Search Results (128)

Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a serious neurological sequela of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants and remains one of the leading indications for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. Evaluating possible VP shunt-related complications can be challenging because clinical manifestations are often nonspecific, neuroimaging may initially appear unchanged, and microbiological cultures may remain negative. We report the case of a 19-month-old male born at 28 weeks’ gestation who developed Grade IV germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage with bilateral intraparenchymal extension, early periventricular cystic leukomalacia, and post-hemorrhagic communicating hydrocephalus requiring multiple cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures culminating in long-term VP shunt dependence. His medical history was notable for recurrent neonatal meningitis, secondary epilepsy with previous episodes of status epilepticus, secondary adrenal insufficiency, and severe global developmental delay. He presented with fever, recurrent coffee-ground vomiting, abdominal distension, progressive lethargy, reduced responsiveness, and localized erythematous swelling over the cranial VP shunt reservoir, raising concern for possible shunt-related pathology. During hospitalization, he deteriorated with status epilepticus and respiratory failure, with clinical concern for increased intracranial pressure, requiring admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Laboratory investigations demonstrated leukocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, markedly elevated CSF protein, and CSF glucose of 2.0 mmol/L, for which a paired serum glucose value was unavailable, while repeated blood, urine, wound, and CSF cultures remained negative. Initial computed tomography (CT) demonstrated no significant interval change in the chronic hydrocephalus despite progressive neurological deterioration; however, serial neuroimaging later revealed progressive bilateral extra-axial fluid collections with radiological features suggestive of an evolving subacute subdural hemorrhage. The patient was managed with empirical broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, aggressive seizure control, stress-dose corticosteroids, respiratory support, and continuous multidisciplinary monitoring. His neurological and respiratory status subsequently improved, and he returned to his pre-admission neurological baseline before discharge with planned further evaluation at a tertiary pediatric neurosurgical center. This case highlights the diagnostic uncertainty surrounding acute neurological deterioration in a child with shunt-dependent PHH. VP shunt-related infection or malfunction remained important but unconfirmed diagnostic considerations, alongside competing or potentially overlapping contributors including status epilepticus, evolving extra-axial collections, respiratory infection, and endocrine or metabolic decompensation. No single etiology was definitively established. The case emphasizes the importance of serial neurological assessment, consideration of alternative diagnoses, repeat neuroimaging, and multidisciplinary evaluation when initial investigations do not establish the cause of deterioration. Full article

Although asymbiotic orchid seed germination was first achieved in vitro in 1922, the prediction of germination requirements under in vitro conditions still remains complicated. To address this, we developed a machine learning framework to classify the ex situ asymbiotic germination potential of wild orchids into four discrete groups: Low (0–30%), Mid (31–50%), High (51–80%), and Max (81–100%). Models were trained on a dataset of 203 species, utilizing seed morphometrics—specifically, the embryo-to-testa (E:S) length ratio—alongside core ecological traits (subfamily, growth habit, habitat, and climate zone), as well as chemical scarification duration as a proxy of seed permeability. Validation leveraged novel germination and trait data from 26 taxa from Greece (17) and Armenia (9), published here for the first time. To mitigate class imbalance and prevent algorithmic bias toward highly germinating species, we applied inverse frequency weighting during training. Iterative testing of six algorithms revealed that the “Step 4” feature matrix (excluding climate zone and pretreatment duration) yielded the optimal predictive balance. K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) emerged as the superior models, achieving overall accuracies of 44.4% and 61.1%, respectively, with both achieving 100% accuracy for low-germinating species. Finally, we synthesized a novel database compiling new seed morphometrics from Armenia (17 taxa), Greece (52 taxa), and the data from the literature (479 taxa). After filtering previously utilized species, we generated a prediction pool of 361 orchid taxa. Applying our Step 5 KNN and SVM models to forecast their germination behavior revealed distinct variations linked to ecological profiles. This high-accuracy framework, particularly for low-germinability groups, offers a powerful screening tool for ex situ conservation planning. The final trained models are compiled in the publicly available R (v. 4.6.0) package OrchidGermClass. Full article

Global population growth, climatic extremes and rising resource pressures necessitate innovative agricultural methods to boost food, feed, fibre and fuel production sustainably. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs), such as seed coating and priming, have emerged as effective strategies to improve seed viability and vigour, seedling establishment and overall crop yield. Conventional seed treatments include seed coating (film coating, encrusting, pelleting) and seed priming (hydro-, osmo-, halo- bio-, nutri-, hormonal-, chemical- and solid matrix priming). They offer advantages such as improved seed handling, uniform germination and promotion of early growth. However, they also have significant drawbacks, including on soil health and off-target pollution from synthetic polymers and pesticides, seed longevity issues from re-drying and outcomes that can vary among different crops, soils and environments. To tackle these issues, new non-traditional SETs are being investigated, including nanotechnology, novel biodegradable coatings and agrichemical-free biostimulants, such as plant growth promoting microorganisms. These innovative methods demonstrate great promise in enhancing active and crop performance while minimising environmental impacts by providing alternatives to materials derived from fossil fuels and that contribute to waste and pollution. This review critically examines both conventional and novel SETs, discusses their pros and cons and outlines strategic research and industry directions to enhance agricultural sustainability and productivity in light of global food and resource security challenges. Full article

Understanding the biochemical networks governing seed longevity is essential for germplasm conservation. Integrating germination potential with biochemical profiling elucidates metabolic transitions during decadal cold storage. As phenotypic evidence of ageing, extended cold storage induces a uniform decline in germination energy, reaching a terminal “floor effect” characterised by the complete exhaustion of repair-and-defence strategies, whilst residual germination capacity averages 21%. Metabolic profiling reveals that prolonged storage causes systemic decoupling of the protein–sugar axis, leading to the loss of protein-dependent vigour. The structural collapse of the proteomic architecture—manifested by the decoupling of embryo albumin-led coordination and endosperm α-zein dynamics—induces a transition to a low-vigour state, paralleled by carbohydrate shifts consistent with glassy matrix destabilisation, implicitly linking the displacement of sucrose-dominated stability to the molecular crowding of reducing sugars. Re-anchoring germination potential from primary metabolic drivers to soluble-free phenolics prompts a compensatory antioxidant reorganisation; under conditions of phenolic matrix degradation and carotenoid exhaustion, the observed stability of total antioxidant capacity likely reflects scavenging sustained by phenolic degradation products rather than native, intact protective mechanisms. Ultimately, seed ageing manifests as a genotype-specific systemic reconfiguration of biochemical coordination, where the physiological state of the cytoplasmic matrix and the maintenance of redox homeostasis determine residual viability, thereby defining the critical benchmarks for germplasm longevity. Full article

Germinated Andean lupin whole flour (GAL) is rich in protein, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and bioactive compounds, representing a promising alternative for the development of sustainable plant-based foods. This study investigated the feasibility of partially replacing soy protein isolate (SPI) with GAL in high-moisture extruded meat analogues. A central composite design was applied to evaluate the effects of the GAL ratio (0:100–50:50) and feed moisture content (50–70%) on the technological properties of the extrudates. The Response Surface Methodology was used to model and optimize the process. The incorporation of GAL significantly affected the (p < 0.10) water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), cooking loss (CL), yellowness (b*), cohesiveness, and adhesiveness, generating predictive models with satisfactory goodness-of-fit (R² > 0.75). Increasing GAL levels increased the WSI from 6.21 to 18.79% and cooking loss from 1.01 to 3.84%, while reducing OAC from 239.42 to 166.57%, indicating substantial modifications in matrix organization and hydration behavior. Numerical optimization identified an optimal formulation containing 12% GAL, 88% SPI, and 65.5% feed moisture, with a desirability of 77.82%. Model validation showed relative deviations lower than 10% between predicted and experimental values. The optimized meat analogue exhibited high protein content (84.44%), favorable techno-functional properties, and improved nutritional quality, with higher levels of branched-chain amino acids (17.34 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), essential amino acids (33.32 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), and in vitro protein digestibility (90.1%) compared with the control formulation. Multivariate analyses confirmed that phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, and leucine were the main variables that discriminated between the protein sources and the extruded products. Overall, GAL demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable functional ingredient to produce nutritionally enhanced high-moisture meat analogues. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of germination on the composition, starch architecture, thermal profiles, short-range molecular order, and pasting behavior of wheat and rice flour systems and their corresponding isolated starch fractions. Germination significantly reduced total starch content in wheat flour (74.81–56.74%) and rice flour (85.55–64.00%). Additionally, amylose content decreased from 24.70 to 18.77% in wheat flour and from 20.83 to 19.69% in rice flour. Amylopectin A-chains increased in germinated wheat flour (33.98%) and germinated rice flour (31.49%), suggesting starch depolymerization and molecular restructuring. These structural changes are associated with lower gelatinization enthalpy values, which decreased from 8.82 to 4.78 J/g in wheat flour and from 9.99 to 6.90 J/g in rice flour, reflecting reduced thermal stability after sprouting. ATR-FTIR analysis showed that germinated flours had the highest short-range molecular order (1047/1023 ratios of 0.75 and 0.71 for wheat and rice, respectively), despite their lower starch content. Germination also affected the development of viscosity; peak viscosity decreased from 2482.5 to 217.0 cP in wheat flour and from 4830.0 to 1039.5 cP in rice flour. Germination influenced protein secondary structure: it increased relative α-helix content in flour systems (from 35.23% to 36.16% in wheat, and from 36.26% to 37.58% in rice) but decreased it in isolated starches (from 42.05% to 33.17% in wheat, and from 39.60% to 36.29% in rice), suggesting a matrix-specific response. Germination-induced depolymerization and reorganization altered starch structure, thermal properties, and viscosity. These findings provide an integrated structural and functional framework that links starch architecture, molecular order, gelatinization, and the development of viscosity in germinated cereal matrices for food applications. Full article

MAFLD progression is closely linked to a systemic failure of antioxidant defense systems. Se and Zn play crucial roles in maintaining redox balance in the liver. This study evaluated the effects of micronutrient-biofortified chickpea flours as functional ingredients for the prevention and management of MAFLD disturbances. Chickpea seeds were germinated with Na₂SeO₃, ZnSO₄, ZnSeO₃, or ZnSO₄ + Na₂SeO₃, processed into flours, and then subjected to gastrointestinal digestion to obtain biofortified-chickpea digests (BCD). SDS-PAGE and FTIR indicated treatment-dependent changes in the protein/peptide profile and in the structural organization of the digested matrix. Isoflavone content was higher in ZnSO₄-BCDs. The oleic acid-induced HepG2 cell model was used to emulate MAFLD conditions. Under preventive conditions, except for ZnSeO₃-BCD, all treatments reduce triglyceride accumulation from 17.1 to 38.6%. Non-biofortified (GC) chickpea flour and ZnSeO₃-BCD had greater effects on lipolysis and glycerol release. Overall, Se-BCD affected redox regulation 1.2–1.3-fold, suggesting potential improvement in lipid utilization. GC and ZnSO₄ + Na₂SeO₃ BCDs decreased triglyceride accumulation (21.1 and 20.5%, respectively) when evaluated post lipid exposure. In both experimental conditions, BCDs significantly reduced IL-6 levels by 25.1 to 34.7%, demonstrating their immunomodulatory potential. Biofortified chickpea flours exhibit complementary and coordinated biological activities against the main metabolic disturbances associated with MAFLD. Zn/Se-biofortification of chickpea is a valuable strategy for addressing micronutrient deficiencies and for producing functional ingredients to prevent or ameliorate MAFLD-associated disturbances and improve liver health. Full article

The aim of this study is to develop and comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of an innovative formulation of a biological preparation consisting of a bacterial consortium (Serratia proteamaculans B5, Pseudomonas putida D7 and Lysinibacillus sp. S1), embedded in a pullulan polysaccharide matrix, as an agent for inducing systemic resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to phytopathogenic stress caused by Fusarium graminearum. To optimize the product’s protective efficacy and minimize the pesticide load on the agroecosystem, a reduced dose of Fundazol (50% of the standard rate) was incorporated into the formulation. The constituent strains exhibited high indole-3-acetic acid production (53.29–69.2 μg·mL⁻¹) and strong antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi, with inhibition zones reaching up to 32.5 mm. Pot and field trials were conducted to comprehensively assess the effect of the biological product on the stress tolerance of barley plants. Pre-sowing seed treatment reduced proline accumulation (by up to 2.3-fold), maintained photosynthetic pigment levels, and increased field germination to 79%. Under infectious field conditions, treatment with the biopreparation contributed to the stabilization of yield structure parameters (treated plants exhibited increases in height and biomass of 9–21%) and the improvement of grain quality indicators. Overall, the results obtained demonstrate the potential of the developed biopreparation as a component of comprehensive protection strategies and as an inducer of plant priming mechanisms. Full article

Water scarcity in semi-arid regions threatens seed germination and early crop establishment, driving the development of biodegradable Nature-based Solutions to replace synthetic plastic mulches. Porous cellulose membranes were fabricated from rice husk (RH), banana pseudostem (BP), and sugarcane bagasse (SB) by thermo-chemical extraction and high-shear homogenization (n = 5 replicates per membrane type). Membranes were characterized by ATR-FTIR and scanning electron microscopy, confirming removal of non-cellulosic components and biogenic silica preservation in RH, and revealing biomass-dependent porous architectures linked to mechanical and transport behavior. RH produced the most compact fibrillar matrix (compressive strength: 8.16 ± 0.24 MPa; WVT: 170 ± 60 g m⁻² day⁻¹), BP an open interconnected network with superior deformability (9.83 ± 0.25% elongation) and moisture transport (WVT: 400 ± 100 g m⁻² day⁻¹), and SB the highest moisture-retention capacity (215.7 ± 15.8%). Germination assays with Brassica oleracea var. botrytis under water stress showed SB achieved the highest germination rate (90.5 ± 0.99%), confirming that sustained moisture availability governs germination more decisively than transport rate alone. Soil burial tests confirmed biodegradable behavior across all membranes (R² ≥ 0.995; k = 0.043–0.046 day⁻¹). These findings establish a hydrogen-bond-mediated structure–property–function framework for designing biomass-specific cellulose membranes as biodegradable solutions for water-limited agricultural systems. Full article

Biopolymers (BPs), obtained from urban and agricultural wastes, are known as active principles to manufacture ready-for-use finished products in several sectors of the agriculture and chemical industries. These findings prospect a biowaste-based refinery producing chemical specialities to replace products derived from fossil feedstock. The present paper reports new materials containing BPs. Composite granules containing Poly(Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate (PBAT) as a matrix and BPs as fillers are manufactured by twin-screw extrusion. The granules are used to make single-layer PBAT-BP mulch films by single-screw extrusion and three-layer Starch-PBAT-BP films by blown co-extrusion. The films are tested for mechanical properties, and for structural stability and effects in the in vitro cress germination and the in-field horticulture. The results show that both the films’ effects on plant performance and the films’ structural degradation are regulated by the BP and polymeric matrix release kinetics in the operational germination medium or the field soil, and in turn, that the kinetics depend on the mulch film structural features. The horticulture trials prove that the three-layer mulch films have adequate mechanical strength (25 MPa maximum tensile strength and 520% elongation at break) and about 6 months lifespan to maintain and/or improve the soil protection and crop production (17 t/ha) over the plant seasonal cycle. These findings widen the range of renewable chemical specialities potentially producible by the envisioned biowaste-based refinery. Full article

As global trends continue to embrace environmentally friendly, plant-based diets, food systems that are nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, and economically viable in addressing protein–energy malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity have increased. Although cereal–legume combinations are widely recognised to be highly nutritious, most studies have focused primarily on enhancing compositional efficiency and have overlooked their interactions with the food matrix and the processing-mediated transformations they undergo. This review combines recent findings examining cereal–legume food matrices as functional systems, with particular emphasis on nutritional complementarity, bioactive interactions, processing-induced modifications, and sensory acceptability. Studies indicate that cereals and legumes provide complementary amino acid profiles, dietary fibre, essential micronutrients, and phytochemicals within these composite matrices that influence digestibility, bioavailability, antioxidant activity, and glycaemic response. Processing methods, including fermentation, germination, roasting, and extrusion, modulate these interactions by releasing bound phenolics, reducing antinutritional factors, and altering starch–protein–phenolic complexes, thereby affecting health functionality and sensory quality. However, inadequately optimised processing can affect nutrient retention and consumer acceptability. Overall, this review emphasises the relevance of integrating food matrix science and processing optimisation for the production of functional, acceptable, and sustainable cereal–legume foods that promote product innovation, public health improvement, and the utilisation of underutilised crops for sustainable food systems. Full article

Leptolegnia chapmanii is an oomycete pathogen of mosquito larvae. We investigated whether nutritional factors promoting cyst germination in vitro are associated with early infection events and instar-specific susceptibility in Aedes aegypti. Cysts of the Brazilian isolate ARSEF 12829 germinated rapidly in soybean seed extract, sunflower seed extract and minimal medium supplemented with yeast extract, whereas basal minimal medium did not promote germination. In sunflower seed extract, germination increased significantly with incubation time; in minimal medium, germination at 24 h was much higher with ≥0.2% yeast extract than with 0.1%. In third-instar larvae, a few cysts attached to the cuticle during the first 30–60 min, with no external germ tubes observed. At 3 h, melanized hyphal structures were detected in the midgut, and histological sections showed germinated and ungerminated cysts in the endoperitrophic space, with hyphae crossing the peritrophic matrix and midgut epithelium toward the hemocoel. Mortality increased with cyst concentration and exposure time and decreased with larval instar. At 3.3 × 10³ cysts/mL, final mortality reached 100% in L1–L3 and 91.2% in L4 larvae. These results link rapid cyst germination with early midgut invasion and high larvicidal activity. Full article

Seed pelleting improves seed handling and precision sowing, but its performance depends strongly on the physicochemical properties of filler materials. This study evaluated the effects of talc-based mineral filler combinations on pellet characteristics, germination, greenhouse emergence, seed vigor, and seedling growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. var. pekinensis). Talc (TC) was used alone or combined with bentonite (BE), calcium carbonate (CC), and diatomaceous earth (DE). Pellet physical properties, morphology, and surface elemental composition were analyzed using hardness measurements, porosity analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. TC + BE exhibited excessive swelling-driven water retention, prolonged disintegration time, and severe surface cracking, which were associated with reduced germination, delayed emergence, and poor seed vigor. In contrast, TC + CC + DE showed balanced physicochemical properties, including adequate hardness, moderate porosity, acceptable disintegration time, and improved water-holding capacity, producing superior greenhouse emergence while maintaining seedling growth comparable to the unpelleted control. Overall, successful seed pelleting depended on balancing structural integrity, water retention, and mass transfer properties within the pellet matrix. TC + CC + DE appears to be a promising formulation for Chinese cabbage seed pelleting. Full article

Perinatal asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly among preterm infants, whose brains are highly vulnerable to hypoxic–ischemic injury. The germinal matrix (GM), owing to its vascular fragility and high metabolic demand, is especially susceptible in this context. This study analyzed 118 germinal matrix samples from neonates, stratified into three groups according to gestational age—Extremely Preterm (EP), Late Preterm (LP), and Term (T)—to investigate the immunopositivity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), correlating these findings with gestational age, the presence of asphyxia, neuronal injury, and survival time. BDNF expression showed a positive association with postnatal survival in neonates without neuronal injury (ρ = 0.309; p = 0.012). Linear regression analysis further demonstrated that BDNF immunopositivity was a significant predictor of survival time, with each 11.82% increase in positive staining corresponding to an additional predicted hour of survival (p < 0.001). HIF-1α expression was positively associated with survival in asphyxiated extremely preterm neonates (ρ = 0.492; p = 0.024) and demonstrated a strong correlation that approached, but did not reach, conventional statistical significance in late preterm neonates with neuronal injury (ρ = 0.949; p = 0.051). Collectively, these findings suggest a complementary role for BDNF and HIF-1α in neonatal neuroprotective responses, with BDNF showing potential as a prognostic biomarker in neonates without neuronal injury and HIF-1α reflecting adaptive responses to hypoxic–ischemic stress in a gestational age-dependent manner. However, additional studies are required to validate these associations and further clarify their prognostic and therapeutic relevance in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic conditions. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a globally strategic crop valued for its high-quality protein and oil, yet its yield potential is frequently constrained by inconsistent seed germination and a heavy reliance on chemical treatments that carry environmental and health risks. Physical pre-sowing stimulation has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative, but the comparative efficacy of direct current (DC) versus alternating current (AC) high-voltage electric fields—and the mechanistic basis for their differential effects—has remained poorly understood. Here, we systematically compared DC and AC pre-sowing treatments across a comprehensive matrix of field intensities (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kV/cm) and exposure durations (30, 60, and 120 s) at a fixed electrode gap of 10 cm, using soybean seeds of the Volgogradka 1 cultivar. Germination energy (day 3) and total germination (day 7) were assessed under standardized laboratory conditions in triplicate, followed by a replicated field trial to evaluate plant height, bean yield, and disease incidence. DC treatment significantly outperformed both the untreated control and AC treatment: germination energy increased by up to 60%, and total germination reached 100% compared with 85% in the control. The optimal DC window was identified at 0.8–1.5 kV/cm with a 30 s exposure. In stark contrast, AC treatment at industrial frequency not only failed to enhance germination but also frequently suppressed it and markedly increased susceptibility to fungal crown rot. Field results corroborated these findings: DC-treated seeds produced the highest bean mass (85 g per five plants vs. 80 g in the control), while AC-treated seeds yielded the lowest (72 g). Backward elimination regression analysis revealed that field intensity alone was the sole significant predictor of treatment outcomes, whereas exposure time and interaction effects were non-significant. We conclude that short-duration DC pre-sowing stimulation (1.0 kV/cm, 30–60 s) is a robust, chemically safe, and readily scalable technique for enhancing soybean establishment and yield. Conversely, AC treatment at power frequency is not recommended due to its deleterious effects on plant health and productivity. These findings establish a clear, evidence-based framework for the rational design of electrical seed treatment protocols. Full article