Search Results (613)

Armillaria species hold significant ecological and economic importance and they play a vital role in the growth of traditional Chinese medicine Gastrodia elata (G. elata). In this study, we assembled and compared the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of six Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. (A. mellea) strains isolated from the main G. elata-producing region of Hanzhong, China. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing confirmed that all six strains form a monophyletic clade. Their mitogenomes (120,775 to 120,839 bp) exhibit a highly conserved architecture, each containing 16 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 open reading frames (ORFs), 27 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. Codon usage and amino acid frequency were strikingly similar among the six strains, with a strong AT bias. In contrast, comparisons with other Armillaria species revealed marked differences in gene order, repeat structures, and selection pressures. Phylogenetic analyses based on PCGs further resolved the close relationship among the six strains while highlighting distinct molecular variation across species. On the whole, these findings demonstrate that A. mellea strains co-evolving with G. elata maintain a highly uniform mitochondrial genome architecture, suggesting strong purifying selection or recent divergence within this symbiotic population. The pronounced differences from other Armillaria species at the levels of gene arrangement and selection pressure imply that mitochondrial gene rearrangement may have accompanied species diversification in the genus. By providing the first complete mitogenomes of A. mellea from a major G. elata cultivation area, this study not only expands the genomic resources for Armillaria but also establishes a foundation for understanding how mitochondrial variation might influence fungal growth, adaptation, and symbiotic efficiency with G. elata. Full article

Background/Objectives: We aimed to report three novel MAGED2 variants associated with transient antenatal Bartter syndrome (TABS) and to summarize the prenatal and postnatal features of MAGED2-related TABS through case analysis and literature review. Methods: Three unrelated Chinese families with polyhydramnios-affected pregnancies underwent genetic testing. Clinical data, including prenatal imaging, delivery details, and postnatal outcomes were reviewed. A literature review of reported MAGED2 variants and associated phenotypes was conducted. Results: Three previously unreported MAGED2 variants were identified: two frameshift variants (c.1511del [p.Gly504Alafs*72] and c.338del [p.Pro113ArgfsTer4]) and one deletion (chrX:54,820,664–54,839,053 [GRCh37]). All fetuses presented with polyhydramnios; two were large for gestational age (LGA). Additional findings included ventriculomegaly and scrotal enlargement. Two male infants were delivered at 33 weeks following repeated amnioreduction, with transient postnatal electrolyte abnormalities and normal neurodevelopment at 3 and 4 years. One fetus with a frameshift variant died in utero at 26 + 1 weeks. A literature review of 53 cases revealed 38 distinct MAGED2 variants, predominantly null variants (65.8%). Polyhydramnios was the most consistent antenatal sign. No intellectual disability was reported in surviving individuals. Conclusions: These findings expand the MAGED2 mutational spectrum. Polyhydramnios and LGA represents the most frequent features in TABS. In fetuses presenting with early-onset severe polyhydramnios (around 19–20 weeks of gestation), particular attention should be paid to possible exon-level or partial deletions involving MAGED2 during genetic evaluation. Full article

This study examines a cost-shaping method that considers distance information to obstacles in a line-of-sight (LOS) any-angle path-planning approach on grid-based maps. In the proposed approach, the safety distance to obstacles is added to the cost in a controlled manner via a single adjustable and interpretable parameter; thus, the balance between safety and efficiency becomes practically adjustable. Node selection in the planning process is performed while maintaining the classical search rule; the additional penalty related to the safety distance is only included in the transit cost. This design strengthens consistency between method definition and implementation and eliminates the risk of the same safety term being considered multiple times. The experimental evaluation was conducted on a three-by-three scenario set encompassing map type and difficulty level dimensions. Starting and ending points were selected in a layered and matched manner as easy/medium/difficult; the safety parameter was scanned at different values, following a repeatable protocol under all conditions. Outputs were evaluated using efficiency metrics such as path length and number of turns, as well as minimum safety distance, safety distance violation rate, and a curvature indicator representing the smoothness of the path geometry. In addition, practical costs such as planning time, an expanded number of nodes, and memory footprint were reported. The results show that exposure to low safety distance zones decreases and the path geometry becomes more regular with increasing safety parameters. Furthermore, it was observed that the success rate increased in pooled analyses while memory usage remained constant; paired statistical tests and effect size measurements confirmed that the improvements were strong and consistent. These findings reveal that safety distance-sensitive cost-shaping offers a lean control mechanism that enhances safety and maintains practical applicability within line-of-sight-based any-angle planning. Full article

As Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) deployments expand and adversaries adopt “store-now, decrypt-later” strategies, operators need empirical data on the cost of migrating critical control interfaces to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This paper experimentally evaluates the impact of integrating a NIST-aligned Module-Lattice Key-Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM) into IKEv2/IPsec, protecting the E2 interface between the 5G Node B (gNB) and the Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC). Using an open-source testbed built from srsRAN, Open5GS, FlexRIC and strongSwan (with liboqs), we compare three configurations: no IPsec, classical Elliptic Curve Diffie–Hellman (ECDH)-based IPsec, and ML-KEM-based IPsec. This study focuses on IPsec tunnel-setup latency and the runtime behaviour of Near-RT RIC xApps under realistic signalling workloads. Results from repeated, automated runs show that ML-KEM integration adds a small overhead to tunnel establishment, which is approximately 2.7~4.7 ms in comparison to classical IPsec, while xApp operation and RIC control loops remain stable in our experiments. These findings, produced from an open, reproducible testbed, indicate that ML-KEM-based IPsec on the E2 interface is practically feasible and inform quantum-safe migration strategies for O-RAN deployments. Full article

Analytical methods for (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) have mainly been reported for specific formulation types, such as tablets, chewable tablets, powders, and liquid formulations, despite its increasing use in dietary supplement and health functional food formulations with diverse matrix compositions. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection analytical conditions and sample preparation approaches were systematically compared and optimized to improve applicability across different formulation matrices. Chromatographic performance was evaluated under standard solution conditions, followed by a comparative assessment of sample preparation conditions in tablet, chewable tablet, powder, and liquid formulations. An ultrasonic pretreatment approach without thermal treatment provided consistent recovery and repeatability across all the tested formulations. The optimized analytical conditions showed linear detector response (R² = 0.9992), precision with relative standard deviation values of 0.52–4.06%, recoveries of 81.84–102.56%, and an estimated expanded measurement uncertainty of approximately 10%. These results indicate that the optimized HPLC–PDA analytical conditions are applicable to the determination of 5-MTHF across diverse dietary supplement and health functional food formulations. Full article

The parasitic wasps of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) are a group of insects with significant biological control value. However, their genomic evolution and ecological adaptation mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we focused on the genome analysis of Eretmocerus hayati and performed a comparative analysis with four other species from Aphelinidae. Our results indicated that the divergence time of Aphelinidae was approximately 119.9 million years ago. In Er. hayati, gene families related to energy metabolism and humoral immunity have significantly expanded, which may be associated with the high metabolic demands of its small body size and the immune adaptation strategies resulting from its unique parasitic methods. Additionally, genes involved in DNA replication and recombination have undergone positive selection in the ancestral branch of Aphelinidae species. Compared with 23 species within nine families in the Chalcidoidea superfamily studied here, the genome size of Er. hayati is the largest. The analysis of repetitive sequences revealed a recent burst of long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence insertions in the genome of Er. hayati. Our study indicates the evolutionary characteristics of Er. hayati in terms of gene family evolution, chromosomal collinearity, and transposon dynamics, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the environmental adaptation and biological control applications. Full article

Technologies for home movement rehabilitation after stroke are rapidly expanding. However, for consumers, the number and nature of available products are unclear, and the information provided by device manufacturers varies widely. To understand this landscape, we conducted a mixed-methods, descriptive study in which we used the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database to identify interactive devices for stroke rehabilitation suitable for home use. We then surveyed 13 individuals with stroke to determine what information they most wanted about home-based rehabilitation devices and contacted manufacturers to obtain those details. Thirteen FDA codes were associated with stroke rehabilitation devices, encompassing 57 devices produced by 40 companies. Nearly half were categorized under two codes: QKC (interactive rehabilitation exercise devices) and GZI (neuromuscular stimulators). Among devices for which information was available, 71% were listed after 2015, and 23% cost under $1000. The top information priorities for individuals with stroke were required usage to achieve therapeutic benefit, expected benefit, ease of use, and motivational features. Despite repeated outreach, only 45% of companies responded to our queries; among those that did, details were vague and variable. These results confirm that a large and growing number of FDA-listed devices are now available for home-based post-stroke motor rehabilitation. We further identify a need to establish industry standards for reporting ease of use, motivational effectiveness, and dose–response characteristics to help the intended consumers select appropriate technologies. The curated dataset generated in this study is provided as a resource for future work and may support the development of accurate Artificial Intelligence-based interfaces for identifying and comparing rehabilitation devices. Full article

Timely identification of canopy decline in commercial strawberry production is challenging because visual scouting often misses subtle or spatially heterogeneous symptoms. We developed a plant-level UAV-based monitoring framework that integrates repeated multispectral imagery, canopy-derived metrics, unsupervised clustering, and Random Survival Forest (RSF) time-to-event modeling. The framework was applied across three commercial strawberry fields in Oxnard, California using nine UAV surveys collected from December 2022 to June 2023, yielding 159,220 plant-level monitoring units. NDRE- and Redness Index-based classifications quantified proportional and absolute canopy dieback within standardized hexagonal units and supported survival-based modeling of canopy decline progression. Across withheld test plants from all survey dates, overall concordance indices ranged from 0.88 to 0.95 across fields, indicating strong ability to rank plants by time-to-decline risk under heterogeneous field conditions. Spatial risk maps revealed localized high-risk clusters that expanded over time in fields with greater canopy deterioration, while fields with minimal visible decline exhibited diffuse but stable risk distributions. Post-hoc comparison with operational fumigation rates (280, 336, and 392 kg Pic-Clor 60/ha) showed no consistent association with predicted canopy decline risk. These results demonstrate that framing repeated UAV observations as a time-to-event process enables fine-scale spatiotemporal modeling of canopy decline dynamics and supports risk stratification for targeted field monitoring in commercial strawberry systems. Full article

Urbanization is a major and rapidly expanding form of land-use change worldwide and is one of the main drivers of the decline in arthropod diversity. Within urban matrices, remnants of natural or semi-natural habitats serve as important refuges for native organisms. However, these urban fragments are typically small, isolated, and strongly affected by various forms of disturbance. Therefore, connectivity among urban remnant patches may enhance population persistence and resilience. Increased tendencies to explore novel environments, tolerate human disturbance, and exploit unpredictable resources can be advantageous in urban environments. Accordingly, in this study of a flightless ground beetle species, we hypothesized that individuals from urban habitats—especially from isolated ones—would be bolder and more exploratory than their rural conspecifics, that sexes would differ in behavior, and that these behaviors would be temporally consistent, indicating animal personality. Activity-, exploration-, and boldness-related behavioral traits were significantly repeatable, providing evidence for animal personality, particularly in females and rural beetles. Contrary to our hypothesis, no behavioral differences were detected between rural and urban individuals. Furthermore, no significant sex-dependent differences in behavior were observed. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of species-specific traits and ecological context in shaping behavioral variation. Full article

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly explored as nanocarriers in drug delivery; however, selecting an appropriate loading strategy for a given small-molecule cargo still relies largely on empirical, resource-intensive parallel screening within EV formulation workflows. Despite the widespread application of passive incubation, electroporation, saponin-mediated permeabilization, freeze–thaw cycling, and sonication, there is currently no mechanistically grounded, descriptor-informed framework that enables rational prioritization of loading methods during the early design stage of EV-based dosage forms, leading to inefficient trial-and-error experimentation. Methods: We assembled a chemically diverse dataset of 21 compounds with experimentally determined loading efficiencies across five EV loading methods and calculated seven mechanistically motivated physicochemical descriptors (LogP, molecular weight, aqueous solubility, hydrogen bond donors/acceptors, polar surface area, and formal charge) for each drug. Separate Elastic Net regression models were trained for each loading strategy. Model performance was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation, a predefined external validation set (n = 4), and 50 repeated random train–test splits. The analysis emphasized decision-level ranking of loading methods rather than the precise prediction of absolute efficiencies. The applicability domain was assessed via leverage analysis to define the supported chemical space for prospective implementation in EV-based formulation development. Results: As anticipated for biologically heterogeneous EV systems, continuous regression performance remained modest (LOOCV R² = 0.06–0.41). In contrast, decision-level accuracy for identifying the experimentally optimal loading method was consistently high across validation schemes (internal: 76.5%; predefined external: 75%; repeated random validation: 80.5 ± 16.8%). Mechanical disruption methods (freeze–thaw and sonication) demonstrated comparatively greater predictive stability, while misclassification patterns suggested potential nonlinear behavior for highly polar, ionizable cargos. All compounds resided within the leverage-defined applicability domain, confirming adequate descriptor-space representation. Conclusions: This study establishes a mechanistically interpretable, descriptor-based decision-support framework capable of reliably prioritizing EV loading strategies for small-molecule cargos beyond empirical chance without altering standard protocols. By reframing the modeling objective from high-precision efficiency prediction to robust ranking of candidate methods, the approach offers a practical tool to triage between commonly used techniques, thereby reducing experimental burden in early-stage EV formulation development. The framework provides a quantitative basis for integrating molecular-descriptor-guided method selection into rational EV-based drug delivery design and can be expanded with membrane-specific descriptors and larger datasets. Full article

Modern computing platforms increasingly rely on random number generators (RNGs) for modeling probabilistic processes in simulation, probabilistic computing, and system validation. They are also essential for cryptographic operations such as key generation, authenticated encryption, and digital signatures. Deterministic Random Bit Generators (DRBGs), as specified in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-90A, provides a standardized method for expanding entropy into cryptographically strong pseudorandom sequences. This work presents the design and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation of a hash-based DRBG using Ascon-Hash256, a lightweight, quantum-resistant hash function from the NIST-standardized Ascon cryptographic suite. It implements hash-based derivation, instantiation, generation, and reseeding of the generator via iterative hash invocations and state updates. Leveraging Ascon’s sponge-based structure, the design achieves efficient entropy absorption and diffusion while maintaining an area-efficient FPGA architecture, making it well suited for resource-constrained platforms. The diffusion properties of the proposed DRBG are evaluated through avalanche and reproducibility analyses, confirming strong sensitivity to input variations and secure, repeatable operation. Moreover, Monte Carlo and stochastic-diffusion evaluation of the generated bitstreams demonstrates correct convergence and statistically consistent behavior. These results confirm that the proposed hash-based DRBG provides reproducible, hardware-efficient, and cryptographically secure random numbers suitable for next-generation neuromorphic, probabilistic computing systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Full article

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9, a genome-editing technology pioneered in 2012, enables the precise correction of deleterious mutations or disruption of disease-causing genes through targeted double-strand breaks (DSBs), offering potential for treating genetic diseases. However, CRISPR/Cas9 can cause off-target cleavage at non-specific DNA sites, leading to unintended insertions or deletions (indels), which limit its safety and applicability despite ongoing improvements in specificity. Recently, prime editing (PE), an advanced CRISPR-derived technology, has been employed with a Cas9 nickase (Cas9n) fused with a reverse transcriptase and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) to enable precise insertions, deletions, and transversions without inducing DSBs, thus reducing risks of indels and chromosomal aberrations. Furthermore, ongoing optimizations, such as improved pegRNA design and enhanced editing efficiency, have expanded the applications of PE in medical therapeutics, agriculture, and fundamental research. This review summarizes recent advancements in the PE system, including optimized pegRNA designs and enzyme engineering for enhanced efficiency and specificity, alongside novel delivery methods. It also evaluates cutting-edge delivery strategies, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and novel extracellular vesicle (EV)-based systems, and explores PE applications in vitro and in vivo, including disease modeling and therapeutic gene correction. Full article

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable clinical success in B cell malignancies. However, its efficacy in solid tumors remains limited, in part due to suboptimal expansion, persistence, and restrained effector function. Strategies that promote durable CAR-T cell fitness are therefore required to overcome these barriers. In this study, we generated HER2-CAR-T cells targeting human breast cancer cells and evaluated the impact of different cytokine supplementation strategies on CAR-T cell phenotype and function. We analyzed gene expression patterns and performed repetitive tumor killing assays to assess the ability of CAR-T cells expanded with IL-2 + IL-7 + IL-15 compared with IL-2 alone to maintain proliferation and cytotoxic function across multiple rounds of tumor cell exposure. Compared with IL-2 alone, supplementation with IL-7 and IL-15 significantly enhanced CAR-T cell expansion, preserved stem cell-like features prior to antigen encounter, and promoted superior proliferative capacity. Moreover, CAR-T cells cultured with IL-7+15 or IL-2+7+15 maintained sustained cytotoxicity and exhibited increased antitumor cytokine production during repeated tumor challenges. Notably, IL-7 and IL-15 supplementation induced a CD57⁺ CAR-T cell population that, unlike the immunosenescent CD57⁺ cells reported previously, retained full proliferative and cytotoxic capacity, with CD57 expression being dynamically downregulated upon antigen stimulation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that incorporation of IL-7 and IL-15 into CAR-T cell manufacturing protocols substantially improves expansion, persistence, and effector function, supporting their use as a strategy to enhance CAR-T cell performance against solid tumors. Full article

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Jalo Vermelho carries the Co-12 gene, which confers resistance to both Andean and Mesoamerican races of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Despite its importance for breeding programs, the genomic location and candidate genes underlying this resistance remain poorly defined. The Co-12 locus was fine-mapped using a biparental population derived from the cross Jalo Vermelho × Crioulo 159. A total of 172 F₂ plants were used to generate 172 F_2:3 families, which were phenotyped after inoculation with race 1545 of C. lindemuthianum. Segregation analysis confirmed a 1:2:1 Mendelian ratio, consistent with a single dominant resistance gene. Genotyping of resistant and susceptible plants using the BARBean6K_3 Illumina BeadChip (5398 SNP markers) mapped Co-12 to chromosome Pv04, between 1695 bp (ss715649768) and 9,651,954 bp (ss715646644). Subsequent fine mapping with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers delimited the locus to a 41 kb genomic interval flanked by BARCPVSSR04557 and BARCPVSSR04570. Within this region, three candidate genes were identified, including one encoding a gamma-glutamyl-GABA enzyme and two encoding lipid transfer proteins (LTP2). Lipid transfer proteins are widely recognized components of plant defense; however, their association with anthracnose resistance in the common bean has not been previously reported. The identification of LTP2 genes within the Co-12 interval suggests a previously unrecognized resistance mechanism and expands the current understanding of host defense pathways in Phaseolus vulgaris. The markers identified here provide valuable tools for marker-assisted selection and will facilitate efficient introgression of Co-12 into common bean cultivars. Full article

The isolation of locally adapted rhizobial strains with high symbiotic activity represents an effective strategy for increasing soybean yield under extreme environmental conditions. In this study, seven novel strains were isolated from nodules of soybeans grown in a greenhouse using field soil from the Lower Volga region. Five genomes were assembled into complete circular chromosomes, whereas two strains yielded near-complete chromosomes containing single repeat-mediated junctions. All strains had putative plasmids that were independently validated as circular by long-read mapping and confirmed by the presence of characteristic replication and conjugation-associated genes. Genome sequences of strains were about 11 Mb, and GC contents were 63.1–63.3%. Comparative genome analyses demonstrated that all strains had average nucleotide identity values of 95.4% with Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 6^T and 96.3% with Bradyrhizobium barranii 144S4^T, forming a distinct cluster in phylogenetic trees. No significant differences were detected between B. japonicum and B. barranii that would explain the species boundary. Therefore, it is proposed to unite all novel strains into the subspecies Bradyrhizobium japonicum subsp. saratovii subsp. nov., and all other strains of B. japonicum and B. barranii we suggest dividing into four subspecies: Bradyrhizobium japonicum subsp. japonicum subsp. nov., Bradyrhizobium japonicum subsp. barranii comb. nov., Bradyrhizobium japonicum subsp. apii comb. nov., and Bradyrhizobium japonicum subsp. saratovii subsp. nov. The proposed taxonomic framework expands current knowledge of the biodiversity of soybean symbiotic bacteria and contributes to a better understanding of the distribution and the evolution of bacteria Bradyrhizobium spp. in previously unexplored regions. Full article