Search Results (444)

Background: Small animal models are essential for atrial fibrillation (AF) research. Researchers in AF use an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography and invasive electrophysiology study (EPS) to assess atrial structural and electrical remodeling. In relatively smaller cardiac structures and rapid heart rates, the examination can be challenging without special tools designed for animal study. Moreover, conventional invasive EPSs often cause significant trauma, alter autonomic tone, and limit longitudinal evaluations. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of repurposing hospital-grade medical devices for the non-invasive, multi-modality assessment of atrial myopathy in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: A total of 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent the multi-modality assessment. Structural remodeling was evaluated using hospital-grade echocardiography (8–12 MHz) to measure left atrial (LA) dimensions and volume. Surface ECG was used to determine P-wave duration. Electrical remodeling and AF inducibility were assessed using transesophageal pacing (TEP)-based EPS, evaluating the atrial effective refractory period (AERP), sinus node recovery time (SNRT), and response to rapid atrial burst pacing. Results: The protocols showed high procedural safety (survival rate 91.67%) and successfully characterized atrial myopathy. Surface ECG showed marked intra-atrial conduction delay with prolonged P-wave duration in the MetS group (30.17 ± 4.62 vs. 22.33 ± 1.86 ms, p < 0.05). Echocardiography revealed signs of structural remodeling in the MetS group, evidenced by marked prolonged Isovolumic Relaxation Time (IVRT: 35.602 ± 3.043 vs. 19.187 ± 3.631 ms; p < 0.001) and increased Left Atrial Area (0.223 ± 0.0556 vs. 0.134 ± 0.033; p = 0.007). Furthermore, TEP-based EPS quantified electrical remodeling. The MetS group had shorter AERP (73.33 ± 10.33 ms vs. 120.00 ± 34.06 ms; p = 0.010) and Corrected SNRT (100.67 ± 53.98 ms) versus controls (208.33 ± 76.97 ms; p = 0.018). The MetS group exhibited a higher absolute AF inducibility rate (50%, three out of six rats) compared to the SH group (33.3%, two out of six rats). Conclusions: The integration of surface ECG, echocardiography, and TEP-based EPS provides a safe, highly reproducible, and comprehensive method for evaluating both structural and electrical components of atrial myopathy in small animal models, allowing for robust longitudinal studies. Full article

Managing vegetative vigor is a critical challenge for apple production in subtropical regions, where high water availability often promotes excessive canopy growth. This study evaluated the effects of split applications of prohexadione–calcium (ProCa) combined with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and ethephon on the vegetative growth and yield performance of ‘Maxi Gala’ and ‘Fuji Suprema’ apples during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 growing seasons. The experimental design consisted of six plant growth regulator (PGR) protocols: a commercial standard (Control) with two applications, and five protocols based on six split applications initiated when fruit diameter reached ~8 mm, with 10-day intervals. The treatments included ProCa; ProCa + NAA; ProCa + ethephon; ProCa + NAA + ethephon; and ethephon + NAA. The ProCa + NAA protocol demonstrated the highest efficiency in vigor control, reducing shoot growth by up to 38% in ‘Maxi Gala’ and 65% in ‘Fuji Suprema’ relative to Control. Furthermore, this treatment enhanced fruit skin coloration, increased the proportion of Category 1 fruit, and improved return bloom and overall yield. These findings suggest that split applications of ProCa associated with NAA provide a robust strategy to optimize apple orchard productivity under the edaphoclimatic conditions of southern Brazil. Full article

In this study, the microstructural changes and coarsening behavior of Ag₃Sn in Sn-6.4Sb-3.9Ag-0.25Ni-0.003Ge (mass%) during high-temperature aging were investigated. Additionally, low-cycle fatigue tests were conducted to compare the fatigue behavior of Sn-6.4Sb-3.9Ag-0.25Ni-0.003Ge with that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu. At room temperature, SbSn phases are dispersed in the β-Sn matrix. As the temperature rises, Sb atoms dissolve in the β-Sn phase; thus, the SbSn phases disappear, and some of the atoms aggregate. The activation energy was 45 kJ/mol for the coarsening of Ag₃Sn in Sn-6.4Sb-3.9Ag-0.25Ni-0.003Ge due to aging. Ag₃Sn coarsening was estimated to be controlled by the lattice diffusion of Ag atoms in the β-Sn phase. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the solid solution of Sb atoms in the β-Sn phase reduces the solubility limit of Ag atoms in the β-Sn phase, which delays the coarsening of Ag₃Sn. Regarding fatigue properties, while both alloys exhibited comparable low-cycle fatigue behavior at room temperature, the fatigue ductility exponent’s increase was confirmed to be suppressed for the Sn-6.4Sb-3.9Ag-0.25Ni-0.003Ge alloy at 175 °C. This trend suggests that the delayed coarsening of Ag₃Sn maintains the cyclic strain-hardening exponent, thereby influencing high-temperature fatigue behavior. Full article

Aim: The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the shear bond strengths between different calcium silicate-based biomaterials and glass ionomer-based restorative materials. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, a total of 96 acrylic blocks were prepared, each containing a standardized cylindrical cavity measuring 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth. Four different calcium silicate-based biomaterials (ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, TheraCal LC, and MTA BioRep) were placed into the cavities according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Three different glass ionomer restorative materials (Fuji II LC, Equia Forte HT, and Riva Self Cure) were then applied onto the biomaterial surfaces using molds measuring 2 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height, resulting in 12 experimental groups (n = 8). After storage at 37 °C for 24 h, the shear bond strengths were measured using a universal testing machine. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Results: The highest bond strength was observed in the TheraCal LC–Fuji II LC combination, whereas the lowest value was obtained in the MTA BioRep–Equia Forte HT group. Both the type of biomaterial and type of glass ionomer cement had a statistically significant effect on the bond strength (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The combination of calcium silicate-based biomaterial and glass ionomer-based restorative material influenced the early shear bond strength. These findings suggest that material selection may play an important role in early bonding behavior at the biomaterial–restorative material interface. Full article

Accurate apple origin identification and non-destructive internal quality evaluation are important for fruit traceability, quality grading, and post-harvest management. Unlike previous studies mainly focusing on origin classification, this study established a dual-task near-infrared spectroscopy framework integrating geographical origin classification and soluble solid content (SSC, °Brix) prediction for Fuji apples. Samples were collected from three representative production regions in China: Alar in Xinjiang, Yantai in Shandong, and Luochuan in Shaanxi. Near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectra were acquired from 375 apples, generating 3000 spectral samples for origin classification and 750 SSC-calibrated samples for sugar content prediction. For classification, six deep learning models were evaluated using standardized full-spectrum input without chemometric spectral preprocessing, and the Transformer achieved the best performance, with a test accuracy of 96.22%. For SSC regression, spectra were preprocessed using standard normal variate and Savitzky–Golay filtering. The DNN model achieved the best prediction performance, with MAE = 0.5958 °Brix, RMSE = 0.7333 °Brix, R² = 0.8646, and Pearson r = 0.9338. These results indicate that near-infrared spectroscopy combined with deep learning can support both Fuji apple origin authentication and non-destructive local tissue SSC assessment. Full article

The veneration of the Southern and Northern Dippers stands at the heart of the Daoist tradition of astral worship, and the compilation of the Nanbei dou jing (Scriptures of the Southern and Northern Dippers) during the Northern Song dynasty marks a defining moment in the codification of this belief system. Over the course of their transmission, however, the texts accumulated errors while their exegetical tradition fell into increasing neglect. During the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns of the Qing dynasty, local literati in Yunnan employed the practice of spirit-writing to compose the Beidou jing chanwei and the Nandou jing chanwei in succession, with the twin aims of reconstructing the canonical texts and reviving their interpretive tradition. This article examines these two commentaries along three axes—textual character, philological value, and religious thought—and argues that they are at once liturgical handbooks of the Dongjing Association and the most significant Qing-dynasty annotations of the Nanbei dou jing known to date. Philologically, they preserve variant readings of considerable value for the reconstruction of the textual history of both scriptures. Doctrinally, the commentators fused Daoist astral worship with Buddhist karmic cosmology, Confucian ritual cultivation, and the discourse of inner alchemy, yielding a form of three-teachings syncretism distinctively shaped by its regional context. Through these rare sources, this article seeks to open new perspectives on Daoist textual production, inter-religious exchange, and ritual practice in Qing-dynasty Yunnan. Full article

The yield of apple trees as a function of potassium fertilization and the critical levels (CLs) and sufficiency ranges (SRs) of K in the soil, leaves, and fruits were determined in two experiments (two orchards) in four crop seasons. Plants of “Royal Gala” and “Fuji Suprema” cultivars were treated with 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Potassium was applied annually during the bud swelling phase and onto the soil surface in the projection of the plant canopy, without incorporation. Critical levels and SR were estimated by Bayesian segmented quantile regression models. The cultivar factor was the main source of variation in fruit yield, K concentration in leaves and pulp, and K exported by apples. The crop season was the second factor with the greatest contribution to apple yield and K concentrations in leaves. When data from all crop seasons and orchards were pooled, yield did not vary by K treatments. The concentration of K in the leaf and fruit pulp also did not change as a function of the K dose with grouped data. For fruit production, the CL of K in the soil was 170 mg dm⁻³ for both cultivars; 17.8 g kg⁻¹ and 15.8 g kg⁻¹ in leaf for “Fuji Suprema” and “Royal Gala”, respectively; 1150 mg kg⁻¹ and 1080 mg kg⁻¹ in fruit pulp for “Fuji Suprema” and “Royal Gala”, respectively. The lack of response to K fertilization indicates that the trees were operating within a nutritional plateau. Consequently, we recommend that K fertilization in subtropical apple orchards be guided strictly by soil and plant analysis. For orchards exceeding the soil critical level of 170 mg dm⁻³ and leaf concentrations of 17.8 g kg⁻¹ and 15.8 g kg⁻¹ in leaf for “Fuji Suprema” and “Royal Gala”, respectively, and 1150 mg kg⁻¹ and 1080 mg kg⁻¹ in fruit pulp for “Fuji Suprema” and “Royal Gala”, respectively, K applications may be reduced or temporarily withheld under similar high-K soil conditions, provided that soil and plant nutritional status are regularly monitored. This management strategy ensures high yields and more efficient and sustainable nutrient management. Full article

Excessive or improper nitrogen (N) fertilization can disrupt calcium (Ca) nutrition in apple trees and induce Ca-related physiological disorders, yet its effects on Ca availability and partitioning remain unclear. This study evaluated the impact of different N fertilization regimes on soil Ca availability, Ca partitioning, and Ca bioavailability in fruit tissues of 10-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple trees, using Ca fractionation analysis combined with multi-criteria decision-making (TOPSIS). High N applied as a single dose (H1) significantly reduced soil water-soluble and exchangeable Ca, while increasing Ca oxalate (CaOx) accumulation in fruit pedicels, particularly at maturity. Although total CaOx in fruit flesh decreased, its relative proportion increased, indicating enhanced Ca sequestration. In contrast, split application of moderate N (M3) maintained more stable soil Ca availability, reduced CaOx accumulation, and improved Ca allocation to fruit tissues. Integrated evaluation ranked treatments as M3 > M1 > H3 > H1. Overall, moderate and split N fertilization reduced Ca sequestration into CaOx, enhanced Ca availability, and improved Ca distribution in fruit tissues, providing a physiological basis for optimizing N management to mitigate Ca-related disorders and improve fruit quality. Full article

This study aimed to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the essential oil (EO) of Schinus lentiscifolia and to evaluate the effect of chitosan coatings (1%) enriched with EO of S. lentiscifolia (1000, 2000, and 4000 mg L⁻¹) on the control of Penicillium sp. and on the quality of ‘Fuji’ apples. The EO was extracted from S. lentiscifolia collected in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in March, May, and November 2022. The antifungal activity of S. lentiscifolia EO against Penicillium sp. was evaluated in vitro. Apples were stored under refrigerated conditions (0 ± 0.5 °C; 90 ± 5% RH) for 30 days and subsequently under ambient conditions (23 ± 3 °C; 70 ± 5% RH) for 5 days. A total of 14 VOCs were identified in the EO of S. lentiscifolia, with the monoterpenes β-pinene (34.68%) and α-pinene (30.61%) as the major compounds, followed by γ-terpinene (10.13%), camphene (9.66%), and o-cymene (7.14%). The application of chitosan coating with S. lentiscifolia EO (2000 mg L⁻¹) reduced the severity of blue mold in ‘Fuji’ apples by 88.1% during refrigerated storage and by 69.2% under ambient conditions. Ethylene production by the apples was also reduced when treated with chitosan and EO. No influence of the treatments was observed on fruit quality attributes. The postharvest application of chitosan coatings combined with S. lentiscifolia EO reduces disease caused by Penicillium sp. in ‘Fuji’ apples without affecting fruit quality. Full article

Backround: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) on the microhardness and surface roughness of restorative dental materials commonly used in pediatric dentistry. Methods: Three materials were tested: conventional glass ionomer cement Fuji II, high-viscosity glass ionomer cement Fuji IX, and microhybrid composite resin Te Econom. The samples were prepared according to the manufacturers’ instructions, initially stored in distilled water, and subsequently immersed in probiotic yogurt. Microhardness was measured by the Vickers hardness test, and surface roughness was assessed by 3D profilometers. Results: Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Exposure to probiotic yogurt resulted in increased microhardness for the resin-modified and high-viscosity glass ionomer cements, whereas the microhardness of the microhybrid composite resin decreased. The surface roughness increased for all the tested materials, with statistically significant differences observed in most groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that probiotic yogurt can alter the physical properties of restorative dental materials and highlight the importance of careful selection of preventive agents in pediatric dental practice. Further research is needed to clarify the long-term effects of probiotic preparations on dental restorations. Full article

Repeat breeder (RB) cows fail to conceive after three or more breeding attempts, yet the uterine factors contributing to this condition remain unclear. Here, we compared uterine fluid composition, endometrial cell responses to uterine fluid, and uterine microbiota between normal pregnant (Normal) and RB cows. Uterine fluid was collected from multiparous Holstein cows classified as Normal (n = 5; conception within three breeding attempts) or RB (no conception after four attempts); RB cows were classified as RB-Rec (n = 4; conceived after uterine lavage) or RB-NoRec (n = 3; did not conceive after uterine lavage). Uterine fluids were applied to bovine endometrial cells, and microbiota composition was analyzed. Concentrations of lipopolysaccharide in the uterine fluid did not differ between the three groups, and uterine fluid from both RB groups significantly increased C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 secretion relative to the Normal group. RNA-seq revealed distinct endometrial cell responses to RB-NoRec uterine fluid, with enrichment of immune-related pathways including phagosome, ferroptosis, and cellular senescence. Uterine microbiota profiles differed among groups, with short-chain fatty acid-producing genera (e.g., Fusicatenibacter and Dorea) predominant in Normal cows and inflammation-associated genera (e.g., Trueperella and Helicobacter) predominant in RB-NoRec cows. These data indicate that uterine fluid properties and microbiota composition vary with reproductive status and may modulate endometrial immune activation associated with fertility outcomes. Full article

Heat-induced softening of apple fruit varies markedly among cultivars; however, the biochemical factors underlying these differences remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the relationship between cell wall modifications and thermal flesh breakdown in three apple cultivars (‘Bramley’s Seedling’, ‘Fuji’, and ‘Toki’). Fruit flesh samples were heated under controlled conditions and analyzed for changes in texture properties, cell structure, cell wall composition, and molar mass distribution. Heating increased water-soluble pectin in all cultivars, with a markedly greater increase in ‘Bramley’s Seedling’, indicating pronounced pectin solubilization during thermal treatment. A pronounced shift from high- to low-molar-weight polymers in the Na₂CO₃-soluble fraction was also observed only in ‘Bramley’s Seedling’, suggesting extensive depolymerization of the Na₂CO₃-soluble pectic polymers. A decrease in hemicellulose and cellulose content following heating was observed exclusively in ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. Consistently, this cultivar exhibited significantly lower gumminess and chewiness compared with the other cultivars. Beyond compositional changes, ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ exhibited severe tissue disintegration and distinctive rheological behavior indicative of extensive cell rupture. In contrast, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Toki’ retained relatively stable cell wall structures and maintained tissue integrity after heating. These findings suggest that cultivar-dependent disassembly of cell wall polysaccharides, particularly pectin depolymerization and solubilization, is strongly associated with heat-induced tissue breakdown. Full article

This study compared the quality and bioactive composition of cloudy apple juices produced from four traditional and four conventional apple cultivars immediately after harvest and following cold storage of the fruit at 4 °C for three and six months. Apples were harvested at the ripening stage at the same criteria, stored as whole fruit, and processed into cloudy juice after harvest, three, and six months of storage. Physicochemical parameters and sugar composition were determined, while phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic, and flavonoid content were measured spectrophotometrically. All analyses were performed in technical triplicate. The results revealed notable differences between traditional and conventional cultivars. Juices produced from traditional apple cultivars exhibited significantly higher total polyphenol and flavonoid contents than those from conventional cultivars. Significant variations in catechin, myricetin, quercetin, and epigallocatechin levels were also observed among cultivars. The traditional apple cultivar ‘Mašanka’ showed higher concentrations of quercetin (0.09 ± 0.01 µg/mL), chlorogenic acid (486.58 ± 5.48 µg/mL), catechin (8.76 ± 0.54 µg/mL), epicatechin (20.22 ± 0.20 µg/mL), and phloridzin (13.48 ± 0.19 µg/mL) compared to the other cultivars. In contrast, conventional cultivars showed higher concentrations of myricetin and procyanidin B1. Moreover, the content of TA, sucrose, and glucose decreased, whereas pH, fructose, TSS (except for ‘Fuji’ and ‘Granny Smith’) increased. The TFC decreased in traditional apple cultivars, while it increased in conventional cultivars; however, the TFC in conventional cultivars remained lower than in traditional ones. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the cold storage of apples significantly affects juice composition and highlight the advantages of traditional apple cultivars for producing juices with enhanced phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Full article

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are considered functionally biomimetic as they participate in ion-exchange processes that partially resemble the behavior of natural enamel and dentin, chemically bond to dental hard tissues, and release fluoride. While GICs are designed to interact with aqueous oral environments, their exposure to dietary beverages may affect their esthetic stability and water-related behavior within the oral environment. For biomimetic restorative materials to perform successfully in the oral environment, they must maintain not only bioactive properties but also esthetic stability and resistance to water-related degradation during exposure to dietary beverages. This study evaluated beverage-induced color changes, water sorption, and water solubility of six GICs following their immersion in coffee, tea, berry juice, cola, and distilled water (n = 5 per material per solution). Color measurements were recorded at baseline and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks using a spectrophotometer, and color change (ΔE) values were calculated using the CIE L*a*b* system. Specimen mass was measured at baseline, after 8 weeks of immersion and then after 4 weeks of desiccation. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc tests (α = 0.05). The results showed time, material, and solution significantly affected ΔE (p < 0.001). Tea produced the greatest discoloration overall, followed by coffee. ChemFil exhibited the greatest staining susceptibility, while Fuji II showed the lowest staining susceptibility. Water sorption and solubility were material- and solution-dependent. Clinically relevant discoloration of GICs was found when immersed in common beverages over time, with tea showing the strongest staining effect. These findings indicate that although GICs exhibit biomimetic characteristics through their interaction with tooth structures and aqueous environments, their long-term esthetic stability and resistance to environmental challenges should also be considered when selecting restorative materials for clinically visible areas. Full article

This manuscript presents a transferable and reproducible methodology for quantitative 3D tree-structure mensuration and transparent, rule-based decision support for tree risk management. The workflow integrates (i) Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View Stereo (SfM–MVS) reconstruction from multi-view imagery, (ii) independent referencing to ensure metric scaling and a consistent local frame, and (iii) point cloud analytics to derive branch-level geometric descriptors (e.g., base diameter, length, inclination, slenderness, and projected reach). A clear rule-based layer operationalizes Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)-style risk components and As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) principles to map geometry and exposure into auditable management recommendations (e.g., monitoring intervals, pruning/weight reduction, supplemental support, and exclusion-zone planning). To provide a real-data example, the demonstration uses the public Fuji-SfM apple orchard dataset, including three neighboring trees with partially overlapping crowns for tree instance extraction and subsequent TRAQ/ALARP scenarios on an outer tree. The proposed decision layer is intentionally based on external geometry and exposure; internal decay indicators and species-specific mechanical properties (e.g., Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Modulus of Rupture (MOR)) are outside this demonstration and should be incorporated via complementary diagnostics in operational deployments. Full article