Search Results (6,848)

Reducing reliance on chemical nitrogen fertilizers while maintaining rice productivity is a key challenge in sustainable agriculture. In this study, a composite inoculant of three diazotrophic strains (Paenibacillus azotifigens, Paenibacillus azotofixans, and Phytobacter diazotrophicus) was applied by root drenching at the heading stage of field-grown rice. Soil physicochemical properties, rice yield, and soil bacterial and fungal communities were assessed at harvest using spike-in-based absolute quantification amplicon sequencing. Inoculation increased rice yield by 5.5% and significantly elevated soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) (+343%), with a trend toward higher available phosphorus, while total nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon remained unchanged. Bacterial absolute abundance was approximately 2.6-fold higher in inoculated plots, while fungal abundance declined, resulting in a substantially elevated bacteria-to-fungi ratio; community composition and diversity indices showed no significant changes. The inoculant strains were not detectably enriched at harvest, yet functional groups associated with nitrification, nitrogen fixation, and organic matter decomposition were consistently elevated and positively associated with reactive nutrient fractions. These results suggest that diazotrophic inoculants may promote yield through transient microbial community activation and nutrient form transformation rather than persistent colonization, and highlight the value of absolute quantification for detecting inoculation-induced shifts in microbial community size. Full article

Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDSs) are heritable connective tissue disorders caused by defects in collagen and related extracellular matrix proteins. Because the vocal fold (VF) lamina propria is a collagen-dependent structure, the voice might be expected to be affected, yet voice and laryngeal involvement has received comparatively little attention. This scoping review, conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and reported following the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), mapped the available evidence on voice and laryngeal manifestations in adults with EDS. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to 11 March 2026, and thirteen studies were included: four questionnaire-based and nine clinical or instrumental. Self-reported voice complaints were common across EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorder populations, ranging from mild-to-moderate handicap in large cohorts to frequent, fluctuating difficulties in professional singers, although their prevalence varied with population and assessment method. Direct laryngeal examination revealed a recurring substrate of cricoarytenoid joint subluxation or fixation, arytenoid prolapse, and hyolaryngeal instability, together with microvascular and mucosal fragility, characteristically accompanied by preserved VF mobility. Muscle tension dysphonia was the most frequent diagnosis in high-vocal-demand cohorts. Reflux, vocal load, and autonomic comorbidities such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome were frequently reported and may modulate the clinical picture. The evidence indicates that voice and laryngeal involvement is a plausible, multi-level manifestation of EDS that remains under-recognised. The current literature is limited by small, heterogeneous, and largely uncontrolled studies; prospective research using standardised multimodal assessment is needed to clarify its prevalence, mechanisms, and management. Full article

Eye-tracking technologies enable precise measurement of eye movements and are widely used in visual behavior analysis and biomedical engineering applications. Oculomotor parameters, such as fixation duration, saccades, and pupil dilation, are influenced by both visual stimulus characteristics and emotional state; however, the relationships between these factors are difficult to model in a coherent manner. In this context, this paper proposes a model for describing the influence of wavelength and emotional parameters on eye movements. The model expresses oculomotor parameters as functions of the input variables, using simplified relationships that allow both interpretability and practical implementation. To analyze the model, a MATLAB-based application was developed, enabling the simulation of oculomotor behavior under different scenarios. The obtained results highlight variations in the analyzed parameters depending on the input conditions and support the applicability of the model in biomedical monitoring and visual behavior assessment. Full article

Electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) for ammonia synthesis has emerged as a research focus in artificial nitrogen fixation. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focus on experimental catalyst development, this work offers a comprehensive and systematic summary of recent theoretical progress in NORR, with special emphasis on low-dimensional materials. We connect four important areas: atomic-level design principles for active sites, emerging mechanistic ideas that go beyond conventional scaling relations, realistic simulations of the electrochemical microenvironment, and data-driven machine learning approaches for catalyst discovery. We begin by discussing the reaction mechanism, analyzing the orbital interactions that control NO activation and the thermodynamic and kinetic features of different reaction pathways. For active-site construction, we examine electronic synergy in single-atom and dual-atom catalysts, coordination microenvironment tuning, electronic structure modulation through doping and strain, and heterojunction interfaces that allow multi-degree-of-freedom regulation. To explore new mechanistic concepts, we introduce p-block element synergy, reverse activation, magnetic and spin control, and surface electronic singularities as strategies to overcome traditional scaling relations. Regarding the reaction microenvironment, we analyze how coverage, solvation, local pH, and applied potential jointly affect selectivity and activity. Finally, we summarize the role of machine learning in building descriptors and accelerating catalyst screening. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance for the rational design of efficient NORR electrocatalysts with high activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Full article

In underground mining operations, intelligent electronic monitoring and control systems have gradually become essential tools for practitioners to obtain operational information. Because underground mines are characterized by low-light environments that differ substantially from above-ground natural lighting, screen-related factors can strongly affect visual search tasks. It is therefore important to examine how interface layout influences visual search efficiency under low-illuminance mining conditions. This study utilized eye-tracking sensing technology to evaluate user performance within a simulated underground electronic monitoring and control system. Interface layout and ambient illuminance were set as experimental variables to investigate their effects on users’ search efficiency, quantitative eye-movement metrics, and usability satisfaction. The results showed that interface layout and ambient illuminance had significant main effects on task completion time, fixation count, saccade count, and subjective usability score. Among the tested layouts, the Three-Column Layout (THCL) showed the most favorable performance in task completion time, fixation count, and subjective usability score, while visual search efficiency was generally higher under the 50-lx condition. Full article

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrients to plants, but its bioavailability in agricultural soils is often limited by its low mobility and strong fixation in soil colloids, thus reducing crop productivity and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE). Organomineral fertilizers (OMFs) have been proposed as an alternative to increase the agronomic efficiency of P and promote sustainable soil–plant interactions. In this systematic review, we synthesized scientific evidence on the effects of OMFs on PUE, plant physiological responses, and soil attributes in maize and bean crops. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and included studies published between 2015 and 2025, retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Selected studies compared organomineral phosphate fertilizers with conventional mineral sources and reported outcomes related to PUE, plant performance, or soil attributes. OMFs were generally associated with improved crop growth and increased soil P availability. However, despite frequent comparisons between OMFs and mineral fertilizers, few researchers quantitatively calculated PUE using robust metrics. Plant physiological responses were also poorly explored and, when assessed, were mainly restricted to chlorophyll indices. In addition, the soil microbiome was evaluated in only a few studies, highlighting a major gap in integrated soil–plant–microorganism research. Full article

Background: The Codubix^® ŻEBRA and Codubix^® S ŻEBRA prostheses (by Tricomed SA), made of a biocompatible polypropylene–polyester braid, were developed as tools for the treatment of bone defects resulting from cancer surgery or mechanical injuries. Methods: The retrospective analysis investigation presents the efficacy and safety of rib bone prostheses made of knitted polyester–polypropylene fabric used to fill defects in the ribs and sternum. Data were collected from 113 patients (68 males, 45 females) undergoing surgery at three clinical centres. Prosthesis implantation was performed to bridge bone defects in the ribs and/or sternum. The analysis included preoperative and intraoperative data, two follow-up visits and a final interview with the patients. All prostheses were implanted using two techniques for filling defects in the chest wall: the ‘hammock’ (suspension) fixation method in 87 patients, and the ‘rigid’ fixation method in 26 patients. Results: The main cause of defects was cancer surgery (95.6%) performed in cases of sarcomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and desmoid tumours. Other causes (e.g., congenital defects and mechanical trauma) were less common. The ‘rigid’ fixation method extended the surgery time by approximately 16 min compared to the suspension method. Differences were also noted in the recovery period—an average of 56 days for the ‘hammock’ method and 30 days for the ‘rigid’ method. During the second follow-up visit, the treatment outcome using these prostheses was rated as good in 90.3% of cases. The average duration of hospitalisation was 21 days, regardless of the implantation method. No prosthesis-related adverse events were reported. Complications were observed in 21 cases in the first days after surgery. The most common ones were sensory disturbances (5.3%), infections (3.5%), haematomas and blood effusions (2.7%). Conclusions: A retrospective study demonstrates that knitted prostheses are safe and effective solution for repairing extensive defects resulting from tumours, trauma or congenital malformations. The implants ensure high patient comfort and maintain normal physical functioning without interference. Full article

To establish a geometric framework for scleral fixation planning in secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation that accounts for corneal ellipticity and meridional orientation, and to analyze the limitations of fixed limbus-distance marking. The limbal boundary was modeled as an ellipse defined by the horizontal and vertical white-to-white (WTW) diameters. A target circumferential scleral locus is defined concentrically relative to an anatomical reference center. Fixation points are determined as a function of the meridional orientation θ using an explicit radial model of the elliptical limbus and an orientation-dependent limbal offset. The framework is analyzed for two-, three-, and four-point fixation configurations, including the effect of uniform circumferential displacement. A constant limbus-distance strategy implicitly assumes rotational invariance of limbal geometry. When the cornea is elliptical, this assumption produces predictable meridional deviations from the intended circumferential scleral locus for vertical and oblique fixation. An orientation-dependent limbal offset preserves geometric symmetry across all meridians and maintains fixation points on a consistent target locus, independent of angular configuration. Under representative biometric conditions, the maximal geometric deviation from the intended scleral locus approached approximately 0.58 mm when a constant limbus-distance strategy was applied. Scleral fixation planning can be formalized as a geometric problem governed by limbal ellipticity and meridional orientation. An explicit orientation-dependent model provides a technique-independent basis for reproducible fixation planning and reduces reliance on fixed-distance heuristics. Full article

This study investigated how congruence between pictogram complexity and typographic complexity influences visual processing and perceived appropriateness in multimodal communication. Drawing on theories of visual communication, legibility and aesthetic perception, the study examined whether simple or complex pictograms harmonise more effectively with sans-serif or serif typefaces. Ninety participants viewed stimuli from three thematic categories (cobbler, herbal pharmacy and gluten-free restaurant), while their eye movements were recorded using a Tobii Pro Fusion eye-tracking device. Measures included reading time, fixation count and saccade count, together with subjective evaluations of pictogram–typeface suitability. The results show that reading time was the most sensitive indicator of formal congruence. In the cobbler and gluten-free restaurant categories, simple pictograms increased reading time with sans-serif typography but decreased it with serif typography. In the herbal pharmacy category, simple pictograms and sans-serif typography independently supported faster reading performance. Subjective evaluations showed no significant differences between combinations, indicating that participants perceived all pairings as similarly appropriate despite measurable differences in processing efficiency. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of pictogram–typeface combinations depends on both formal complexity and thematic context. Eye-tracking proved valuable for revealing subtle cognitive processing differences not reflected in subjective judgements. Full article

This study investigates nitrogen-fixing rhizobia associated with Pisum sativum, a member of the tribe Vicieae (Fabaceae), whose species establish symbioses with bacteria belonging predominantly to the symbiovar viciae within the Rhizobium leguminosarum complex (Rlc). Based on a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the F-clade within this complex, we report the identification and characterization of a novel rhizobial subspecies, Rhizobium laguerreae subsp. mediterraneum subsp. nov., isolated from pea nodules in Tunisia. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and multilocus sequence analysis (recA, atpD, dnaK, and glnII) placed strains 25PS6 and 10PS4 within the Rlc, while whole-genome phylogenomics using 2960 single-copy orthologues supported their assignment to a distinct monophyletic clade (Q-II). Subspecies-level clustering consistency was maximized using an optimized ANIm criterion of 97.40%, corresponding to 76.65% dDDH. Both strains belong to symbiovar viciae and exhibited improved symbiotic performance on pea plants compared to the reference strain, indicating strong symbiotic performance and potential relevance for biological nitrogen fixation. Cluster-specific SNP analysis identified 63 exclusive non-synonymous mutations with putative functional effects predicted in silico. These results suggest that cluster-specific nsSNPs may contribute to genomic differentiation within the Q-II lineage. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses further distinguished the novel subspecies based on carbon utilization, enzymatic activity, antibiotic resistance, and fatty acid profiles. Together, these findings highlight the genomic diversity within nitrogen-fixing rhizobia associated with legumes and identify a novel subspecies with potential agronomic relevance for improving symbiotic nitrogen fixation in pea cultivation. The proposed subspecies, Rhizobium laguerreae subsp. mediterraneum, is represented by strains 10PS4 and 25PS6, with strain 25PS6^T (=DSM 116212^T = LMG 33205^T) designated as the type strain. Full article

Background: This pilot study investigated the effects of emotional images on gaze behavior, pupil diameter, and galvanic skin response (GSR). After measuring trait anxiety, 37 healthy adults were shown images (disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, or neutral) from the International Affective Picture System for 4 s each while recording eye tracking and physiological responses. Methods: Recorded data included total fixation duration, average fixation duration, fixation count, first fixation duration, mean pupil diameter during fixation, and average GSR. Results: Compared to images depicting happiness, those depicting fear were associated with longer average fixation duration, fewer fixations, and larger pupil diameters. Compared with neutral images, those showing happiness were associated with larger pupil diameters. No significant differences in GSR were observed across emotion categories. Regarding anxiety levels, fear-inducing images tended to be associated with fewer fixations and larger pupil diameters across all anxiety groups. In moderate- and high-anxiety groups, there was a tendency for longer fixation duration compared to images evoking happiness. Conclusions: Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that while individuals tend to fixate on fear images less often than on happiness images, they fixate for longer on them, which may cause pupil dilation. However, no significant response was observed depending on the level of trait anxiety. Further research using a larger sample size is needed to confirm these initial observations. Full article

This study reports atypical findings indicating that extracellular particles (EPs) isolated from leftover discarded formalin-fixed tissues (FFTs) contain atypical RNA profiles that may be highly fragmented. Using particle purification liquid chromatography (PPLC), we isolated EPs from five tissue types that had been immersed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, stored at room temperature, and collected at the point of discard. Tissues were de-identified and maintained at room temperature until EP separation and exRNA purification. Purified EPs were stored at −80 °C before physicochemical characterization and small RNA sequencing. PPLC separation profiles were broadly consistent with expected EP signatures, although subtle shifts in physicochemical properties were observed. exRNA was successfully recovered from all samples; however, RNA-Seq analysis showed that most reads were unclassified, while others mapped to microbial taxa rather than host-derived transcripts. These results suggest that EP-associated RNA in FFT may be substantially degraded and that microbial particles or nucleic acids were present in the tissues despite formalin fixation. Microbial viability was not assessed, as this was outside the scope of the study. Nonetheless, several explanations are plausible, including RNA fragmentation due to prolonged formalin exposure, microbial contamination during pre-discard storage, or inadequate or ineffective fixation that permitted microbial persistence or enrichment. Collectively, these findings indicate that leftover discarded tissues that were not flash-frozen or properly stored may be unsuitable—or at minimum require caution—when used as a source of EPs or EP-associated RNA. Investigators should consider RNA degradation/fragmentation, microbial confounders, and fixation-related artifacts when interpreting EP or exRNA data derived from FFT. Full article

Understory mosses modify near-surface soil conditions, but how elevation regulates their influence on active and mineral-associated soil organic carbon (SOC) remains unclear. We compared independently selected moss-covered and non-moss-covered soils across a 3200–3500 m elevational gradient and integrated soil physicochemical measurements, microbial biomass (MB), dissolved organic matter (DOM), microbial necromass carbon (MNC), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), metagenomic profiling, and piecewise structural equation modeling. Moss-covered soils consistently contained higher SOC and MAOC, but lower DOM, MB, and generally lower POC, than non-moss-covered soils. MNC showed an elevation-dependent reversal, with higher values under moss cover at 3200 m but lower values under moss cover at 3300–3500 m. Elevation was not a significant uniform driver of MB, DOM, MNC, POC, or MAOC; instead, its influence was mainly reflected in interactions with surface cover and in elevation-related changes in moss-layer structure, diversity, and hydrothermal conditions. Core carbon-fixation and degradation functions remained broadly stable, whereas specific functional modules shifted within moss-covered soils: acetate and acetyl-CoA metabolism genes (ackA and abfD) were relatively abundant at 3300–3400 m, while the polysaccharide-reprocessing gene SGA1 and oxidative-transformation gene katG increased toward higher elevations, and pmoC/amoC rebounded at 3500 m. Structural equation models linked the microbial functional gene system more strongly to POC, whereas MNC was positively associated with MAOC, and the direct POC-to-MAOC pathway was not significant. These findings indicate that moss cover is associated with contrasting SOC allocation patterns and stronger microbial necromass–MAOC coupling, while elevation modulates these relationships indirectly through changes in moss communities, soil microenvironment, and microbial functional potential. Full article

Background: Massive post-traumatic segmental bone defects exceeding 5 cm—particularly those resulting from Gustilo–Anderson type IIIB open fractures—present a formidable reconstructive challenge. Autologous bone graft, though biologically superior, is restricted in this context by limited harvest volume and donor-site morbidity. Nonvascularized structural bone allografts provide unrestricted graft volume and immediate mechanical support, but data on their performance in severely compromised post-traumatic environments remain sparse. Methods: This retrospective case series evaluated three patients with massive distal femoral bone loss following high-energy trauma. All were managed with a staged protocol: radical debridement and temporary joint-spanning external fixation at index surgery, followed by definitive reconstruction with a matched nonvascularized structural allograft and retrograde intramedullary nailing once the host bed was aseptic and soft-tissue coverage was established. Results: Limb salvage was achieved in all three patients at a mean follow-up of 18 months. Two patients attained stable biological integration and restored anatomical alignment; one of these progressed to full unassisted weight-bearing by four months postoperatively. The third patient developed symptomatic pseudarthrosis at the distal host–graft junction. The proximally integrated allograft had preserved sufficient femoral bone stock to serve as anchorage for a segmental total knee arthroplasty performed two years after the index reconstruction, ultimately preventing amputation. Conclusions: Nonvascularized structural allografts combined with rigid intramedullary nailing constitute a reproducible limb salvage strategy for massive femoral defects. The allograft functions not only as a vehicle for primary biological union, but as a structural reserve—maintaining femoral axis and bone stock that remains available for secondary arthroplasty reconstruction should union fail. Full article

Sargassum biomass has attracted increasing attention due to its massive accumulation along the Mexican Caribbean coast (Riviera Maya) and its potential role in carbon cycling. Although previous studies have reported calcium carbonate formation associated with Sargassum, the crystallographic nature of these biomineralized phases and the possible incorporation of Mg into the carbonate lattice remain poorly understood. In this study, carbonate phases associated with Sargassum collected from the Mexican Caribbean were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses consistently revealed calcite as the dominant carbonate phase, exhibiting lattice modifications associated with Mg incorporation. Rietveld refinement identified crystallographic changes consistent with Mg substitution within the calcite lattice, while complementary characterization confirmed Mg-bearing carbonate domains and local structural distortions characteristic of high-Mg calcite (HMC). The combined results provide strong evidence for the formation of HMC associated with Sargassum, demonstrating that Mg incorporation occurs within the carbonate structures of a non-calcifying brown macroalga, a process previously reported predominantly in calcifying organisms and calcareous algae. These findings expand the current understanding of biomineralization pathways in marine ecosystems and suggest that Sargassum can promote the transformation of dissolved inorganic carbon into carbonate minerals. The occurrence of HMC highlights the potential role of Sargassum as a natural bioremediator and a contributor to transient carbon fixation through carbonate formation, providing new insights into the role of brown macroalgae in carbonate production and carbon cycling. Full article