Search Results (865)

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be conceptualized not as a static condition but as a dynamic disorder of developmental regulation, in which neuroplastic potential is translated into functional gains only through structured, experience-dependent therapeutic input. Neuropsychomotor Therapy of Early Development (TNPEE) and Therapy in Aquatic Motor Activities (TAMA) have shown differential efficacy in children with ASD, but whether chronological age moderates the magnitude of therapeutic response—or whether the characteristics of the intervention itself are the stronger determinant of outcome—has not been systematically examined. Methods: This was a non-randomized, exploratory secondary stratified analysis of a multicenter 18-month longitudinal cohort (N = 77 children with ASD, age 4–12 years) allocated to three groups: TAMA only, TNPEE combined with TAMA (TAMA+TNPEE), or TNPEE only. Participants were stratified into a younger (≤6 years, n = 16; TAMA n = 8, TAMA+TNPEE n = 3, TNPEE n = 5) and an older (>6 years, n = 61; TAMA n = 18, TAMA+TNPEE n = 22, TNPEE n = 21) subgroup. Adaptive functioning was assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II) at baseline and 18 months. Between-stratum comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U test; Spearman rank correlations and ANCOVA models with Age × Treatment interaction terms were used to test age moderation within a neuroplasticity-recruitment framework. Results: In the TAMA-only group, younger children showed significantly smaller adaptive gains than older children across the Composite (2.22 ± 1.14 vs. 3.53 ± 0.76, p = 0.012), Communication (p = 0.041), and Socialization (p = 0.016) subscales, with significant positive Spearman correlations between age and adaptive gains (r = 0.397–0.437). Simple slope analysis confirmed a significant age effect within the TAMA group (b = 0.231, SE = 0.083, p = 0.010) but not in the TNPEE (b = 0.133, p = 0.157) or TAMA+TNPEE (b = 0.135, p = 0.198) groups. The formal Age × Treatment interaction term in the ANCOVA did not reach statistical significance (all p > 0.18). As this interaction test is the formal statistical test of differential age moderation, the simple-slope pattern above should be regarded as exploratory rather than confirmatory. Treatment group accounted for the large majority of variance in adaptive gains (partial η² = 0.78–0.95), whereas age explained only a small proportion of outcome variability. ASD severity level transitions were comparable across age strata in TNPEE-based groups. Conclusions: In this exploratory secondary analysis, TNPEE-based interventions were associated with adaptive gains that did not differ significantly by age across the 4–12 year age range, whereas aquatic therapy alone showed an age-dependent pattern favoring older children. These findings are hypothesis-generating and consistent with a neuroplasticity-recruitment model in which therapeutic architecture—rather than chronological age alone— may be associated with how effectively latent plastic potential is translated into developmental gains, although the non-significant Age × Treatment interaction and the small, imbalanced subgroups (including n = 3 in the youngest TAMA+TNPEE stratum) mean these findings require confirmation in adequately powered, prospectively designed studies, with implications for clinical decision-making regarding therapy timing and design. Full article

This study examined pre-service elementary school teachers’ perceptions of a semester-long professional learning programme in Iran, focusing on perceived shifts in their concerns, drawing on the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) as the theoretical framework. Adopting a CBAM-informed, directed (deductive–inductive) qualitative content analysis of the written reflections of 30 pre-service teachers across two provinces, the study traced perceived shifts in participants’ concerns throughout their professional learning journey. Consistent with CBAM’s developmental stages, the analysis of participants’ reflections suggested a perceived transition from self-focused concerns to concerns about teaching effectiveness. This shift—from self-oriented concerns toward task- and effectiveness-oriented concerns—aligns with the model’s prediction that individuals move through self, task, and effectiveness concerns as they adopt new practices. The findings also suggest that this progression is associated with the development of professional identity, personal beliefs, and the capacity for lifelong learning. Although the training process placed many participants in unfamiliar contexts, it provided valuable experiences that encouraged active engagement in curriculum design. Despite facing uncertainty and challenges, participants developed the psychological readiness to continue their professional journey. Because the study is based on self-reported written reflections rather than classroom observation, teaching performance, or pupil outcomes, the findings are presented as perceived shifts in pre-service teachers’ reflections, concerns, and professional readiness, rather than as demonstrated impact on attitudes, practices, or teaching outcomes. Overall, these findings underscore the relevance of CBAM for understanding and informing the design of professional development for pre-service teachers. Full article

Chronological age estimation is used in legal contexts to determine the transition between minor and adult status, with the third molar (3M) being a primary biological indicator. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the relationship between the topographic position of impacted mandibular 3Ms and their mineralization stages, evaluating how specific angulations influence developmental chronology. Using a database of digital panoramic radiographs from 731 individuals aged 16 to 20 years, 3M development was assessed via Demirjian’s stages and impaction was classified by Winter’s angulation. Results demonstrated that non-impacted teeth consistently show more advanced mineralization compared to impacted teeth, with an average maturational delay of 0.35 stages in the latter. Furthermore, horizontal impactions exhibited significantly accelerated maturation, with 88.2% reaching the terminal Stage H, while mesioangular impactions were associated with marked developmental delay and were significantly underrepresented in Stage H. In conclusion, both eruption status and topographic orientation significantly modulate 3M mineralization. These findings suggest that applying uniform reference standards without considering tooth angulation may cause systematic bias in forensic age estimation, potentially leading to the underestimation or overestimation of age around critical legal thresholds. Full article

Fungi have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to survive in complex environments. Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) sense and recognize nematode prey to transition from a saprophytic to predatory lifestyle, rendering them promising biocontrol agents against plant-parasitic nematodes. Ubiquitination is essential for eukaryotic cellular homeostasis, yet its regulation of NTF development and pathogenicity remains unclear. Here, we identify the conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase AoRsp5 as a critical factor for all major life stages of Arthrobotrys oligospora. Knockout of rsp5 impairs Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT)-mediated endocytosis and compromises plasma membrane integrity. These defects trigger disturbed cellular iron homeostasis and ferroptosis-like cell death, accompanied by global dysregulation of protein phosphorylation and ubiquitination as well as prominent suppression of MAPK cascades, which further attenuate virulence-associated signaling. Overall, our findings reveal a pivotal role for Rsp5-mediated ubiquitination in coordinating cellular homeostasis and developmental transitions in NTF. Full article

Early adult life represents a critical developmental window during which insects undergo profound physiological reorganization. Despite the economic importance of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., this transition remains poorly characterized/understood. This study provides an integrated characterization of the energetic, cuticular and immunological remodelling that occurs during the first week post-emergence, a critical developmental window with important implications for experimental standardization and mass-rearing optimization. Body mass, Scaled Mass Index (SMI), and cuticular tanning trajectories were monitored at 0, 1, 5, and 7 days, along with cellular (tsotal haemocyte count, THC) and humoral (phenoloxidase activity, PO) immunocompetence at 2 and 7 days in both sexes. Newly emerged adults underwent an energetically demanding early phase characterized by significant proportional mass loss, followed by stabilization and improved SMI by day 7. In parallel, THC increased more than twofold, while the humoral defences remained stable. Cuticle melanization followed a synchronized age-dependent trajectory in both sexes, reaching structural stabilization by the end of the first week. Correlation analysis revealed sex-specific patterns of resource allocation. Females showed a positive association between initial body condition and mature PO activity. Conversely, males exhibited a negative trend between cuticle tanning effort and PO activity, suggesting a clear competition for shared physiological resources. Overall, our findings identify early adulthood as a phase of coordinated physiological remodelling, during which energetic reorganization, cuticle maturation, and cellular immune expansion are synchronized to establish adult functional competence. Full article

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization is a complex developmental transition in which a subterranean stolon is converted into a starch-accumulating tuber. This process is governed by long-distance systemic signals, local hormonal dynamics, and extensive metabolic reprogramming. Recent advances have extended our understanding beyond the classical photoperiodic model, revealing the importance of chromatin remodeling, mRNA N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) epitranscriptomic modifications, and a developmentally regulated shift in phloem unloading pathways. Here, we synthesize these multilayered regulatory networks into an integrated framework. We also examine the thermosensitivity of the mobile tuberigen signal under climate warming, assess the genetic challenges imposed by autotetraploidy and gene dosage, and discuss recent progress in diploid hybrid breeding strategies. In addition, we highlight emerging evidence for the roles of mechanoperception and rhizosphere microbiota as previously overlooked modulators of tuberization. Finally, we outline how these fundamental insights can be translated into breeding pipelines, with a focus on genome editing of cis-regulatory elements and the design of F1 hybrid cultivars. This review provides a conceptual roadmap for engineering climate-resilient, high-yielding potato cultivars to support global food security. Full article

Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), or fruit flies, are a commonly used model organism in the study of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Their short lifespan, low cost, genetic tractability, and conserved signaling and developmental pathways make them ideal for studying NDs and associated biochemical pathways. Further, flies offer the advantage of high-throughput exploratory drug and genetic screening without stringent ethical constraints. Therefore, D. melanogaster serves as an ideal organism for preliminary drug screening before transitioning to toxicity and efficacy studies in vertebrate models. Following the recent plan by the United States FDA (US FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to progressively phase out preclinical drug testing in vertebrate animals and introduce New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), D. melanogaster has the potential to become part of the conventional drug testing pipeline in the future. This literature review focuses on the use of D. melanogaster models as a powerful, low-cost model organism to study superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)- and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)-linked Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), as well as previous efforts to screen drugs in SOD1- and TDP-43-expressing Drosophila models. Full article

Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is a rare saprotrophic edible mushroom in the Boletaceae and is the second bolete species to have been successfully cultivated artificially, yet its developmental molecular regulation remains unexplored. We integrated RNA-seq transcriptomics and untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomics across five developmental stages (A–E), applying differential expression, alternative splicing, ceRNA network construction, WGCNA, machine learning, consensus clustering, and O2PLS joint modelling. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the mycelium-to-primordium transition (stage A to C) showed the most drastic reprogramming, with 2233 differentially expressed genes, while metabolomic comparison between stage A and E revealed overwhelmingly upregulated metabolites (184 up vs. 10 down), indicating asymmetric regulation between the two omics layers. Notably, mutually exclusive exon splicing events exhibited high functional significance, and all top ceRNA hubs were lncRNAs. Unsupervised consensus clustering validated the molecular distinctness of the sampled stages. Metabolite enrichment highlighted antioxidant functions and ABC transporter pathways, and O2PLS integrative modelling confirmed a strong shared developmental signal between transcriptome and metabolome. This study provides the first multidimensional molecular atlas for B. xylophilus, revealing a non-linear developmental programme, transcriptome–metabolome decoupling, and a central role of antioxidant defence throughout development. Our findings offer mechanistic clues regarding the evolutionary transition from ectomycorrhizal to saprotrophic lifestyles in the Boletaceae and establish a multi-omics foundation for the molecular breeding of this emerging edible and medicinal mushroom. Full article

Contemporary economic growth trajectories are characterized by accelerating digital integration. However, the digital infrastructure required to accelerate growth remains unevenly distributed across development tiers. This study examines a “Digital Maturity Paradox” using a cross-sectional dataset of 121 countries, stratified into developing $\left(N=76\right)$ and developed $\left(N=45\right)$ cohorts. Statistically validated via the Chow Breakpoint Method $\left(F=11.91; p<0.01\right)$, the study demonstrates that growth drivers vary significantly based on developmental maturity. The findings indicate that digitalization and foreign direct investment (FDI) serve as primary catalysts for developing countries, supporting the “Leapfrogging Hypothesis” with statistically significant coefficients $(\beta =1.106, p<0.01$ and $\beta =0.246, p<0.05,$ respectively). Conversely, a “productivity paradox” emerges within the developed cohort, where the marginal returns of digitalization saturate and turn negative ($\beta =-0.734, p<0.10)$, and FDI becomes statistically insignificant. Sensitivity analysis isolating developed economies by excluding extreme maritime financial hubs $\left(N=43\right)$ confirms that the explanatory power of traditional vectors remains structurally compressed in the Global North (R-squared < 2%), mathematically solidifying the “Fitness Gap” against baseline model (N = 45, Adjusted R-squared = 1.61%). These findings suggest that while the traditional, infrastructure-led growth rules still govern the Global South, the Global North needs to transition toward Artificial Intelligence-driven total factor productivity to sustain economic growth. Full article

Background/Objectives: The transition to early parenthood is a pivotal phase influencing maternal mental health. Although parenting competence may support maternal adjustment, it is often treated as a unitary construct. This study examined the associations among foundational caregiving competence, developmental parenting and interaction competence, and eudaimonic parental well-being in first-time mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 372 first-time mothers whose young children attended licensed infant daycare centers in northern Taiwan. Participants completed questionnaires regarding the three study constructs and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: Foundational caregiving competence was strongly associated with developmental parenting and interaction competence, which was positively associated with eudaimonic parental well-being. The direct association between foundational caregiving competence and eudaimonic parental well-being was not statistically significant after developmental parenting and interaction competence was included in the model. However, a significant indirect association was observed through developmental parenting and interaction competence. Conclusions: Relational, developmental, and role-oriented parenting competence was more closely associated with mothers’ experiences of meaning, fulfillment, and relational satisfaction than practical caregiving competence alone. Given the cross-sectional design and modest explanatory power, the findings represent preliminary associations rather than causal evidence. They may inform future parenting-support services that distinguish practical caregiving capacities from relational and developmental parenting competencies. Full article

Chamaecyparis obtusa is a valuable conifer species, prized for its high-quality timber and bioactive essential oils. However, commercial micropropagation is challenging due to its resistance to vegetative propagation. This study aimed to develop an efficient in vitro plant regeneration system using leaf explants and to profile the metabolic changes during organogenesis. Leaf explants from one-year-old in vitro-grown plantlets were cultured on media with various plant growth regulators (PGRs) to optimize callus induction, shoot multiplication, and rooting. Secondary metabolites were systematically analyzed throughout the developmental stages: explant, callus, regenerated shoot, and rooted plantlet. The most effective shoot regeneration, leading to whole plantlets, was achieved on a medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2.0 mg/L thidiazuron. Metabolic profiling revealed significant stage-specific biochemical transitions. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) precisely quantified individual phenolics, resolving cross-reactivity issues seen in total flavonoid colorimetric assays. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) also identified substantial shifts in volatile terpenoid biosynthesis during shoot morphogenesis. This integrated protocol provides a reliable platform for mass propagation of C. obtusa and offers fundamental insights into the metabolic dynamics of in vitro development, with significant potential for future horticultural and biotechnological applications. Full article

Temperature is a major environmental determinant of flowering time and reproductive success in plants. Ongoing global warming is changing flowering phenology across natural and agricultural ecosystems, yet the mechanisms by which ambient temperature regulates the transition to reproduction remain less fully resolved than those underlying photoperiodic flowering and vernalization. This review synthesizes eco-physiological and molecular evidence for temperature-dependent flowering across plant groups and terrestrial ecosystems. It considers the development of the florigen concept, the identification of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and related phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein family members, and the integration of temperature signals with flowering activators and repressors. Particular attention is given to the thermosensory pathway, including alternative splicing, chromatin regulation, membrane-associated signaling, phase separation and temperature-dependent accumulation or stability of regulatory proteins. The review also examines phenological responses to rising temperatures in bulbous geophytes, Arctic and boreal species, subtropical and tropical crops, and desert plants. Available evidence indicates that the temperature requirements for floral initiation, their organogenesis and anthesis vary widely among species and developmental stages, and that these optima reflect life-history strategy, origin and adaptation to seasonal temperature regimes. Full article

Background: Problematic school attendance in adolescence is a heterogeneous phenomenon with academic, emotional, and developmental consequences. Although relational factors are increasingly recognised, the literature remains conceptually fragmented, with overlapping constructs such as social isolation, loneliness, social withdrawal, and peer difficulties examined under partially distinct frameworks. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on the association between social isolation, related constructs, and problematic school attendance during adolescence. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (final search: 20 January 2026). Eligible studies were observational or qualitative empirical investigations involving adolescents aged 11–18 years and examining at least one relational construct (objective/subjective social isolation, loneliness, social withdrawal, peer rejection) together with at least one school attendance outcome (school refusal, withdrawal, truancy, avoidance, dropout). Risk of bias was assessed with design-specific JBI tools and findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria: six cross-sectional, four longitudinal/cohort, and one qualitative. Loneliness, bullying, school alienation, and social isolation at school were most consistently associated with school refusal and absenteeism, whereas peer acceptance, reciprocal friendships, teacher emotional support, and school belonging were associated with reduced dropout intentions, higher graduation rates, and better school transition. Longitudinally, loneliness and low teacher support preceded increases in intention to quit, while supportive relationships appeared to protect against later disengagement. Conclusions: Social isolation and related constructs are meaningfully associated with problematic school attendance in adolescence. Social isolation and related constructs appear to be meaningfully associated with problematic school attendance in adolescence, although the evidence base remains limited and heterogeneous. These findings suggest that a relational perspective may usefully complement existing approaches to attendance difficulties, and point to the need for longitudinal, multi-informant studies disentangling subjective, interpersonal, and institutional disconnection across distinct attendance profiles. Full article

To address the difficulty of directly incorporating crop growth-stage information into industrial control processes and the limited adaptability of control parameters to different developmental stages in conventional greenhouse fertigation management, this study developed a vision-based growth-stage determination and PLC-based fertigation parameter invocation system for greenhouse blueberry cultivation. The system integrated greenhouse blueberry image acquisition, edge-based visual recognition, STM32-based encoding conversion, PLC control, human–machine interaction, and actuator linkage. Image samples were collected from greenhouse blueberry plants, whereas system-level linkage verification was conducted on a small greenhouse prototype platform. The edge vision module was used to output preliminary blueberry growth-stage labels, while environmental and substrate sensor data were used for sensor status verification and control safety validation. The final growth-stage label was converted by the STM32 unit into a discrete coded signal and then transmitted to the PLC. Based on a predefined stage-strategy table, the PLC invoked the corresponding target parameters and drove the irrigation, fertilizer delivery, supplemental lighting, ventilation, and shading devices for coordinated control. The image-level stage classification evaluation based on an independent test set showed that different lightweight YOLO classification models exhibited different performance levels in identifying the major growth stages of blueberry. YOLO11n-cls achieved the highest Accuracy and Macro F1-score, reaching 85.71% and 84.81%, respectively. YOLOv8n-cls achieved an Accuracy, Macro F1-score, and Macro AP of 80.95%, 81.10%, and 91.25%, respectively, showing a favorable balance between model size and recognition performance. The confusion matrix indicated that misclassifications mainly occurred between the fruit expansion stage and the ripening stage, reflecting the morphological continuity of blueberry fruit development during the transitional period. The system linkage test results showed that blueberry growth-stage labels could be output by the edge vision terminal, converted by the STM32 unit, read by the PLC, and used for stage-specific target parameter invocation. Sensor acquisition, HMI display, and actuator response were completed cooperatively. The single determination and output time of the edge terminal was 500–1000 ms, and the remote-control response delay was 0.3–1.0 s. No obvious communication interruption, command loss, or abnormal shutdown occurred during system operation. These results indicate that blueberry growth-stage recognition results can serve as input conditions for PLC parameter invocation and device-control testing on a small greenhouse prototype platform. This study did not conduct a complete closed-loop cultivation experiment under real production greenhouse conditions or establish long-term blueberry cultivation control treatments. Therefore, no quantitative conclusions are drawn regarding water and fertilizer use efficiency, fertilizer application reduction, plant physiological responses, yield, or fruit quality improvement. Full article

Introduction: The ecto-endodermal boundary in the human oral cavity remains debated. Rather than a distinct line, this transition forms a complex interface, especially in the developing mouth and pharynx. This ambiguity is clinically relevant, as, for example, HPV-induced tumors often arise where ecto- and endoderm meet. The boundary is generally placed at the posterior third of the tongue and behind the uvula, though its developmental basis remains unclear. This review summarizes the literature on the embryological development of the mouth and pharynx to trace origins and interactions of ectodermal and endodermal derivatives and identify potential tumor initiation regions. Methods: PubMed articles on oral structures were reviewed to approximate the ecto-endodermal border. Results: Teeth originate from ectoderm. The origin of salivary glands and papillae depends on their location. No study reports were found for the tonsils, incisive papilla, tubarial glands, and faucial pillars. Conclusions: A clear educational image of the origin of the structures of the human mouth is made to help identify regions of risk for oral cancer. Full article