Search Results (174)

Water scarcity restricts agricultural productivity and crop yield in many regions. Hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for soil amendment and soilless cultivation. Herein, cellulose hydrogels prepared from waste paper via a DMAc/LiCl solvent system (HG-WP) and from cotton microcrystalline cellulose via NaOH/aq. dissolution (HG-MCC) were investigated. HG-WP formed semi-solid, mechanically stable materials with high porosity, capable of retaining their shape during handling and plant cultivation, whereas HG-MCC appeared denser and less elastic. Their properties and agricultural performance were compared with those of a commercial polyacrylate hydrogel (HG-PA). The three hydrogels differed substantially in water capacity: HG-PA demonstrated the highest (50.13 g/g), whereas HG-WP and HG-MCC showed 30.57 and 3.66 g/g, respectively. Soil amended with 20 wt.% cellulose hydrogel exhibited improved water retention compared with untreated soil during the first 7 days of drying. Under laboratory conditions, hydrogels increased mustard biomass in soil under regular watering and plant survival under drought conditions. In soilless systems, cellulose hydrogels accelerated germination and improved plant development compared with control substrates. In soilless pea cultivation, HG-WP increased total biomass and survival from 56.7% to 79.3%. During basil cultivation in soil, cellulose hydrogel increased plant survival by 13.3% and mean biomass by 10.5% compared with the control. The results demonstrate the potential of cellulose hydrogels as biodegradable soil amendments and soilless substrates for short-cycle crop cultivation, outperforming the commercial polyacrylate hydrogel as an independent soilless substrate. Full article

Background/Objectives: Soil salinization constitutes a critical threat to global agriculture, with cotton (Gossypium spp.) being highly susceptible. This abiotic stress most severely impacts cotton during the early sowing and seedling stages, compromising stand establishment and early growth. Manifestations of this stress include reduced germination rates, uneven emergence, stunted seedlings, and, ultimately, diminished boll set and fiber yield. Methods: To investigate the molecular basis of salt tolerance in cotton seed germination, we performed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of Gossypium hirsutum cv. ST022-1056m5 under 150 mM NaCl stress at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, finding that salt stress significantly inhibited germination. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified, followed by functional enrichment and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to construct regulatory networks. Results: Transcriptomics revealed stage-specific differentially expressed genes, with predominant downregulation and enrichment in catalytic/transporter activities. Metabolomics showed distinct reprogramming, with 210 shared differentially accumulated metabolites enriched in lipids, organic acids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. KEGG analysis highlighted time-dependent pathway shifts: sucrose metabolism and MAPK signaling at 24 h, photosynthesis at 48 h, and cuticular lipid biosynthesis at 72 h. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified stage-associated modules and hub genes (GH_A02G0892, GH_A08G2853), and multi-omics integration indicated the strongest transcript–metabolite coordination at 24 h. Conclusion: Our study reveals dynamic molecular reprogramming underpinning stage-specific salt adaptation in germinating cotton seeds. These identified DEGs, DAMs, and hub genes represent promising candidate targets for molecular breeding and offer a crucial genetic basis for improving salt tolerance in cotton. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dysphagia is common in tracheostomized patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may be influenced by airway pathology and tracheostomy-related factors. This study investigated whether tracheostomy cannula type is independently associated with swallowing function and pharyngeal residue after accounting for airway stenosis and clinical variables. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 80 tracheostomized TBI patients using a speaking valve. Participants were grouped according to cannula type (non-fenestrated vs. fenestrated). Swallowing function was evaluated using Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and pharyngeal residue severity was assessed using the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale (YPRSRS). Airway stenosis severity was graded using the Cotton–Meyer classification. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of pharyngeal residue. Results: Higher pharyngeal residue scores were observed in the fenestrated cannula group under selected conditions, particularly for 5 mL liquid (p = 0.039) and 5 mL semi-solid boluses (p = 0.004) in the vallecular region, and for 5 mL semi-solid boluses in the pyriform sinuses (p < 0.001). Airway stenosis grade was strongly associated with increased pharyngeal residue and reduced SpO₂ levels (p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, airway stenosis emerged as the factor most consistently associated with pharyngeal residue severity (e.g., OR = 4.909, 95% CI: 1.646–14.646, p = 0.004), whereas cannula type was not independently associated with most outcomes. Condition-specific associations were identified between fenestrated cannula use and pharyngeal residue in two models (vallecular residue for 5 mL semi-solid: OR = 0.354, 95% CI: 0.143–0.876, p = 0.025; pyriform sinus residue for 10 mL liquid: OR = 0.190, 95% CI: 0.073–0.495, p = 0.001); however, the direction of these associations differed from unadjusted comparisons, indicating prominent confounding by stenosis severity. Conclusions: FEES-estimated airway stenosis appeared to be the factor most consistently associated with pharyngeal residue severity in tracheostomized TBI patients, whereas the effect of cannula type appeared to be limited. Comprehensive airway assessment may therefore be important in dysphagia management. Full article

This paper shifts the research perspective from “Buddhist monasteries” to “monastic Buddhism,” using Nālandā Mahāvihāra as a micro-level case to illuminate the broader support mechanism of Indian Buddhist monasteries, with particular focus on the concept of “non-exhaustible endowment”. Drawing on epigraphic evidence, Vinaya texts, and Chinese pilgrims’ records, it finds that major donors supported monasteries through religious rituals, land grants, and cash investments, primarily in the form of landed property and gold and silver currency, which were designated as non-exhaustible endowments. Monasteries then engaged in agriculture, handicrafts, building industry, commerce, and lending, transforming static assets into a non-exhaustible cycle of capital that benefited both monastics and laity. Systems such as Yizhi (robe funds) and Gongfu zhi Zhuang (robe-providing estates) reveal mature financial services that not only liberated monks from economic constraints but also stimulated the cotton textile trade between India and China. The wealth possessed by monasteries was not static but perpetually engaged in a dynamic cycle of capital. Major Buddhist monasteries thus emerged as regional economic engines, which became the core value for continuous royal patronage, as well as the key incentive for their violent destruction by Turkic Muslims. However, the transformation of the religious landscape and economic network in late medieval Bihār was not a simplistic process. Faced with a changing political and religious environment over time, Sufi saints, Jain followers, Shaiva ascetics and other religious communities, each grounded in their own faiths, landholdings, commercial networks and educational systems, gradually displaced, restructured and undermined the Buddhist monastery-centered endowment mechanism, causing Buddhism to progressively lose its regional dominance as an institutionalized religion. Full article

Textile materials made from staple fibers typically have protruding fibers on their surface, commonly referred to as surface hairiness. During fraying, the surface of the textile material is susceptible to damage, which affects its appearance and leads to fuzzing by roughening or the emergence of new fibers. The propensity for fuzzing is assessed using the standard visual method (EN ISO 12945-4:2020), which is intuitive and cost-effective but better suited for evaluating more pronounced surface phenomena, such as pilling. This is mainly because fuzzing is usually accompanied by pilling, and their simultaneous occurrence makes separate analysis difficult. As a result, instrumental methods for assessing fuzzing that provide a more objective evaluation are rarely reported. In this research, an advanced digital imaging assessment method was introduced, using an innovative apparatus that, with simultaneous assessment of pilling, enabled separate digital imaging of the same textile fabric specimen’s surface fuzzing through a refined viewing angle. Additionally, newly developed software enabled digital analysis and acquisition of quantitative numerical values related to surface fuzzing. The research was conducted on six single-component woven fabrics made from cotton, wool, viscose, polyamide 6.6, polyester, and acrylic. Fuzzing was induced using an ICI tester (EN ISO 12945-1:2020) and a Martindale tester (EN ISO 12945-2:2020) through predefined box revolutions and fuzzing rubs ranging from 125 to 30,000. Fuzzing was assessed using both the standard visual method and the advanced digital imaging assessment method, with grading according to established classes based on the percentage change in fuzzing layer height. The results highlight the applicability of the advanced digital assessment method, as it separately captures the occurrence of fuzzing and distinguishes it from pilling. Full article

This study aimed to determine the optimal biochar application rate for sustaining cotton productivity in moderately saline soils under dry sowing with wet emergence (DSWE) conditions in Shaya County, Xinjiang. A two-year field experiment, arranged in a randomized complete block design with two replicates, evaluated six biochar application rates (S1–S6) against a non-amended control (CK). The biochar, derived from fruit-wood via limited-oxygen pyrolysis at 500 °C (pH 9.82, porosity 64.5%), was applied as a single pre-sowing amendment. Soil water–salt dynamics, crop emergence, and growth parameters were continuously monitored. The results indicated that biochar application consistently reduced soil salinity; specifically, seedling-stage salinity decreased by 30.1–42.2% in the first year compared with the CK. Cotton emergence and yield improved significantly across both seasons. However, the optimal application rate for maximizing yield varied between years. While a high rate (S5: 25 t·hm⁻²) produced the highest first-year yield (6243.8 kg·hm⁻²), a moderate rate (S3: 15 t·hm⁻²) demonstrated greater yield stability and achieved the maximum yield (5975.2 kg·hm⁻²) in the second year. This interannual shift is likely attributable to biochar aging and structural pore saturation in the high-dose plots. Combined with high regional evaporation, these factors exacerbated secondary salinization and reduced the residual benefits of the amendment over time. In contrast, the moderate dose maintained a more effective balance between continuous water–salt regulation and nutrient availability. Under the experimental conditions, a single pre-sowing application of 15 t·hm⁻² biochar, combined with a 375 m³·hm⁻² drip irrigation volume, is recommended as an effective strategy to ameliorate salinity and support long-term yield stability. Full article

The cotton seed bug (CSB) (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis), an emerging pest of cotton worldwide, causes significant economic damage through seed feeding and fiber contamination. Effective monitoring tools for this species are currently lacking, limiting the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. In this study, we characterized the volatile profile of whole, unprocessed cotton seeds and evaluated the behavioral responses of adult CSBs to individual compounds and synthetic blends. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, we identified 17 volatile compounds, including aldehydes, hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds, terpenes, ketone, and fatty acid ester. Y-tube olfactometer assays revealed that only four individual compounds, 1-heptanal, 1-decene, 1-nonanal, and isopropyl palmitate, elicited significant attraction from both males and females. Chemical blends of these four compounds formulated in a natural ratio (1:16:4:2) and an equal ratio (1:1:1:1) demonstrated strong, dose-dependent attraction, with optimal responses occurring at low doses (0.01 µg). Robust behavioral attraction was observed in response to the complete four-component blend. Removal of any individual compound significantly reduced attraction in a sex-specific and dose-dependent manner. Notably, removal of the fatty acid ester isopropyl palmitate from the blend almost resulted in a complete loss of attraction. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of volatile emissions from whole cotton seed and presents the first evidence in CSB that 1-decene and isopropyl palmitate function as key volatile components of the foraging cue for attraction. These findings advance our understanding of CSB chemical ecology and highlight the potential of dose-dependent, multi-component kairomonal blends as tools for monitoring and management of CSB. Full article

Bemisia tabaci (whitefly; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a complex of morphologically similar but genetically distinct species, causes enormous agricultural damage worldwide. Farmers incur billions of dollars in losses each year from whiteflies, both through direct feeding damage and from the transmission of numerous plant viruses. Important crops that are heavily damaged by whiteflies include tomato, eggplant, cucumber, cotton, cucurbits, beans, and cassava. The global invasiveness and persistence of B. tabaci are largely attributed to its exceptional biological traits. Understanding these traits is essential for developing effective, long-term pest management strategies. This review describes in detail how the basic biology studies of B. tabaci provide a foundation for developing pest management strategies. Specifically, we discuss: (1) insights into the development of insecticide resistance can guide resistance management strategies; (2) knowledge of natural enemies supports the advancement of biological control approaches; and (3) understanding plant–insect interactions reveals molecular targets for innovative pest management solutions. We also examine emerging research trends and offer future perspectives on how ongoing studies may drive the development of next-generation control strategies (RNA interference, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats—CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), and horizontally transferred genes as targets). Full article

This study presents the findings of on-farm trials conducted in Hungary between 2023 and 2025, evaluating the efficacy of inundative Trichogramma releases against the European corn borer (ECB) and the cotton bollworm (CBW). The research assessed three Trichogramma preparations, including solo T. brassicae (TB) and two species mixtures: (1) T. dendrolimi, T. cacoeciae, and T. brassicae (TSM1) and (2) T. brassicae and T. pintoi (TSM2). The timing of the releases was synchronized with pest swarming and maize phenology. The efficacy of Trichogramma-based biological control was assessed by comparing the number of damaged plants and the number of pest larvae detected in treated and untreated plots. Statistical analyses revealed a significant association between the release of parasitoids and a reduction in pest damage. The efficacy of the Trichogramma releases was determined using Abbott’s formula. In our research, the following pattern emerged: (1) medium efficacy (ranging from 40% to 68.2%) occurred under low pest pressure and optimal weather conditions; (2) low efficacy (35.5% and 33.3%) occurred under medium pest pressure and suboptimal climatic conditions; and (3) no efficacy occurred under high pest abundance combined with unfavorable weather. Our findings suggest that Trichogramma-based products can serve as complementary components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM); however, they also emphasize that parasitism by Trichogramma wasps is influenced by several factors, such as climatic conditions and pest abundance, indicating that additional plant protection treatments may be necessary, for example, under high pest pressure and/or suboptimal climatic conditions. Full article

Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, is a major disease that markedly compromises both the yield and fiber quality of cotton. In this study, we explored the function and underlying mechanism of the cotton expansin gene GhEXLB2 in response to VW infection. Expression profiling revealed that members of the GhEXL family exhibit distinct patterns across tissues and under various biotic and abiotic stresses. Notably, GhEXLB2, which encodes an extracellular protein, showed the strongest induction following V. dahliae challenge. Ectopic expression of GhEXLB2 in Arabidopsis thaliana promoted root elongation and root hair formation, and was associated with improved resistance to the pathogen. In contrast, silencing GhEXLB2 in cotton via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) led to pronounced vascular browning, increased pathogen recovery, and a lower level of disease resistance. In addition, RNA-seq profiling of GhEXLB2-silenced (VIGS) cotton plants revealed that most differentially expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to phytohormone signaling and plant–pathogen interactions, with salicylic acid (SA) signaling and WRKY transcription factors emerging as central regulatory components. Analysis of the GhEXLB2 promoter further identified multiple cis-acting elements associated with stress and hormone responsiveness. When integrated with protein–protein interaction (PPI) prediction data, these results suggest that GhEXLB2 may be modulated by a network of transcription factors and signaling pathways. Collectively, the evidence supports a positive association between GhEXLB2 and VW resistance. This study provides a framework for understanding expansin functions in cotton defense against VW. Full article

Closed-circuit axial piston pumps in the travel hydraulic systems of heavy-duty engineering vehicles are highly vulnerable to severe transient cavitation during emergency braking. Rapid pressure reversal at the interface between the cylinder bore and the valve plate causes volumetric efficiency loss, intensified pressure pulsation, and erosion damage; however, the coupled mechanism by which throttling, vortex formation, and cavitation interact in this region, together with its structural regulation pathway, remains insufficiently understood. To address this gap, a closed-circuit axial piston pump for cotton pickers was investigated under emergency braking as a representative extreme loading scenario. A full-passage transient CFD model was established and validated against steady-state volumetric efficiency tests on a heavy-load test bench, as well as against PIV internal flow visualization on a Reynolds-scaled transparent model. Parametric transient CFD sweeps were then performed, and a multi-objective optimization model was developed and solved using a Kriging-assisted NSGA-II algorithm with entropy-weighted TOPSIS decision-making. The results identify the interface between the cylinder bore and the valve plate as the primary cavitation zone, with cavitation driven by local throttling and wall-attached vortices rather than by global low pressure. The optimized cylinder bore configuration reduces the peak gas volume fraction by 34.7% in the total flow domain and by 15.7% in the valve plate region, while maintaining volumetric efficiency above 97.8%; the port plate pressure pulsation increases by 12.97%. The key takeaway is that targeted optimization of the cylinder bore alone, without altering the overall valve plate or piston block architecture, can effectively suppress transient cavitation, while revealing an inherent trade-off with pressure pulsation control. In conclusion, this work clarifies the cavitation mechanism, provides a validated numerical and experimental framework, and offers an implementable design pathway for transient cavitation control of closed-circuit piston pumps under extreme loading conditions. Full article

Monolepta hieroglyphica Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (M. hieroglyphica) is widely distributed in China. Its larvae are soil pests that cause severe damage to the seeds and roots of economically important crops such as corn, cotton, and millet. This study investigated the effects of four temperatures (25, 28, 31, and 34 °C) on the survival rate, food consumption (3rd instar), pupation rate, emergence rate, biometric indices (weight and length), and antioxidant enzyme activity of immature M. hieroglyphica. High temperatures (31 °C and 34 °C) adversely affected developmental duration, survival rates, and feeding efficiency. The highest pupation rate, emergence rate, and biometric indices were observed at 28 °C, after which these metrics steadily declined as the temperature increased. Notably, emergence was completely inhibited at 34 °C, resulting in the absence of biometric data. These changes correspond with the temperature-dependent regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GST, and POD). This study identified the optimal temperature range and critical high-temperature threshold for immature M. hieroglyphica, providing key biological parameters for predicting population dynamics and outbreak risks under climate warming, and offering a scientific basis for precise monitoring and temperature-based integrated pest management strategies. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as one of the most serious global health problems, necessitating the urgent development of alternative approaches to pathogen control. The present study describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel iodinated BODIPY derivative (BODIPY5), designed as a highly efficient photosensitizer for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI). The molecular design of the compound involves the introduction of two iodine atoms into the BODIPY5 core, which induces a “heavy atom effect”, accelerates the intersystem transition from the singlet to the triplet state, and leads to increased generation of singlet oxygen upon irradiation with visible light. Photophysical measurements show a significant fluorescence quenching of BODIPY5 compared to its unsubstituted counterpart, which is a direct indicator of increased photodynamic activity. The compound’s antimicrobial efficacy was tested in a homogeneous medium and after immobilization on cotton textiles via physical adsorption. In solution, BODIPY5 nearly eliminated the model bacterial strains B. cereus and P. aeruginosa at a low concentration of 10 µg/mL under light, with cell viability below 1%. The functionalized cotton fabric exhibits pronounced self-disinfection properties, retaining high photodynamic activity against the Gram-negative pathogen P. aeruginosa. Scanning electron microscopy results confirm extensive morphological damage and loss of structural integrity in bacterial cells on the treated textile following irradiation. The non-specific mechanism of action, which generates reactive oxygen species (¹O₂) in situ, prevents the development of bacterial resistance and makes the developed material a promising candidate for use in hospital environments, including antibacterial clothing and protective equipment. Full article

Under dry sowing and wet emergence conditions in Xinjiang, cotton planting with extra-wide film mulching and sowing faced challenges including low soil moisture content and poor soil plasticity. These conditions resulted in inadequate film edge laying, seed exposure, and unstable sowing depth. This study focused on an extra-wide film mulch planter, conducting operational process analysis and parameter optimization experiments. The research first analyzed the soil layer structure required for a high-quality cotton seedbed, described the structural composition and working principle of the extra-wide film mulch planter, and examined the interaction between key components and soil during operation. The primary factors affecting machine performance were identified, and a soil-deflecting device was added to mitigate rapid soil backflow. A coupled MBD-DEM model was developed to simulate the operation of key components, and simulation experiments were conducted. The optimal parameter combination obtained through optimization was as follows: furrowing disc deflection angle of 11°, primary soil-covering disc deflection angle of 20°, operational speed of 3.5 km/h, longitudinal blade height of 16 mm, and spring stiffness of 14 N/mm. Simulation validation under these parameters yielded the following results: covering soil amount ranged from 3.22 kg/m to 3.67 kg/m, with a mean of 3.43 kg/m; seeding qualification rate ranged from 94.97% to 97.52%, with a mean of 96.3%; film hole length ranged from 43.14 mm to 46.86 mm, with a mean of 45.18 mm; and cotton seed sowing depth ranged from 29.51 mm to 31.82 mm, with a mean of 31.23 mm. These simulation results met the operational requirements for extra-wide film mulching and sowing. Field validation experiments were conducted using the optimal parameter combination. The results showed a mean soil-covering thickness of 35.1 mm, mean soil-covering width of 65.3 mm, mean film hole length of 45.7 mm, and mean cotton seed sowing depth of 29.1 mm, with coefficients of variation of 5.1%, 2.6%, 4.7%, and 5.8%, respectively. The field results were generally consistent with the simulation results, confirming the reliability of the simulation model and demonstrating improved operational performance of the extra-wide film mulch planter, making it more suitable for the dry sowing with wet emergence technique. Twenty days after sowing, the mean emergence rate reached 93.3% with a coefficient of variation of 1.0%, indicating stable emergence, which preliminarily validated the effectiveness of the constructed seedbed in promoting cotton growth. Full article

The necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum compromises the physiological and anatomical integrity of cotton, leading to substantial economic losses due to rapid tissue necrosis, stem blight, boll rot, and leaf wilting. In this context, the use of endophytic microorganisms emerges as a promising strategy for the biocontrol of white mold. This study tested the hypothesis that endophytic fungal strains isolated from the roots of Butia purpurascens, a palm tree endemic to the Cerrado biome, could mitigate disease symptoms in Gossypium hirsutum L. To evaluate this, cotton plants were subjected to biotic stress imposed by S. sclerotiorum to assess the effectiveness of seven fungal strains in attenuating disease. The impact of the pathogen was monitored through growth variables, gas exchange, leaf temperature, chlorophyll a fluorescence, antioxidant enzyme activity, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the incidence of rot in petioles, leaves, and flower buds. Overall, inoculation with endophytic fungi significantly alleviated the effects of the phytopathogen, promoting vegetative growth and optimizing physiological performance. Treated plants exhibited alleviated stress in primary photochemistry, reduced non-photochemical energy dissipation, and stable carbon fixation. Additionally, efficient modulation of the antioxidant system and preservation of anatomical structures were observed, minimizing the severe symptoms of white mold. Notably, the non-pathogenic strains BP10EF (Gibberella moniliformis), BP16EF (Penicillium purpurogenum), and BP33EF (Hamigera insecticola) acted as potent physiological modulators, yielding responses similar to those of healthy plants. These results highlight the biotechnological potential of these endophytic strains, which can be explored as both growth promoters and resistance inducers in cotton against white mold. Full article