Search Results (1,906)

Hysteresis defines a system’s state as a function of its historical trajectory, manifesting as path-dependent loops where variables diverge based on the direction of change. Intrinsic to both information storage and irreversible thermodynamic dissipation, this phenomenon serves as a critical fingerprint for characterizing complex behaviors and dynamic system responses. The automated classification and labeling of dense hysteresis signals is essential for systems engineering, electronics, bio-signal processing, and meteorology. This study presents a comprehensive comparison between two unsupervised learning pipelines, to which a main objective is to discover the capabilities for phenotype discovery between automated feature extraction and expert-driven feature engineering. These methodologies are examined by clustering 7736 respiratory cycles from critical care patients who have undergone invasive mechanical ventilation. Methodology I utilizes the extraction of 17 geometric and spectral features, reduced via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to ease the choice of high variance parameters for subsequent clustering. Methodology II proposes a Deep Learning (DL) framework utilizing a 1D-convolutional autoencoder (CAE) for automated feature discovery. Both methods utilize UMAP and HDBSCAN for the final clustering stage. After evaluation both models performed with high trustworthiness (0.9974; 0.9853) and Silhouette Scores of 0.6441 and 0.6415. Here, both methodologies obtained a surprisingly low noise ratio (1.5% and 0.74%) by the aformentioned HDBSCAN. The strategy of narrowing discrete features allows for better model interpretability, and the resulting similarity measures reasoned trough a Davies–Bouldin Index are higher. However, a peculiar difference was observed in favor to the automated extraction (CAE), where the method assessed a better quality of clustering when compared for dispersion between clusters and the dispersion of reference clusters. Full article

Background: Processed extracellular lipid–protein preparations require rigorous analytical characterization to determine whether their compositional profile, processing stability, and short-term cellular compatibility are preserved across storage and handling conditions. Methods: In this study, we quantitatively characterized a processed phospholipoproteic secretome-derived formulation under fresh, concentrated, cryopreserved, and lyophilized conditions. Results: Label-free quantitative proteomic analyses performed using timsTOF Pro mass spectrometry coupled to dia-PASEF acquisition identified 574 human proteins across all experimental conditions following predefined analytical quality criteria. Comparative analyses demonstrated preservation of the overall structural proteomic profile following processing and storage procedures, with retention of membrane-associated and extracellular structural proteins consistently exceeding 90% relative to the fresh reference condition. Quantitative reproducibility remained high across all experimental groups, with coefficients of variation ranging from 3.0% to 4.5% and strong inter-replicate Pearson correlations. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering, peptide/protein overlap analyses, and differential expression profiling demonstrated limited proteomic divergence while preserving the majority of quantified proteins within conserved abundance ranges. Complementary real-time live-cell kinetic imaging performed in non-malignant dermal-derived cells using the IncuCyte^® S3 platform demonstrated stable short-term confluence kinetics and cellular viability exceeding 92% over 48 h across all evaluated formulations. No sustained proliferative suppression or detectable morphological evidence of cytotoxicity was observed. Collectively, these findings support the preservation of compositional stability, analytical reproducibility, and short-term ex vivo cellular compatibility across defined processing and storage conditions. These integrated proteomic and kinetic datasets provide a quantitative framework for the analytical evaluation of processed extracellular phospholipoproteic preparations, while functional barrier activity, membrane incorporation, lipid raft engagement, and long-term tissue-level effects remain to be addressed in dedicated future studies. Full article

Propolis has gained widespread interest due to its multiple applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the sensory differences among propolis samples collected in the Mexican Comarca Lagunera region and to identify the sensory attributes highest-rated by a trained sensory panel. The methodology involved collecting ten propolis samples following the guidelines of the Mexican Official Standard NOM-003-SAG/GAN-2017. A panel of 24 panelists was established, evaluating the samples using an attribute-specific categorical scale and a nine-point hedonic Likert scale. The attributes considered were color, aroma, taste, consistency, and overall acceptance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients, hierarchical cluster analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test. Results indicated that taste and aroma were the most relevant sensory attributes, predominantly characterized by a bitter taste and intense aroma. Both attributes showed statistically significant differences. Samples TLA1 and SB1 obtained the highest scores in these parameters. Conversely, SB2 and SB3 showed lower acceptability across all evaluated attributes. This study highlights the need for continued multidisciplinary research aimed at the sensory characterization of propolis and at strengthening its regional documentation. Such efforts will contribute to its commercial valuation, geographical differentiation, and consolidation as a bee product with high functional potential. Full article

The mid-infrared (MIR) response of cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) at different ontogenetic stages and during postharvest deterioration was studied. For this, Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR; 4000–600 cm⁻¹) was used to identify spectral signatures and indices as spectral indicators of leaf development and physiological status. Cassava’s HMC-1 variety was used as the model. Spectral signatures were obtained from leaves at two phenological stages (4 and 6 months after planting) using FT-MIR spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory. A set of classical and experimental spectral indices based on contrast relationships were evaluated, and their discriminatory power across ontogeny was assessed using ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis and post hoc tests. Postharvest deterioration effects were examined through postharvest monitoring (1–20 days), with temporal, ontogenetic, and interaction effects validated using linear mixed models (LMM), while multivariate structure and spectral convergence were explored via principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering (PCA-HCA). Functionally enhanced derivative spectroscopy (FEDS) was applied as a derivative-based spectral enhancement approach of FT-MIR; in addition, comparative analysis and spectral correlation mapping allowed signals’ selective enhancement and their association with structural molecular components. FEDS-based signal ratios (e.g., 3400/2920 and 1710/1640 cm⁻¹) showed an adequate differentiation of mature leaves and were consistent with spectral changes commonly associated with tissue hydration and cuticular ester-related components. FT-MIR indices showed higher sensitivity to mature stages compared to other ontogenies. It is concluded that FEDS-improved FT-MIR allows the construction of consistent spectral signatures and an enhanced extraction of indices with potential as discriminatory spectral indicators of leaf maturation and postharvest deterioration in cassava. Full article

Avocado seeds represent an underutilized agro-industrial by-product rich in dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the impact of convective drying (45–75 °C, 3–9 mm thickness, 0.5–2.5 m s⁻¹ air velocity) on the mass transfer kinetics, techno-functional properties, and phytochemical stability of the seed matrix. The Midilli model accurately described dehydration kinetics, with effective diffusivities around 10⁻⁹ m² s⁻¹. Principal Component Analysis of the evaluated parameters revealed trade-offs between drying efficiency and phytochemical preservation. While the lignocellulosic fiber matrix remained relatively stable, preserving its hydration and oil retention capacities independently of thermal severity, prolonged processing times resulted in lower phenolic acid content and promoted non-enzymatic browning. Crucially, high air velocities were associated with higher retention of thermolabile bioactives, potentially due to accelerated moisture removal and shorter cumulative thermal exposure. A multi-response desirability approach established three optimized processing scenarios, yielding a phytochemical-rich concentrate (45 °C, 3 mm, 2.5 m s⁻¹), a highly soluble ingredient (75 °C, 8.7 mm, 0.5 m s⁻¹), and a water-retaining bulking matrix (75 °C, 7.4 mm, 0.5 m s⁻¹). These findings demonstrate that convective drying thermodynamics can be strategically modulated to tailor avocado seed waste into specialized functional ingredients for the circular bioeconomy. Full article

Investigating the adaptive mechanisms of different plant growth forms to flooding gradients is essential for formulating scientific vegetation allocation models to support ecological restoration in aquatic–terrestrial ecotones and mitigate ecological risks associated with summer flooding. This study focused on 38 adaptable species under three flooding gradients in the Taihu Lake aquatic–terrestrial ecotone. We systematically measured leaf morphological traits, photosynthetic physiological parameters, and stoichiometric characteristics. Employing analysis of variance, correlation networks, and principal component analysis, we elucidated how flooding environments shape leaf functional trait patterns of woody and herbaceous plants. The results indicated the following. (1) With increasing flooding stress, herbaceous plants increase the leaf area (LA) and leaf dry weight (LDW), whereas woody plants decrease them, indicating that herbaceous plants demonstrate stronger adaptability than woody plants. (2) Woody plants constructed a leaf functional trait network centered on stomatal conductance (G_s), adopting a conservative resource-use strategy. In contrast, herbaceous plants formed a network centered on leaf nitrogen content (N_mass), employing a rapid resource acquisition strategy to adapt to the ecotone environment. (3) The synergistic changes in leaf traits of different growth forms were affected by flooding in distinct ways. Integrating the leaf economics spectrum and adaptive evaluation values for each species can further our understanding of plant adaptation strategies in different flooding environments and guide species selection and configuration for aquatic–terrestrial ecotone restoration. Full article

We develop a unified information-theoretic framework for the analysis of cancer transcriptomic dysregulation across measurement modalities. Three functionals capture distributional, network-aware, and joint-dependence aspects of expression: the Shannon entropy with a Miller–Madow correction, the signalling entropy rate over the protein interaction graph, and the Gaussian total correlation on a principal-component projection. A closed-form algebraic expression yields a linear-time algorithm for the signalling entropy rate. A Compositional Dilution Lemma decomposes bulk entropy into intrinsic and compositional contributions, and a Cross-Modality Invariance Proposition provides an empirically falsifiable null hypothesis. Validation uses 700,202 single cells and 3942 bulk samples across five cancer types. Pan-cancer tumour elevation is significant at $p<{10}^{-7}$, and cross-modality testing on 4230 observations does not reject the interaction null at $p>0.5$. The invariance conclusion is corroborated by cancer-level paired sign-flip permutation, cancer-block bootstrap, and empirical distribution function tests, and the prognostic Cox regressions satisfy proportional-hazards diagnostics with cross-validation concordance of $0.696\pm 0.018$. Immune deconvolution against the LM22 signature validates cell-type-specific predictions, partitioning cancers into myeloid-driven and lymphoid-driven classes. Breast cancer Cox regressions instantiate the predicted orthogonality of distributional and network-aware functionals after immune adjustment. Full article

The Carpathian water buffalo represents a locally adapted but under-characterized genetic group found in Central and Eastern Europe. Genome-wide information on its genetic diversity, population structure and potential adaptive variation remains limited, particularly for Hungarian and Romanian populations. In this study, we genotyped 263 water buffalo individuals from Hungary and Romania using the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler Bovine 100K SNP array to evaluate genetic diversity, the population structure, runs of homozygosity (ROH) and candidate genomic regions showing signatures of selection. After quality control, 214 Hungarian and 33 Romanian individuals and 6605 SNPs were retained for downstream analyses. Both populations showed moderate genetic diversity, with the Romanian population displaying higher minor allele frequency, observed heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity than the Hungarian population. In contrast, the Hungarian buffalo showed a higher burden of runs of homozygosity, including a larger proportion of long ROH segments, suggesting stronger recent autozygosity or a more restricted breeding structure. Principal component analysis and neighbor-joining phylogeny separated the two populations, whereas ADMIXTURE indicated shared ancestry and a within-population substructure rather than complete population-specific differentiation. The integration of standardized F_ST, absolute allele-frequency differences and ROH islands identified six candidate regions under a positive signature of selection in each population. These regions harbored genes previously associated with immune response, reproduction, growth, milk production and thermotolerance in bovids. Functional enrichment was limited, with significant Gene Ontology terms detected only in the Hungarian candidate regions. Our results provide a regional genomic baseline for the future conservation and breeding management of Carpathian water buffalo. Given the use of a cross-species SNP array and unequal sample sizes, the candidate selection signals should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and warrant validation using higher-density buffalo-specific genomic data. Full article

Background/Objectives: Styphnolobium japonicum cv. Jinhuai (SJvJ) represents a medicinal and edible plant whose metabolite composition is strongly shaped by its growing location. Current quality control methods mainly rely on rutin quantification, lacking comprehensive metabolic markers for origin discrimination. Therefore, this study aimed to profile interregional metabolic differences between Guangxi and Sichuan SJvJ flower buds, identify characteristic differential markers, and clarify relevant metabolic pathways, thereby guiding quality control, germplasm evaluation, and functional food development. Methods: Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to identify metabolites. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Cancer HSP were applied to screen the key active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-KAIs) and disease-related pharmaceutical ingredients (PDRIs). Specifically, we targeted six highly prevalent human diseases and another five disorders based on therapeutic indications documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Multivariate analyses, such as principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and other statistical methods, were applied to investigate differential metabolites. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was utilized for pathway enrichment analysis of marker metabolites. Results: In total, 1550 metabolites were identified across 12 categories, predominantly flavonoids. Additionally, 152 TCM-KAIs and 204 PDRIs against 11 diseases were screened. Multivariate analyses indicated that geographical origin was closely associated with observed metabolic variation among the tested samples: Guangxi samples accumulated higher lipids and nucleotides, whereas Sichuan samples showed higher levels of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Vanilloloside, protocatechuic acid-4-O-glucoside, and gallic acid-4-O-glucoside were identified as key inter-group biomarkers. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed enhanced metabolism of nucleotide/pyrimidine in Guangxi, whereas zeatin biosynthesis was upregulated in Sichuan, consistent with discrepancies in regional climatic patterns. Conclusions: This study established a more comprehensive metabolomic dataset for FBSJvJ. It also clarified the correlations between origin and quality and unraveled the underlying mechanisms. These findings facilitate origin authentication, standardized quality control, and rational exploitation of FBSJvJ as raw materials of functional foods. Full article

Background: Inter-species hybridization has been extensively used in breeding cervids to improve productive traits by hybrid vigor, but the genomic processes behind the process are not well studied. Methods: In this study, we investigated restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to conduct a whole-genome analysis of Hua-Ma hybrid individuals (a cross of sika deer and Tianshan red deer). Results: A total of 571,835 SNPs were obtained and 427,121 high-quality SNPs were obtained from five individuals upon strict filtering. An analysis of genetic diversity has shown that the observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.2130) was lower than expected heterozygosity (He = 0.3560). Although these estimates provide preliminary insights into the genetic diversity of the sampled Hua-Ma hybrids, they should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited sample size. After the pruning of linkage disequilibrium, 189,975 independent SNPs underwent principal component analysis (PCA). The first two principal components (PC1 = 32.6%, PC2 = 26.2%) indicate relative genomic clustering rather than definitive ancestry assignments. These patterns reflect relative genomic clustering rather than definitive ancestry assignments. Conclusions: The high polymorphic loci were functionally annotated and revealed the existence of synonymous and nonsynonymous variants, including a conserved locus adjacent to the BEND5 gene that exhibited a nonsynonymous mutation generating a valine-to-isoleucine amino acid substitution which may have potential functional relevance, although no phenotypic effects were evaluated in this study. On the whole, these results suggest heterozygosity and mixed ancestry in Hua-Ma hybrids. This exploratory study provides an initial SNP resource that may support future genomic selection, parentage analysis, and breeding optimization efforts. Full article

Bigels (BGs) were formulated using gelatin (GA) or gellan gum (GG) hydrogels (HGs) combined with beeswax-structured oleogels (OGs). Carob fruit extracts—an inositol-rich fraction (I-CFE) and a polyphenol-rich fraction (P-CFE)—were incorporated into the HG and OG phases, respectively, to enable dual delivery. The effects of composition on rheological, textural, thermal, color, and stability properties were evaluated at HG/OG ratios of 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50. GG-based BGs formed rigid, coherent, and crystal-reinforced networks, exhibiting the highest oscillatory stiffness and complex viscosity. GA-based BGs developed softer, more deformable, and viscous structures, with mechanical behavior strongly governed by damping and water content. Increasing OG content reinforced GG BGs through beeswax–crystal integration, whereas in GA it increased oscillatory stiffness but weakened the cohesive, viscous, and recoverable characteristics of the protein network. Categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) revealed two mechanical domains: a GA-associated regime dominated by viscosity, penetration resistance, and loss factor (tan δ), and a GG-associated regime governed by elastic stiffness. Correlations confirmed tan δ_max as a marker of structural fragility in GA, while stiffness parameters dominated GG behavior. Melting points remained within 53–54 °C, and all BGs showed excellent physical stability. Overall, GA and GG provide complementary design spaces, offering a mechanistic basis for the rational design of BGs with controlled structural and functional properties. Full article

Surface dust samples were collected from bus stops and parking lots in different functional areas of Binzhou City, Shandong Province, China. This study investigated the contamination characteristics, source apportionment, and potential ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in these dust samples. Eight target PTEs, including As, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, were quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed distinct concentration differences in these elements between bus stop dust and parking lot dust. Several PTEs exceeded the corresponding local soil background values, predominantly Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Mn in bus stop dust were mainly sourced from traffic emissions, whereas As and Cd primarily originated from atmospheric deposition. For parking lot dust, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Mn were predominantly attributed to traffic sources, while As and Ni were mainly derived from natural background sources. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) demonstrated that As, Cr, Ni, and Mn had negligible environmental impact, Pb, Cu, and Cd induced slight pollution, and Zn resulted in moderate pollution. Except for Cd, the average individual potential ecological risk index ($E_r^i$) values for all elements were below 40, suggesting a low ecological risk. Cd posed a moderate ecological hazard, whereas the comprehensive ecological risk index ($E_r^i$) values of all analyzed elements were at an extremely low level. The hazard index (HI) values via different exposure pathways and for all PTEs in both bus stops and parking lots were lower than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk. The carcinogenic risk ranking of elements was Cr > Cd > Ni > As, and their carcinogenic risk values (CR) via inhalation exposure were below 1 × 10⁻⁶, indicating no carcinogenic risk. This study provides a scientific basis for the environmental quality control and risk management of surface dust in urban bus stops and parking lots. Full article

The present study aimed to develop and evaluate a predictive approach for modeling pH dynamics during ayran fermentation using kinetic analysis, multivariate statistics, and IoT-based monitoring. Ayran is a low-viscosity fermented dairy beverage characterized by rapid acidification and high sensitivity to formulation and processing parameters, which limits the effectiveness of conventional endpoint pH control. The effects of two types of functional additives were investigated at empirically selected concentration ranges: a multifunctional dry fortifier (1–3%, w/w) and a vitamin–mineral syrup (2–4%, w/w). The data were analyed within a grouped comparative exploratory framework; the primary objective was comparative kinetic modeling of the fermentation process and prediction of the technological pH endpoint rather than evaluation of strict dose–response relationships. Fermentation was conducted at 41.0 ± 0.5 °C until the target pH range of 4.30 ± 0.05 was reached. An IoT monitoring architecture was used to generate a structured time-series dataset consisting of 909 sequential time-series measurements obtained during nine fermentation experiments. The formulation-associated kinetic behavior was evaluated using ANOVA, Tukey’s test, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The additives significantly affected the final pH and fermentation duration (p < 0.05; η² > 0.90). The application of additives reduced fermentation time by 1.6–1.8 h compared with the control. The first principal component explained 96.4% of the total variance, confirming that pH can serve as a sufficient proxy indicator for monitoring the overall fermentation system. A comparative analysis of four kinetic models (Gompertz, logistic, logarithmic, and linear) was performed over the full fermentation range (t = 0–10 h). The Gompertz model demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy (R² = 0.994–0.996; MAE = 0.027–0.033 pH units), whereas the logarithmic model was inadequate for describing the sigmoidal acidification profile of ayran (R² = 0.685–0.703). Numerical solution of the inverse problem enabled prediction of the time required to reach pH ≤ 4.35 in experimental groups with an accuracy of 0.90–1.93 h, providing a preliminary early warning signal suitable for operator decision support. For the control group, the asymptotic behavior of the Gompertz model during the stabilization stage limited the applicability of numerical prediction, indicating the necessity of direct pH sensor monitoring for this formulation. The proposed approach may serve as an exploratory basis for further development of predictive monitoring frameworks for fermented dairy production. Full article

Chronic heat stress poses a major challenge to marine aquaculture, yet its sex-associated molecular basis remains poorly understood in Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Juveniles were exposed to a control temperature (24 °C) or elevated temperature (30 °C) for two months, and liver samples from low-temperature females (LF), high-temperature females (HF), low-temperature males (LM), and high-temperature males (HM) were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). Principal component analysis indicated a strong temperature-associated separation, while sex-related separation under heat stress was smaller and was mainly observed along the second principal component. In high-temperature relative to low-temperature comparisons, females showed a broader set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs; LF vs. HF, 1968) than males (LM vs. HM, 506). Differential methylation analyses indicated that cytosine-guanine (CG) methylation was the predominant heat-associated epigenetic signal. Integrative analysis identified 624 overlapping genes between DEGs and CG-associated differentially methylated genes (CG-DMGs) in females and 177 in males, suggesting broader methylation-associated transcriptional remodeling in females. Functional enrichment associated the female overlap genes with immune response, inflammatory signaling, lipid metabolism, and detoxification, whereas male overlap genes were more closely associated with proteostasis, autophagy, and DNA replication/repair. Correlation analyses suggested modest methylation–expression coupling and highlighted candidate W-linked genes, including H2AZ2 and ANKRD13A. Overall, these results should be regarded as a preliminary baseline for understanding sex-associated molecular responses to chronic heat stress in tongue sole and as a source of candidate genes and pathways for future validation and heat-resilience breeding. Full article

Hypertension or high blood pressure drives structural and functional cardiac remodelling through sustained pressure overload, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Lifestyle modifications including regular exercise and a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables help in attenuating high blood pressure. Berries are small fruits abundant in polyphenols, vitamins and minerals which provide these fruits with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. One such berry is the Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), which is rich in anthocyanins and procyanidins with demonstrated cardiometabolic activity, yet its effects on hypertension and cardiac remodelling have not been studied. This study evaluated the impact of 16-week Saskatoon berry supplementation on cardiovascular structure, function, inflammation, and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats served as normotensive controls. Saskatoon berry supplementation did not significantly lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure in SHRs; however, echocardiography results revealed trends towards attenuation of hypertensive cardiac remodelling. Saskatoon berry supplementation reduced interventricular septal and posterior wall thickness, decreased left ventricular (LV) mass, and partially preserved systolic function, as reflected by improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Diastolic relaxation (IVRT) remained impaired, indicating selective effects on systolic rather than lusitropic function. Serum TNF-α and TBARS were not significantly altered, whereas IL-10 was partially restored, suggesting a modest improvement in systemic inflammatory balance. Principal component analysis integrating all hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and biochemical variables revealed a dominant pathological remodelling axis that distinguished WKY from SHRs. Saskatoon berry supplementation shifted SHRs toward an intermediate multivariate phenotype, supporting a coordinated improvement across structural and functional domains despite persistent hypertension. Together, these findings indicate that Saskatoon berry exerts blood pressure-independent cardioprotective effects that mitigate hypertensive LV hypertrophy and preserve systolic performance. Saskatoon berry may represent a promising functional food ingredient for attenuating cardiac remodelling in hypertension. Full article