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23 pages, 2747 KB  
Article
Identification of the Picking Stage for Volvariella Volvacea Fruiting Bodies Using an Improved YOLO11n Model
by Haitao Yin, Jinpeng Wang, Bin Zhou, Yongqi Chao and Hongping Zhou
Agriculture 2026, 16(13), 1371; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131371 (registering DOI) - 23 Jun 2026
Abstract
Accurate and rapid detection of Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) fruiting bodies at harvestable maturity is a critical prerequisite for automated industrial cultivation. However, existing detection methods often yield high false-negative and false-positive rates when processing a small-scale, densely distributed, and heavily occluded targets [...] Read more.
Accurate and rapid detection of Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) fruiting bodies at harvestable maturity is a critical prerequisite for automated industrial cultivation. However, existing detection methods often yield high false-negative and false-positive rates when processing a small-scale, densely distributed, and heavily occluded targets against complex straw substrate backgrounds. Furthermore, these methods frequently struggle to balance the competing requirements of architectural efficiency (such as parameter volume and computational complexity) and real-time performance for edge computing. To address these challenges, this study proposes a YOLO11n-CPDM, a lightweight detection model based on an improved YOLO11n architecture. The model incorporates synergistic optimizations across feature extraction, fusion, and reconstruction. First, a Dual Coordinate Attention Feature Extraction mechanism is integrated into the C3k2 bottleneck blocks of the backbone network. This enhances target perception in complex, occluded environments by concurrently modeling global context and local salient features. Second, within the neck network, the standard attention module is replaced with the PnPNystraAttention module, coupled with the DySample dynamic upsampling operator. This modification strengthens contextual relationships among multi-scale features and improves spatial consistency during reconstruction while preserving linear computational complexity. Finally, the detection head is optimized using MBConv blocks based on an inverted residual structure to minimize parameter volume. Experimental results on a custom V. volvacea dataset demonstrate that the proposed YOLO11n-CPDM model achieves significant performance gains, with Precision (P), Recall (R), and Mean Average Precision (mAP50) reaching 86.8%, 87.5%, and 88.4%, respectively. These figures represent improvements of 2.7, 3.0, and 3.2 percentage points over the baseline YOLO11n model. Additionally, the model size is reduced to 4.8 MB (a 12.7% decrease), while achieving inference speeds of 42.7 FPS on Jetson AGX Orin and 21.2 FPS on Jetson Nano, outperforming the baseline model on both embedded platforms. Consequently, the proposed model effectively enhances detection performance in complex environments while maintaining excellent lightweight characteristics and deployment flexibility, providing a solid technical foundation for intelligent perception and automated harvesting of V. volvacea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence and Digital Agriculture)
23 pages, 452 KB  
Article
The Mediating Role of Internal Marketing in the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence Applications and Quality of Work Life: A Field Study on Service Ministries in Saudi Arabia
by Mohammed Thani Alhumaid
Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6395; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136395 (registering DOI) - 23 Jun 2026
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates the mediating role of internal marketing (IM) in the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) applications and quality of work life (QWL). Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires from a sample of [...] Read more.
Purpose: This study investigates the mediating role of internal marketing (IM) in the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) applications and quality of work life (QWL). Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 418 employees across service ministries in Saudi Arabia and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) as the analytical instrument. Findings: The results reveal that the direct association between AI applications and QWL was not statistically significant. However, a significant indirect relationship was established, indicating that the effect operates entirely through IM. Specifically, AI applications are positively associated with IM practices, which in turn strongly predict higher QWL in the tested model. Originality/Contributions: The study advances current literature by empirically validating IM as the critical organizational mechanism required to translate AI deployment into employee well-being within public-sector institutions. Practical Implications: Decision-makers must couple AI adoption with targeted IM strategies—such as continuous training, job empowerment, and effective internal communication—to ensure a sustainable, human-centered digital transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality of Life in the Context of Sustainable Development)
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19 pages, 303 KB  
Article
Adolescents’ Responses to Peer Disclosure of Teen Dating Violence: Relationship Configuration, Response Intentions, and Protective Adult Support
by Francesco Sulla, Andreana Lavanga, Margherita Santamato, Nunzia Merafina, Salvatore Adam Leone, Giulia Fiorentino and Anna Sorrentino
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1043; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071043 (registering DOI) - 23 Jun 2026
Abstract
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a relevant form of adolescent interpersonal violence, yet little is known about how adolescents intend to respond when a peer discloses victimization and whether these responses facilitate access to supportive adults and other protective resources. This study examined [...] Read more.
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a relevant form of adolescent interpersonal violence, yet little is known about how adolescents intend to respond when a peer discloses victimization and whether these responses facilitate access to supportive adults and other protective resources. This study examined adolescents’ intended responses following peer disclosure of TDV using a vignette-based design that extended prior work by including four relationship configurations: heterosexual male perpetrator/female victim, heterosexual female perpetrator/male victim, male same-sex couple, and female same-sex couple. Participants were 655 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from secondary schools in Southern Italy. Descriptive findings showed that supportive and relational responses were most frequently endorsed, including listening to the friend, helping them decide what to do, reassuring them, and encouraging them to talk to trusted others, whereas institutional responses were endorsed less often. Stratified chi-square analyses indicated that condition effects were selective rather than pervasive and were concentrated mainly in responses involving escalation to adults or authorities. Across subgroups, the heterosexual female-perpetrator/male-victim condition was most consistently associated with lower intervention-oriented responding and/or greater uncertainty, whereas the heterosexual male-perpetrator/female-victim condition more often elicited active intervention. The findings suggest that adolescents’ responses to peer disclosures of violence are shaped not only by prosocial intentions but also by the social recognizability of the violent scenario, with implications for validation, access to supportive adults, and inclusive school-based prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Youth Development)
25 pages, 30590 KB  
Article
Variations in Ecological Locations Induce Soybean Seed Wrinkles by Disrupting Source–Sink Relationship and Energy Metabolism at the Grain-Filling Stage
by Junxia Huang, Wei Zheng, Demin Rao, Xingdong Yao, Futi Xie, Huijun Zhang, Xue Ao, Haiying Wang and Yongqiang Cao
Plants 2026, 15(12), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121924 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
Abstract
Defective seed filling, which manifests as seed wrinkling, severely impairs the yield and commercial quality of soybean crops. Soybean varieties independently developed in Heilongjiang Province exhibit distinct phenotypic variations in seed wrinkling across diverse ecological planting regions, whereas the molecular and physiological mechanisms [...] Read more.
Defective seed filling, which manifests as seed wrinkling, severely impairs the yield and commercial quality of soybean crops. Soybean varieties independently developed in Heilongjiang Province exhibit distinct phenotypic variations in seed wrinkling across diverse ecological planting regions, whereas the molecular and physiological mechanisms driving such differences remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, two soybean genotypes with divergent heat resistance, namely, the heat-sensitive cultivar HH43 and the heat-tolerant cultivar HN76, were planted in three distinct ecological sites for comparative analysis. Statistical results indicated that ecological conditions serve as the predominant factor regulating seed-wrinkling variation, with high temperatures occurring during the seed-filling stage identified as the key abiotic stress trigger. Excessively high ambient temperatures triggered abnormal sucrose accumulation in the pod husks of heat-vulnerable HH43, disrupting the coupling relationship between sucrose metabolism and energy supply and thereby restricting starch biosynthesis in developing seeds. Transcriptome profiling combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further demonstrated that heat stress significantly suppressed the expression of energy transport-related genes and induced the dysregulated expression of starch synthesis-associated genes in susceptible soybean plants, and these transcriptional alterations were further verified via qRT-PCR assays. Collectively, short-term extreme high temperatures interrupt the carbon transport and allocation process from pod husks to seeds in heat-sensitive soybean cultivars. By contrast, heat-tolerant genotypes can sustain a stable physiological metabolism and molecular regulatory networks to effectively cope with high-temperature stress during the seed-filling period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants—Second Edition)
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22 pages, 4109 KB  
Article
An Algorithmic Framework for Plant-Level AC Power Estimation in a Bifacial Horizontal Single-Axis Tracking PV System Using Explainable and Ensemble Machine Learning
by Luis Fernando Bustos-Marquez and Steven Hegedus
Algorithms 2026, 19(6), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/a19060496 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
Abstract
Accurate plant-level photovoltaic (PV) power estimation is important for performance monitoring, model benchmarking, and grid-integration studies. In bifacial horizontal single-axis tracking (HSAT) systems, this task is complicated by the coupled effects of front-side irradiance, rear-side irradiance, tracker position, and module temperature. This study [...] Read more.
Accurate plant-level photovoltaic (PV) power estimation is important for performance monitoring, model benchmarking, and grid-integration studies. In bifacial horizontal single-axis tracking (HSAT) systems, this task is complicated by the coupled effects of front-side irradiance, rear-side irradiance, tracker position, and module temperature. This study proposes an algorithmic framework for same-time-step AC power estimation in a bifacial HSAT PV plant using field measurements of irradiance, tracker angle, module temperature, and inverter active power. The framework is not intended as an operational forecasting model because future irradiance and weather conditions are not predicted; instead, it evaluates how compact physics-based structure, interpretable nonlinear learning, and ensemble learning estimate measured AC power under nominal operating conditions. An empirical rear-to-front irradiance relationship was derived using solar-elevation bins and incorporated into a compact physics-based benchmark. This benchmark was compared with an additive Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM) and a Random Forest (RF) on a common test subset of 3916 observations. The physics-based model achieved an RMSE of 19.6 kW, an R2 of 0.72, and an NRMSE of 0.38. The EBM improved these values to 17.09 kW, 0.786, and 0.334, respectively, while the RF achieved 15.96 kW, 0.814, and 0.312. Chronological validation showed weaker and more variable performance than randomized validation, indicating that temporal generalization remains challenging. Overall, the results support the use of interpretable PV-domain-guided learning as a transparent intermediate approach between compact physics-based modeling and more flexible ensemble regression. Full article
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39 pages, 7976 KB  
Article
System Interaction and Scenario-Based Simulation of Coupling Coordination Between Low-Carbon Transportation and High-Quality Economic Development in the Yellow River Jiziwan Metropolitan Area
by Yanfei Li and Cheng Li
Systems 2026, 14(6), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14060717 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Viewed by 57
Abstract
Clarifying the mutual feedback relationship and coordinated evolution characteristics between low-carbon transportation (LCT) and high-quality economic development (HQED) is of great significance for the green transformation of resource-based and ecologically fragile urban agglomerations. Taking 18 cities in the Yellow River Jiziwan Metropolitan Area [...] Read more.
Clarifying the mutual feedback relationship and coordinated evolution characteristics between low-carbon transportation (LCT) and high-quality economic development (HQED) is of great significance for the green transformation of resource-based and ecologically fragile urban agglomerations. Taking 18 cities in the Yellow River Jiziwan Metropolitan Area as the research objects, this paper constructs an evaluation indicator system for LCT and HQED based on panel data from 2013 to 2022, and comprehensively applies the ISM-MICMAC model, a modified coupling coordination degree model, a gravity model, an obstacle degree model, and a combined GM-ARIMA forecasting model to analyze the interaction relationships, spatiotemporal evolution, spatial correlations, and scenario differences between the two systems. The results indicate that: (1) A hierarchical mutual feedback relationship exists between LCT and HQED, in which the relevant factors exhibit a hierarchical association within the system structure, extending from basic input, transportation supply, and economic operation to green and low-carbon outcomes. (2) During the study period, the comprehensive development levels of the two systems generally improved, with the mean coupling coordination degree rising from 0.4374 in 2013 to 0.4702 in 2022, remaining overall at a borderline coordination stage, while inter-city divergence was relatively pronounced. (3) The spatial connection network gradually exhibited multi-node linkage characteristics, yet strong connections remained concentrated in a few core cities. (4) Scenario predictions reveal that the synergistic development scenario is most conducive to enhancing the coupling coordination level, and the differences among scenarios gradually widen after 2026. Simultaneously advancing LCT and HQED is an important pathway to enhance the regional synergy level of the Yellow River Jiziwan Metropolitan Area. Full article
29 pages, 2445 KB  
Article
Postural Stability Changes During the 4 Phases of the Half Squat: Kinematics Profile of the Center of Pressure and Center of Mass in High-Performance Weightlifters—A Pilot Study
by Emilio Manuel Arrayales-Millán, Miguel Rodal, Mirvana Elizabeth González-Macías, Carlos Villa-Angulo, Karla Raquel Keys-González, Arnulfo Ramos-Jiménez, Isabella Arrayales-Mejia and Kostantinos Gianikellis
Bioengineering 2026, 13(6), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13060711 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Viewed by 85
Abstract
This study investigated balance control during the half squat by analyzing the relationship between the center of mass (CoM) and the center of pressure (CoP) in five experienced male weightlifters performing segmented squats at five load levels (20–80% 1 RM) across four Power-Based [...] Read more.
This study investigated balance control during the half squat by analyzing the relationship between the center of mass (CoM) and the center of pressure (CoP) in five experienced male weightlifters performing segmented squats at five load levels (20–80% 1 RM) across four Power-Based Training (PBT) exercises. The area of the 95% confidence ellipse was quantified using the Vicon motion capture system in conjunction with AMTI force plates. Given the small sample size (n = 5), a dual inference approach was implemented—frequentist repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented by a unified adaptive Bayesian hierarchical model—to mitigate Type II error in low-power scenarios. Regarding the movement phase, a marked effect on center of pressure (CoP) stability was observed, as evidenced by both statistical approaches (frequentist: F(1.65, 6.59) = 19.44, p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.829; Bayesian: P(β_phase < 0) > 0.999). Although external load did not reach statistical significance in the frequentist analysis (p = 0.177, achieved power = 0.27), the Bayesian model provided moderate evidence of a positive impact (β_load = 0.059, 95% HDI [0.005, 0.115], p = 0.981). The area of the center of mass (CoM) ellipse showed no effects of interest. Limb asymmetries were significant and consistent throughout the experiment (frequentist: 48.01 ± 30.13%; Bayesian: 69.48%, 95% HDI [55.86%, 81.44%], P(AI > 20%) = 1.000) and were not modulated by the experimental condition. CoP-CoM coupling was stronger in the mediolateral direction than in the anteroposterior direction. The findings reveal that phase is the primary factor in postural stability, exerting a modest positive influence discernible only through low-powered probabilistic inference, and that the dual framework strengthens inferential robustness in small-sample biomechanical studies. Confirmatory studies with larger samples are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics of Physical Exercise)
16 pages, 4228 KB  
Article
Spatial Coupling Between Cropland Loss and Rural Settlement Expansion in China’s Major Grain-Producing Region
by Zehong Gong, Han Xiao, Xing Wang and Sen Chang
Land 2026, 15(6), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15061096 (registering DOI) - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 101
Abstract
Cropland and rural settlements are core components of rural human–environment systems, and their coordinated development is crucial for regional sustainability, particularly in China’s major agricultural production regions. Taking the Huang-Huai-Hai region as the study area, this study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of [...] Read more.
Cropland and rural settlements are core components of rural human–environment systems, and their coordinated development is crucial for regional sustainability, particularly in China’s major agricultural production regions. Taking the Huang-Huai-Hai region as the study area, this study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of cropland and its coupling relationship with rural settlements using land use data from 1990 to 2020. Grid-based analysis and multiple spatial modeling methods were employed. The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the cropland in the region decreased by a net total of 21,021.94 km2, with annual dynamic degrees ranging from −0.13% to −0.28%. Cropland conversion to other land uses far exceeded conversion from others, with construction land being the primary destination. Among these, rural settlements and urban construction land accounted for 43.75% and 55.58% of the total cropland loss, respectively. (2) The spatial distribution of cropland exhibited a distinct pattern of “hot in the center and south, cold in the periphery and north” (Moran’s I = 0.232, p < 0.001), indicating significant positive spatial autocorrelation. Hot spot areas clustered in the North China Plain and the Huang-Huai Plain, while cold spot areas were distributed in the Yanshan–Taihang mountains and the hilly regions of the Shandong Peninsula, clearly controlled by topography. (3) Cropland change exhibited stage-specific characteristics. The pattern was relatively stable during 1990–2000. During 2000–2010, cropland conversion to other uses intensified, with high-value conversion areas concentrated around urban agglomerations. In the 2010–2020 period, these high-value conversion areas diffused from the core plain areas to urban fringe zones. (4) The spatial coupling between cropland and rural settlements was predominantly characterized by the Moderately Coordinated Type (MCT), accounting for 48.38–58.44% of the area. However, the proportion of Rural Settlement-Dominant Type (RC) increased from 15.51% to 21.58%, indicating a trend toward intensifying human–environment conflicts. Overall, the Huang-Huai-Hai region experienced significant cropland changes. While its spatial pattern remains relatively stable, the coupling relationship between cropland and rural settlements is deteriorating, posing challenges to regional food security and rural sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Utilization Trend of Farmland)
30 pages, 11780 KB  
Article
A Physics-Informed Neural Network for Unified Multi-Regime Pressure-Drop Representation of Inflow Control Devices in Reservoir–Wellbore Coupled Simulation
by Qingshuang Jin, Yongchao Xue, Junjian Li, Zhi Fan, Tao Jiao, Yan Lei, Jiangpeng Hu, Xiangyu Ren, Ying Zhang, Wenhao Zhang and Leihongbo Qiao
Processes 2026, 14(12), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14122011 (registering DOI) - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 174
Abstract
Accurate representation of the pressure drop–flow rate (Δp–q) relationship of nozzle-type inflow control devices (ICDs) is critical for reliable reservoir–wellbore coupled simulation. Conventional ICD models in reservoir simulators rely primarily on empirical correlations or tabulated data, but commonly used formulations cannot consistently capture [...] Read more.
Accurate representation of the pressure drop–flow rate (Δp–q) relationship of nozzle-type inflow control devices (ICDs) is critical for reliable reservoir–wellbore coupled simulation. Conventional ICD models in reservoir simulators rely primarily on empirical correlations or tabulated data, but commonly used formulations cannot consistently capture the linear behavior in the low-flow regime or the transition between flow regimes, which may reduce physical fidelity and numerical robustness. To overcome this limitation, this study proposes a unified characteristic-curve representation that integrates linear, transitional, and quadratic flow regimes into a single continuous and differentiable function through a physically constrained least-squares formulation, and further develops a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to learn the ICD pressure–flow relationship while enforcing physical consistency. The trained PINN model is embedded into a multi-segment well model within a reservoir–wellbore coupled simulation framework and evaluated using a mechanistic reservoir model containing permeability streaks with varying permeabilities. The results show that the proposed method improves numerical convergence and accurately reproduces ICD pressure–flow behavior across multiple flow regimes, providing a more physically consistent and robust representation of ICD performance for inflow control analysis and reservoir simulation. Full article
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37 pages, 6716 KB  
Article
Motion Response Prediction and Hull-Form Optimization for a Wigley Ship in Regular Waves
by Yukun Shi, Basharat Ullah, Zhijing Wu, Ru Wang, Sheng Yang and Shurui Wen
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(12), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14121132 (registering DOI) - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 227
Abstract
This study consists of two main components. The first part establishes a seakeeping assessment method, while the second part focuses on hull-form optimization with seakeeping performance as the objective. For the seakeeping analysis, the Lewis conformal mapping method is used to calculate the [...] Read more.
This study consists of two main components. The first part establishes a seakeeping assessment method, while the second part focuses on hull-form optimization with seakeeping performance as the objective. For the seakeeping analysis, the Lewis conformal mapping method is used to calculate the sectional hydrodynamic coefficients. Strip theory is then applied to obtain the global hydrodynamic coefficients of the hull. The coupled heave and pitch motion responses are calculated and compared with nonlinear time-domain simulation results and experimental data, showing good agreement. A multivariate linear regression model is established to approximate the relationship between the principal hull-form parameters and the heave and pitch RAOs. The comparison between the regression model and strip theory results shows that the prediction error remains within 5%, indicating that the regression model can provide an efficient surrogate objective function for hull-form optimization. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is then employed to optimize the hull form, with the ship length, breadth, draft, and block coefficient considered as design variables. To further evaluate the optimized hull, additional calculations are conducted under different Froude numbers and encounter angles. Under head sea conditions with varying Froude numbers, the optimized hull reduces the peak heave RAO by 11.6–31.1% and the peak pitch RAO by 8.6–17.9%. Under different encounter angles at Fr = 0.3, the reductions in peak heave and pitch RAOs are 31.1–33.9% and 16.5–18.8%, respectively. These results demonstrate that the proposed regression assisted PSO optimization framework can effectively reduce the heave and pitch responses of the Wigley hull under the investigated regular wave conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Marine Vessel Motion Control)
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25 pages, 1055 KB  
Article
Age-Dependent Retinal Parameter Correlation Patterns on OCT and OCT Angiography in Children and Adults
by Claudia Lommatzsch, Antoine Capucci, Swaantje Grisanti, Carsten Heinz and Kai Rothaus
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4778; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124778 (registering DOI) - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 98
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) provide detailed measurements of retinal structure and vasculature; however, age-related differences in how these parameters correlate with one another remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that vascular–structural integration in the macula is more pronounced [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) provide detailed measurements of retinal structure and vasculature; however, age-related differences in how these parameters correlate with one another remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that vascular–structural integration in the macula is more pronounced in adults than in children. Our aim was to characterize correlation patterns in pediatric and adult populations to inform the development of age-specific clinical interpretation guidelines. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional observational study enrolled 37 healthy children (age 1–17 years) and 28 healthy adults (age 18–65 years). Eyes with ocular or systemic conditions affecting the retina or prior intraocular surgery were excluded. Standardized OCT and OCT-A acquisition protocols provided structural and vascular measures. Univariable correlation analyses applied a stringent threshold (p < 0.001) to identify robust associations. Significant univariable results were entered into multivariable regression models adjusting for age, gender, intraocular pressure, and axial length. A Group-wise Linkage Proportion quantified the percentage of potential significant correlations among eight predefined anatomical parameter groups. Results: Ninety univariable correlations met p < 0.001. Fourteen correlations were shared across age groups, notably foveal avascular zone metrics and vessel density, showing very large negative correlations (r = −0.70 to −0.87). The pediatric cohort displayed 40 unique correlations, primarily linking optic nerve head flow indices to retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Adults exhibited 36 unique correlations, dominated by macular vascular–thickness coupling concentrated in the parafoveal region. After multivariable adjustment, 52 of 90 associations remained significant. Adult-specific associations lost significance more frequently (58%) than pediatric-specific associations (43%), whereas correlations shared across both groups showed complete stability (100%). The Group-wise Linkage Proportion indicated pronounced macular vascular–structural coupling in adults (48.4%) versus near absence in children (1.2%). Conclusions: Retinal parameter correlation patterns show fundamental differences between pediatric and adult eyes. While optic nerve head-macular thickness relationships remain consistent across ages, adults exhibit mature, localized integration of macular vascular and structural parameters absent in children. These findings suggest that pediatric and adult OCT/OCT-A measurements may benefit from separate reference standards, although prospective validation is required before clinical implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Ophthalmology: Current Progress and Future Options)
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22 pages, 27380 KB  
Article
Identification of the SAUR Gene Family in Pinus massoniana and Analysis of Its Expression Patterns Under Drought Stress
by Manli Yang, Shuo Sun, Wenjuan Su, Yuke Ma, Xin Hu and Kongshu Ji
Biology 2026, 15(12), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15120962 (registering DOI) - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 197
Abstract
P. massoniana is an important native economic and ecological tree species in southern China, where seasonal drought has emerged as a critical factor limiting its productivity. The SAUR gene family, recognized as core early auxin-responsive genes, plays a crucial role in balancing plant [...] Read more.
P. massoniana is an important native economic and ecological tree species in southern China, where seasonal drought has emerged as a critical factor limiting its productivity. The SAUR gene family, recognized as core early auxin-responsive genes, plays a crucial role in balancing plant growth, development, and stress adaptation; however, research related to this family in conifers remains limited. Utilizing the chromosome-level genome of P. massoniana, this study identified 73 SAUR genes (PmSAUR1~73) through bioinformatics methods, systematically analyzing the physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins, chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and cis-acting elements. Combined with transcriptome sequencing and molecular experiments, the drought stress response patterns of these genes were further elucidated. The results indicated that PmSAUR genes predominantly encode alkaline proteins, primarily localized in mitochondria and nuclei, with an uneven distribution across nine chromosomes, where tandem duplication serves as the primary mechanism driving family expansion. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into seven subfamilies, which include both conserved clades homologous to angiosperms and branches specific to P. massoniana. All members contain the Auxin_inducible conserved domain, with motif1 identified as the core essential motif. Promoter regions were enriched with MeJA (methyl jasmonate)-responsive (56%), ABA-responsive, and drought stress-related cis-elements. Under drought stress, 38 PmSAUR genes exhibited diverse temporal expression patterns. Four key genes (PmSAUR14, PmSAUR28, PmSAUR54, and PmSAUR73), which are localized in the nucleus and exhibit high expression specifically in male cones or roots, were identified. These genes exhibit an expression pattern consistent with an auxin-negative response (i.e., repressed by IAA and induced by drought) and display a distinctive response pattern characterized by drought-induced upregulation coupled with IAA-mediated downregulation. This mechanism may contribute to the drought adaptation strategies of P. massoniana, involving regulatory processes for aboveground reproduction and adaptation of the underground root system. This study represents the first effort to elucidate the evolutionary characteristics and drought response patterns of the SAUR gene family in P. massoniana, thereby addressing the existing research gap regarding the functions of SAUR genes in coniferous trees. Furthermore, it offers candidate gene resources and theoretical support for the molecular breeding of stress resistance in P. massoniana. In addition, two auxin-induced SAUR genes (PmSAUR22 and PmSAUR37) were identified as contrasting examples, but the main focus of this study is on the four auxin-repressed genes. Full article
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27 pages, 3476 KB  
Article
A Double-Hardening Elastoplastic Load-Transfer Model for Assessing Load-Carrying Performance of Axially Loaded Piles
by Yexun Li, Yunzhe Zhang, Haoyu Liu, Xian Wang, Song Qiu, Jian Yu and Lin Li
Buildings 2026, 16(12), 2442; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16122442 - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 224
Abstract
Accurate prediction of the load–settlement response of axially loaded piles remains challenging because the pile–soil interface undergoes progressive elastoplastic shear deformation accompanied by stress-dependent volumetric changes. Conventional one-dimensional load-transfer models are computationally efficient but usually rely on empirical or hyperbolic fitting functions, making [...] Read more.
Accurate prediction of the load–settlement response of axially loaded piles remains challenging because the pile–soil interface undergoes progressive elastoplastic shear deformation accompanied by stress-dependent volumetric changes. Conventional one-dimensional load-transfer models are computationally efficient but usually rely on empirical or hyperbolic fitting functions, making it difficult to explicitly describe the coupled evolution of interface shear hardening, volumetric hardening, and radial effective stress. Although three-dimensional elastoplastic models provide a more rigorous mechanical representation, their high computational cost limits routine engineering application. To address this gap, this study develops a double-hardening elastoplastic load-transfer model for axially loaded piles based on a physically interpretable pile–soil interface constitutive formulation. In the proposed model, the Hardening Soil model is used to characterize interface shear hardening, while the Modified Cam-clay model is introduced to describe volumetric hardening. These two mechanisms are coupled through a stress–dilatancy relationship. According to the loading direction and the position of the current stress point relative to the shear and volumetric yield surfaces, the p′–q stress plane is divided into elastic, shear-hardening, volumetric-hardening, and coupled double-hardening regions. The corresponding incremental constitutive equations are derived and embedded into a conventional load-transfer framework. The model is validated using interface direct shear tests and field-scale static pile load tests. The predicted shear stress–displacement curves and pile-head load–settlement responses agree well with the measured data. Quantitative evaluation shows that the MAPE values are lower than 5%, the maximum relative errors are below 7.6%, and the R2 values exceed 0.96 for all validation cases. Full article
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18 pages, 29937 KB  
Article
Spectral Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter and Their Associations with Heavy Metal Distribution in Multi-Media of a Typical Frozen Eutrophic Lake
by Zhijian Lv, Xuezheng Yu, Weiying Feng, Yu Qiao, Chia Min Ho, Jiayue Gao, Fanhao Song, Wenhuan Yang and Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian
Toxics 2026, 14(6), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14060527 (registering DOI) - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 226
Abstract
In cold arid regions, the relationships between dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics and heavy metal distributions across ice, water, and sediment interfaces remain insufficiently resolved. This study characterized DOM spectral features and examined their associations with measured metal distributions in a typical frozen [...] Read more.
In cold arid regions, the relationships between dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics and heavy metal distributions across ice, water, and sediment interfaces remain insufficiently resolved. This study characterized DOM spectral features and examined their associations with measured metal distributions in a typical frozen eutrophic lake using excitation–emission matrices coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEMs-PARAFAC), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Protein-like substances dominated ice DOM, whereas water and sediment-derived DOM contained more humified fluorescent components. Fluorescence indices confirmed a primarily biological origin across all media, with ice showing the highest autochthonous microbial contribution (BIX = 1.23) but the lowest humification (HIX = 0.26), suggesting a greater contribution of recently produced protein-like fluorescent DOM in the ice samples. Water DOM showed the highest average HIX (1.88), followed by sediment-derived DOM (0.61) and ice DOM (0.26). The measured hydrochemical conditions, including weak alkalinity, elevated total dissolved solids (TDS), and locally low dissolved oxygen, provide environmental context for differences in metal distributions. Exploratory Spearman analysis at 17 matched water stations identified the strongest DOM–metal associations for HIX-As (rho = 0.474, p = 0.054) and FI-Zn (rho = 0.471, p = 0.056), indicating that DOM optical properties provide testable indicators of metal-distribution patterns but should be combined with direct binding and speciation measurements for mechanistic confirmation. Because ice was collected in January 2021, whereas water and sediment were collected in October 2020, cross-medium differences are interpreted as between-campaign associations rather than synchronous partitioning. These findings provide a basis for targeted winter monitoring and future binding, speciation, and freeze-concentration experiments in shallow eutrophic lakes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecotoxicology)
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16 pages, 1199 KB  
Article
Calibration-Block-Based Tilt-Pose Error Identification and Compensation for Line Confocal Sensors
by Yuan Fu, Ting Chen, Ning Chen, Bin Guo, Yinghui Wang, Yinbao Cheng and Chuan Ma
Electronics 2026, 15(12), 2710; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15122710 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 112
Abstract
Line confocal sensors provide non-contact, high-resolution, and high-efficiency measurement and can be integrated into optical measurement systems such as Photon for three-dimensional topography measurement of complex surfaces. However, installation-induced tilt-pose errors of the sensor can couple height information with lateral position, thereby reducing [...] Read more.
Line confocal sensors provide non-contact, high-resolution, and high-efficiency measurement and can be integrated into optical measurement systems such as Photon for three-dimensional topography measurement of complex surfaces. However, installation-induced tilt-pose errors of the sensor can couple height information with lateral position, thereby reducing the accuracy of profile reconstruction. To address this issue, this paper proposes a calibration-block-based tilt-pose error identification and compensation method for line confocal sensors. Using the known geometric features of the calibration block, the proposed method establishes a mapping relationship between sensor tilt-pose errors and measured profile distortion. Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the dominant error components, and the tilt-pose errors are estimated in a single identification process, enabling quantitative compensation of the measured point cloud. Experimental results show that, after calibration and compensation, the maximum Z-direction height difference in the overlapping profile region of the calibration block is reduced from 12.782 μm to 0.307 μm. The proposed method requires no complex external alignment devices and provides an effective approach for high-precision integrated applications of line confocal sensors. Full article
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