and massage therapy, are discussed in relation to their effectiveness in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: The results suggest that affective touch, mainly through activation of tactile C-fibers, improves caregiver–infant bonding, reduces stress responses, and supports neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Interventions such as SSC and KC have also been shown to improve physiological regulation in these infants, including heart rate, breathing, and temperature control while promoting emotional regulation and cognitive development. Conclusions: Affective touch is a key component of early development, particularly in preterm infants admitted to the NICU. Integrating tactile interventions such as SSC and KC into neonatal care practices may significantly improve long-term developmental outcomes. Future research should explore the epigenetic mechanisms underlying affective touch and further refine tactile interventions to optimize neonatal care. Full article

Background: Reproductive performance is critical in the pig industry, and improved sow performance could lead to increased economic benefits. GWAS and ROH analyses based on SNP array data were conducted to identify the breed-specific genetic architecture underlying the variation in NBA and TNB. Methods: A total of 7488 breeding pigs with phenotypic data from 1586 Duroc, 2256 Landrace, and 3646 Yorkshire breeds, along with 76,756 SNP markers from Korean grand-grand-parent (GGP) breeding farms, were used. Results: In the Duroc breeds, SNPs on SSC 9 and 17 were found to be associated with the SIDT2 and TGM2 genes, respectively. In the Landrace breed, PPP1R9A, LMTK2, and GTF2H3 on SSCs 9, 3, and 14, respectively, were associated with both TNB and NBA. With the Yorkshire breed genome, GRID1, DLGAP2, ZZEF1, PARG, RNF17, and NDUFAF5 in SSCs 14, 15, 12, 14, 11, and 17, respectively, were associated with NBA and TNB traits. These genes have distinct functions, ranging from synaptic transmission and cytoskeletal organization to DNA repair and cellular energy production. In the Duroc breed, six genes identified in the ROH islands were associated with various biological pathways, molecular functions, and cellular components. NT5DC1 was associated with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, CRTAC1 with ion binding, CFAP43 with spermatogenic failure, CASC3 with intracellular mRNA localization, ERC2 with cellular component organization, and FOCAD with Focadhesin. In the Landrace and Yorkshire breeds, PDE6D was associated with GTPase inhibitor activity. Conclusions: Through GWAS and ROH analyses, we identified breed-specific SNP markers associated with NBA and TNB in three breed genotypes, providing insights for improving reproductive performance efficiency and contributing to future breeding strategies. Full article

In the energy transition process, aiming for zero disposal and clean production in the elimination of waste is crucial; consequently, agricultural residues have significant potential for reduction in the use of fossil fuels. This study investigates the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of sugarcane bagasse (BSC) and straw (SSC), examining the products’ distribution and bio-oil composition relative to the reaction conditions. The experiments used a 2³ factorial design, evaluating the temperature (300–350 °C), constant heating time (0–30 min), and the use of the K₂CO₃ concentration as the catalyst (0–0.5 mol/L⁻¹). The main factor affecting the biocrude yield from BSC and SSC was the use of K₂CO₃. Statistically significant interaction effects were also observed. Milder conditions resulted in the highest bio-oil yields, 36% for BSC and 31% for SSC. The catalyst had no impact on the biocrude production. The bio-oils were analyzed by GC/MS and FTIR; a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to evaluate the samples’ variability. The FTIR highlighted bands associated with common oxygenated compounds in lignocellulosic biomass-derived bio-oils. The GC-MS results indicated a predominance of oxygenated compounds, and these were highest in the presence of the catalyst for both the BSC (90.6%) and SSC (91.7%) bio-oils. The SSC bio-oils presented higher oxygenated compound contents than the BSC bio-oils. Statistical analysis provided valuable insights for optimizing biomass conversion processes, such as determining the optimal conditions for maximizing product yields. Full article