Search Results (66)

Stomata, highly specialized structures that evolved on the aerial surfaces of plants, play a crucial role in regulating hydration, mitigating the effects of abiotic stress. Stomatal lineage development involves a series of coordinated events, such as initiation, stem cell proliferation, and cell fate determination, ultimately leading to the differentiation of guard cells. While core transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways controlling stomatal cell division and fate determination have been characterized over the past twenty years, the molecular mechanisms linking stomatal development to dynamic environmental cues remain poorly understood. Therefore, stomatal development is considered an active and compelling frontier in plant biology research. On the one hand, this review aims to provide an understanding of the molecular networks governing stomatal ontogenesis, which relies on the activation and function of the transcription factors SPEECHLESS (SPCH), MUTE, and FAMA; the EPF–TMM and ERECTA receptor systems; and downstream MAPK signaling. On the other hand, it synthesizes current discoveries of how hormonal signaling pathways regulate stomatal development in response to environmental changes. As the climate crisis intensifies, the understanding of the complex interplay between stress stimuli and key factors regulating stomatal development may reveal key mechanisms that enhance plant resilience under adverse environmental conditions. Full article

Medical image registration is an indispensable preprocessing step to align medical images to a common coordinate system before in-depth analysis. The registration precision is critical to the following analysis. In addition to representative image features, the initial pose settings and multiple poses in images will significantly affect the registration precision, which is largely neglected in state-of-the-art works. To address this, the paper proposes a dual-pose medical image registration algorithm based on improved differential evolution. More specifically, the proposed algorithm defines a composite similarity measurement based on contour points and utilizes this measurement to calculate the similarity between frontal–lateral positional DRR (Digitally Reconstructed Radiograph) images and X-ray images. In order to ensure the accuracy of the registration algorithm in particular dimensions, the algorithm implements a dual-pose registration strategy. A PDE (Phased Differential Evolution) algorithm is proposed for iterative optimization, enhancing the optimization algorithm’s ability to globally search in low-dimensional space, aiding in the discovery of global optimal solutions. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm provides more accurate similarity metrics compared to conventional registration algorithms; the dual-pose registration strategy largely reduces errors in specific dimensions, resulting in reductions of 67.04% and 71.84%, respectively, in rotation and translation errors. Additionally, the algorithm is more suitable for clinical applications due to its lower complexity. Full article

The present investigation systematically elucidates the distinct functional specialization within the M1–M3 midgut sections of the significant agricultural pest, Nezara viridula. Employing an integrated transcriptomic analysis, three pivotal discoveries were achieved: (1) each midgut segment possesses unique gene expression signatures; (2) metabolic and signal transduction pathways exhibit coordinated regulatory patterns; and (3) parallel expression changes occur between neuroreceptor (e.g., TACR/HTR) and metabolic enzyme (e.g., GLA/NAGA) genes within identical midgut segments. These data reveal that the M1 region is primarily enriched in metabolic processes and neural signaling; the M2 region emphasizes cellular junctions and immune responses, while the M3 region is mainly responsible for cellular senescence and renewal. These discoveries advance the understanding of feeding adaptation mechanisms in Hemipteran insects and propose a “metabolism–defense–regeneration” functional model for the midgut. The established multi-level analytical framework provides a robust methodology for subsequent dissection of complex biological systems, identification of key molecular targets for functional validation, and for the development of novel pest control strategies. Full article

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been traditionally linked to poultry and wild birds, which has recently become a serious concern for dairy cattle, causing outbreaks all over the United States. The need for improved surveillance, biosecurity protocols, and interagency collaboration is highlighted by the discovery of H5N1 in dairy herds in several states and its human transmission. The epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and wide-ranging effects of H5N1 in cattle are reviewed in this paper, with particular attention paid to the disease’s effects on agricultural systems, public health, and animal health. Nonspecific clinical symptoms, such as decreased milk production and irregular milk consistency, are indicative of infection in dairy cows. Alarmingly, significant virus loads have been discovered in raw milk, raising worries about potential zoonotic transmission. The dangers of viral spillover between species are further highlighted by cases of domestic cats experiencing severe neurological symptoms after ingesting raw colostrum and milk from infected cows. Even though human cases remain rare, and they are mostly related to occupational exposure, constant attention is required due to the possibility of viral adaptability. The necessity of a One Health approach that integrates environmental, animal, and human health efforts is further supported by the broad occurrence of H5N1 across multiple species. For early detection, containment, and mitigation, cooperation between veterinary clinics, public health organizations, and agricultural stakeholders is crucial. Controlling the outbreak requires stringent movement restrictions, regular testing of dairy cows in reference labs, and adherence to biosecurity procedures. This review highlights the importance of thorough and coordinated efforts to manage H5N1 in dairy cattle by combining existing knowledge and pointing out gaps in surveillance and response strategies. Additionally, it sheds light on the potential risk of consumption of cow’s milk contaminated with H5N1 virus by humans and other companion animals like cats. In the face of this changing threat, proactive monitoring, strict biosecurity protocols, and cross-sector cooperation are crucial for reducing financial losses and protecting human and animal health. Full article

(1) Background: The number of patients with cancer undergoing cancer genome profiling is increasing; however, it remains unclear how accurately they understand the details of the tests and treatments. This study aimed to clarify the awareness of cancer genome profiling tests among patients with cancer who visited cancer genome medical clinics. (2) Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on awareness, anxiety, sources of information, and psychological states concerning cancer genome profiling tests. (3) Results: In total, 265 patients with cancer (117 men, 142 women, 6 no response, average age of 58.29 ± 11.9 years) were included in the study, of which 218 (82.3%) were aware of the term “cancer genomic medicine” and 90 (34.0%) were aware of its details. Thus, only a few respondents understood that cancer genome profiling tests facilitate the discovery of secondary findings and of genes associated with hereditary tumors. Regarding their psychological state when visiting the cancer genome clinic, the respondents were anxious about standard treatment and prognosis limits. (4) Conclusions: From the viewpoint of advance care planning, we suggest that medical professionals build a support system that links palliative care and cancer treatment and coordinates genetic counseling at an early stage. Full article

Timely discovery and disposal of road risk sources constitute the cornerstone of road operation safety. Presently, the detection of road risk sources frequently relies on manual inspections via inspection vehicles, a process that is both inefficient and time-consuming. To tackle this challenge, this paper introduces a novel automated approach for detecting road risk sources, termed the multi-scale lightweight network (MSLN). This method primarily focuses on identifying road surfaces, potholes, and scattered objects. To mitigate the influence of real-world factors such as noise and uneven brightness on test results, pavement images were carefully collected. Initially, the collected images underwent grayscale processing. Subsequently, the median filtering algorithm was employed to filter out noise interference. Furthermore, adaptive histogram equalization techniques were utilized to enhance the visibility of cracks and the road background. Following these preprocessing steps, the MSLN model was deployed for the detection of road risk sources. Addressing the challenges associated with two-stage network models, such as prolonged training and testing times, as well as deployment difficulties, this study adopted the lightweight feature extraction network MobileNetV2. Additionally, transfer learning was incorporated to elevate the model’s training efficiency. Moreover, this paper established a mapping relationship model that transitions from the world coordinate system to the pixel coordinate system. This model enables the calculation of risk source dimensions based on detection outcomes. Experimental results reveal that the MSLN model exhibits a notably faster convergence rate. This enhanced convergence not only boosts training speed but also elevates the precision of risk source detection. Furthermore, the proposed mapping relationship coordinate transformation model proves highly effective in determining the scale of risk sources. Full article

In developing his cosmological model of 1917, de Sitter theoretically predicted the phenomenon of cosmological redshift (the de Sitter effect), which he did long before the discovery of this phenomenon in observations. The de Sitter effect is gravitational by its nature, as it is due to differences between the coordinate systems of the observer and the distant source. However, the relationship between the redshift and distance derived from the de Sitter metric is at odds with observations, since this relationship is nonlinear (quadratic) for small redshifts, while the observed relationship between the same quantities is strictly linear. This paper discusses the possibility that cosmological redshift is gravitational by its nature, as in de Sitter’s 1917 model. At the same time, here, as in de Sitter’s model, an elliptical space is used, the main characteristic of which is the identification of its antipodal points. But, unlike de Sitter’s model, here, in order to ensure strict linear dependence of the redshift on distance, the origin of the reference system is transferred to the observer’s antipodal point. The Schwarzschild–de Sitter metric used in this model allows you to estimate the curvature of space from observational data. To achieve this, a theoretical Hubble diagram is built within the framework of the model with the Schwarzschild–de Sitter metric, which is compared with observations from the Pantheon+ catalogue of type Ia supernovae and the Amati catalogue of gamma-ray bursts in the redshift range of $0<z<8$. As a result of this comparison, we found that the lower estimate of the radius of curvature of space was quite large: $2.4\times {10}^{15}$ Mpc. This means that the observational data indicate a negligible curvature of space. Full article

The clustering methods of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) have gained popularity due to their ability to offer improved scalability, consistency, dependability, and load balancing within overlay networks and SDN partitions. This paper delved into the effects of increasing the number of OpenFlow-enabled southbound devices on the establishment and coordination of SDN-controller clusters. Specifically, we examined the volume of east–west cluster packet communications concerning the number of southbound devices within the topology. Many research studies have focused on bandwidth and the number of bytes in east–west communication. While bandwidth refers to the maximum rate at which data can be transferred, and the number of bytes reflects the volume of data being transmitted, the number of packet communications directly influences the efficiency and responsiveness of network operations. Our investigation encompassed the impact of SDN controller-to-controller communication within the cluster concerning the rising number of OpenFlow switches connected to various topologies, including tree (star-bus network), linear, and torus configurations. This study provided data on communication patterns within Open Network Operating Systems (ONOS) and OpenDaylight (ODL) clusters, revealing differing levels of controller communication with southbound network expansions. We evaluated the scalability of ODL and ONOS controllers by scrutinising the effect of increasing the number of southbound devices on the control communication volume. Our analysis revealed varied communication patterns within ONOS and ODL clusters, resulting in different volumes of control communication with southbound expansions. The findings indicated that in small-to-medium-sized SDNs, ODL outperformed ONOS, notably with faster cluster discovery. Conversely, ONOS demonstrated greater efficiency in larger networks owing to its centralised communication architecture. Finally, we provide recommendations for selecting the most suitable controllers based on the size of southbound networks, aiming to provide practical guidelines for optimal network performance. Full article

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes have been investigated as potential anticancer drugs since the serendipitous discovery of the antineoplastic activities of cisplatin in the 1960s. Skin cancer is considered the most common malignant neoplasm that affects humans, and melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer. Surgical excision is the main form of treatment, which also may include radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. In this work, new insights concerning the structural characterization and in vitro anti-proliferative activity of the palladium(II) complex with the amino acid deoxyalliin (Pd-sac) against a panel of thirteen human tumor cells, with emphasis on skin cancer cell lines, are presented. The composition of the complex was confirmed by elemental analysis as [Pd(C₆H₁₀NO₂S)₂]. The structure of the complex was elucidated for the first time by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Each deoxyalliin molecule coordinates in a bidentate N,S-mode to palladium(II) in a trans-configuration analogous to the platinum(II) deoxyalliin complex early reported. As the main result, the Pd-sac complex showed a selective anti-proliferative activity against melanoma (UACC-62, TGI = 63.5 µM), while both deoxyalliin and K₂PdCl₄ were inactive against all cell lines. Moreover, Pd-sac did not affect the proliferation of non-tumorigenic keratinocytes (HaCaT, TGI > 586 µM) and was non-mutagenic in the Ames assay. The results open new perspectives for in vivo studies concerning the application of the Pd-sac complex in the treatment of melanoma. Full article

For many years, metal–flavonoid complexes have been widely studied as a part of drug discovery programs, but in the last decade their importance in materials science has increased significantly. A deeper understanding of the role of metal ions and flavonoids in constructing simple complexes and more advanced hybrid networks will facilitate the assembly of materials with tailored architecture and functionality. In this Review, we highlight the most essential data on metal–flavonoid systems, presenting a promising alternative in the design of hybrid inorganic–organic materials. We focus mainly on systems containing Cu^II/I and Fe^III/II ions, which are necessary in natural and industrial catalysis. We discuss two kinds of interactions that typically ensure the formation of metal–flavonoid systems, namely coordination and redox reactions. Our intention is to cover the fundamentals of metal–flavonoid systems to show how this knowledge has been already transferred from small molecules to complex materials. Full article

Within microgrids (MGs), the integration of renewable energy resources (RERs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), combined heat and power (CHP) systems, demand response (DR) initiatives, and energy storage solutions poses intricate scheduling challenges. Coordinating these diverse components is pivotal for optimizing MG performance. This study presents an innovative stochastic framework to streamline energy management in MGs, covering proton exchange membrane fuel cell–CHP (PEMFC-CHP) units, RERs, PHEVs, and various storage methods. To tackle uncertainties in PHEV and RER models, we employ the robust Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) technique. Challenges related to hydrogen storage strategies in PEMFC-CHP units are addressed through a customized mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) approach. The integration of intelligent charging protocols governing PHEV charging dynamics is emphasized. Our primary goal centers on maximizing market profits, serving as the foundation for our optimization endeavors. At the heart of our approach is the Meerkat Optimization Algorithm (MOA), unraveling optimal MG operation amidst the intermittent nature of uncertain parameters. To amplify its exploratory capabilities and expedite global optima discovery, we enhance the MOA algorithm. The revised summary commences by outlining the overall goal and core algorithm, followed by a detailed explanation of optimization points for each MG component. Rigorous validation is executed using a conventional test system across diverse planning horizons. A comprehensive comparative analysis spanning varied scenarios establishes our proposed method as a benchmark against existing alternatives. Full article

In the 1980s, China began to recognize the gravity of the problem of non-point agricultural source pollution and conduct research on it. Agricultural non-point source pollution in China, on the other hand, differs from foreign agricultural non-point source pollution and industrial point source pollution. Because the features of agricultural non-point source pollution are complicated, it is critical to investigate a whole-chain management policy system appropriate for China’s agricultural pattern. Based on the current situation of agricultural non-point source pollution in China, this study summarizes the four stages of agricultural non-point source pollution prevention and control policies, namely the discovery stage with macro policies as the main focus, the exploration stage with single research indicators, the initial systematic strengthening stage, and the focused stage with targeted characteristics. Simultaneously, it examined the technological approaches that are suitable for China’s national circumstances and have been investigated by relying on international experience in present-day Chinese management. However, there are still some problems and challenges in agricultural non-point source pollution management policies, such as a lack of non-point source information support, a lack of coordination between different departments, a lack of support in measurement and retroactive calculation and treatment, a lack of an in-depth concept of zoning and classification, a lack of policy, an institutional system, and insufficient capital investment. Based on these problems and combining them with Green Agriculture, Beautiful China, and other goals, this paper puts forward suggestions to strengthen the policy data support of the agricultural non-point source pollution management system, enhance the research and development of the law of pollutant migration and transformation, encourage the innovation of low-cost and high-benefit treatment technology, improve the construction of the management system, strengthen the collaboration of departments, increase the investment of funds, and make other suggestions so as to promote the treatment of agricultural non-point source pollution with high quality and efficiency. Full article

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare mesenchymal tumors characterized by KIT or PDGFRA mutations. Over three decades, significant changes in drug discovery and loco-regional (LR) procedures have impacted treatment strategies. We assessed the evolution of treatment strategies for metastatic GIST patients treated in the three national coordinating centers of NetSarc, the French network of sarcoma referral centers endorsed by the National Institute of Cancers, from 1990 to 2018. The primary objective was to describe the clinical and biological profiles as well as the treatment modalities of patients with metastatic GIST in a real-life setting, including access to clinical trials and LR procedures in the metastatic setting. Secondary objectives were to assess (1) patients’ outcome in terms of time to next treatment (TNT) for each line of systemic treatment, (2) patients’ overall survival (OS), (3) evolution of patients’ treatment modalities and OS according to treatment access: <2002 (pre-imatinib approval), 2002–2006 (pre-sunitinib approval), 2006–2014 (pre-regorafenib approval), post 2014, and (4) the impact of clinical trials and LR procedures on TNT and OS in the metastatic setting. 1038 patients with a diagnosis of GIST made in one of the three participating centers between 1990 and 2018 were included in the national prospective database. Among them, 492 patients presented metastasis, either synchronous or metachronous. The median number of therapy lines in the metastatic setting was 3 (range 0–15). More than half of the patients (55%) participated in a clinical trial during the course of their metastatic disease and half (51%) underwent additional LR procedures on metastatic sites. The median OS in the metastatic setting was 83.4 months (95%CI [72.7; 97.9]). The median TNT was 26.7 months (95%CI [23.4; 32.3]) in first-line, 10.2 months (95%CI [8.6; 11.8]) in second line, 6.7 months (95%CI [5.3; 8.5]) in third line, and 5.5 months (95%CI [4.3; 6.7]) in fourth line, respectively. There was no statistical difference in OS in the metastatic setting between the four therapeutic periods (log rank, p = 0.18). In multivariate analysis, age, AFIP Miettinen classification, mutational status, surgery of the primary tumor, participation in a clinical trial in the first line and LR procedure to metastatic sites were associated with longer TNT in the first line, whereas age, mitotic index, mutational status, surgery of the primary tumor and LR procedure to metastatic sites were associated with longer OS. This real-life study advocates for early reference of metastatic GIST patients to expert centers to orchestrate the best access to future innovative clinical trials together with LR strategies and further improve GIST patients’ survival. Full article

Accurate sky identification is one of the most important functions of an automated telescope mount. The more accurately the robotic telescope is navigated to the investigated part of the sky, the better the observations and discoveries made. In this paper, we present mathematical methods for accurate sky identification (celestial coordinates determination). They include the automatic selection of the reference stars, preliminary and full sky identification, as well as an interaction with international databases, which are a part of the astrometric calibration. All described methods help to receive accurately calculated astrometric data and use it for the positional calibration and better navigation of the automated telescope mount. The developed methods were successfully implemented in the Collection Light Technology (CoLiTec) software. Through its use, more than 1600 small solar system objects were discovered. It has been used in more than 700,000 observations and successful sky identifications, during which, five comets were discovered. Additionally, the accuracy indicators of the processing results of the CoLiTec software are provided in the paper, which shows benefits of the CoLiTec software and lower standard deviation of the sky identification in the case of low signal-to-noise ratios. Full article

Balance assessment, or posturography, tracks and prevents health complications for a variety of groups with balance impairment, including the elderly population and patients with traumatic brain injury. Wearables can revolutionize state-of-the-art posturography methods, which have recently shifted focus to clinical validation of strictly positioned inertial measurement units (IMUs) as replacements for force-plate systems. Yet, modern anatomical calibration (i.e., sensor-to-segment alignment) methods have not been utilized in inertial-based posturography studies. Functional calibration methods can replace the need for strict placement of inertial measurement units, which may be tedious or confusing for certain users. In this study, balance-related metrics from a smartwatch IMU were tested against a strictly placed IMU after using a functional calibration method. The smartwatch and strictly placed IMUs were strongly correlated in clinically relevant posturography scores (r = 0.861–0.970, p < 0.001). Additionally, the smartwatch was able to detect significant variance (p < 0.001) between pose-type scores from the mediolateral (ML) acceleration data and anterior-posterior (AP) rotation data. With this calibration method, a large problem with inertial-based posturography has been addressed, and wearable, “at-home” balance-assessment technology is within possibility. Full article