Search Results (1,292)

LiDAR-based 3D object detection for autonomous driving must balance localization accuracy with real-time inference, while sparse point measurements make small-scale objects such as pedestrians and cyclists particularly challenging to represent at long range. This paper presents PES-PointPillars, an enhanced PointPillars detector with three coordinated design changes. First, pinwheel-shaped convolution (PConv) replaces selected backbone convolutions to expand horizontal and vertical receptive fields for sparse structural patterns. Second, an Improved Inter-Layer Feature Correlation (I-EFC) module uses soft gating and adaptive thresholding to fuse multi-level features through continuous, input-dependent weights. Third, a Smooth L1-NWD (SNWD) loss applies normalized Wasserstein distance to planar position and scale while retaining Smooth L1 regression for vertical position, height, and orientation. Using the parameter settings and configuration of the original PointPillars implementation, the locally executed PES-PointPillars experiment achieves Moderate 3D average precision values of 77.1% for cars, 46.7% for pedestrians, and 62.9% for cyclists at 68.3 FPS on the KITTI validation split. Relative to the source-reported PointPillars reference, the corresponding numerical differences are 2.1, 3.2, and 3.8 percentage points. The reported component-wise and staged ablations show category-dependent gains, with the complete model providing the strongest aggregate performance among the evaluated configurations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Achondroplasia is the most common genetic skeletal dysplasia associated with disproportionate short stature and is primarily caused by gain-of-function variants in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. Constitutive FGFR3 activation disrupts growth plate homeostasis and endochondral ossification through complex alterations in chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy, extracellular matrix organization, and intracellular signaling. The increasing understanding of these mechanisms has enabled the transition from exclusively supportive management toward disease-modifying and precision-based therapeutic strategies. This narrative review aimed to critically synthesize current evidence on the genetic basis, molecular pathogenesis, growth plate abnormalities, and current and emerging targeted therapies in achondroplasia. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, with Google Scholar used as a supplementary source, together with manual screening of the reference lists of relevant original studies, clinical trials, reviews, consensus documents, and clinical guidelines. The principal literature search covered publications from January 2010 to March 2026, while selected seminal primary studies published before 2010 were included when necessary to document the original identification of pathogenic FGFR3 variants and foundational mechanisms of FGFR3-mediated growth plate regulation. Particular emphasis was placed on FGFR3 variants, receptor activation mechanisms, growth plate dysfunction, intracellular signaling pathways, vosoritide, C-type natriuretic peptide-based therapies, FGFR3 inhibitors, ligand–receptor blockade, drug repurposing, Wnt/β-catenin modulation, and gene-based therapeutic approaches. Results: Achondroplasia is characterized by marked molecular homogeneity, with the recurrent p.Gly380Arg substitution accounting for most cases. Mutant FGFR3 displays sustained activity through partial ligand independence, enhanced receptor dimerization and kinase activation, increased receptor stability, and reduced degradation. Excessive signaling through MAPK/ERK, STAT, PI3K/AKT, IHH/PTHrP, and related pathways impairs chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation, alters extracellular matrix turnover, disrupts primary cilium function, and reduces longitudinal bone growth. Vosoritide provides clinical proof that pharmacological modulation of FGFR3-related signaling can improve growth velocity. Additional therapeutic strategies under clinical or preclinical investigation include long-acting CNP analogues, selective FGFR inhibitors, decoy receptors, RNA aptamers, repurposed drugs, Wnt/DKK1 pathway modulation, and gene- or enhancer-targeted interventions. Conclusions: Achondroplasia is increasingly understood as a disorder of dysregulated growth plate signaling rather than solely a condition of reduced stature. Although vosoritide has established the feasibility of disease-modifying treatment, substantial uncertainty remains regarding final adult height, skeletal proportionality, cranio-spinal development, orthopedic outcomes, and long-term safety. Future progress will depend on mechanistically informed therapeutic combinations, improved biomarkers, advanced cellular and animal models, and long-term clinical and real-world evidence. Full article

To gain a deeper understanding of the lower-atmospheric dynamic characteristics in the transition zone on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, high-resolution wind profile data collected by a Doppler wind lidar (DWL) at Yinchuan Hedong International Airport from 2021 to 2023 were used to analyze the vertical structure, seasonal variations, and diurnal characteristics of the low-height wind field and wind shear in this region. The results indicate that (1) the data acquisition rate (DAR) below 1.5 km is generally high, exceeding 90% during most periods, and decreases monotonically with height; the 90% DAR contour height exhibits clear seasonal and diurnal variations, with the largest diurnal amplitude in summer and the smallest in winter. (2) The middle- and low-height wind fields are jointly modulated by topographic forcing and local circulations. Below 0.4–0.7 km, north–northeast and south–southwest winds prevail across all seasons, which is consistent with the blocking and splitting effects of the Helan Mountains. At 42 m, the wind direction shows a marked diurnal transition that may reflect the combined influence of the Helan Mountains’ bypass flow, mountain–plain circulation, and thermal contrasts between the Yellow River and surrounding desert/plain surfaces. (3) Horizontal wind speeds are predominantly concentrated below 6 m s⁻¹, and the development height of this low-wind-speed zone varies seasonally. The vertical velocity statistics show weak positive values in parts of the observed layer, but these signals are interpreted cautiously because vertical-velocity retrieval is subject to additional uncertainty. (4) The low-level wind shear intensity reaches its peak below 100 m and generally exhibits a U-shaped vertical distribution; severe wind shear below 100 m occurs most frequently from nighttime to early morning during May–October, whereas its occurrence frequency is lowest in winter. These findings provide observational evidence for aviation meteorological support and boundary-layer studies in semi-arid regions of Northwest China. Full article

Real-time feedback-based training has emerged as a potentially time-efficient approach for enhancing neuromuscular performance, yet evidence in youth basketball athletes remains limited. This study examined the acute and short-term effects of a five-day simulator-based neuromuscular training program incorporating real-time feedback on vertical jump performance and reactive efficiency in youth basketball players. A quasi-experimental, single-group repeated-measures design was employed, with performance assessed at three time points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 7-day follow-up (T3). Twenty-one male junior athletes (15.1 ± 0.7 years) completed five consecutive sessions on a condition simulation device (ERGOSIM), designed to enhance force control and neuromuscular coordination through real-time visual feedback. Vertical jump performance was assessed using a 15 s repeated jump test (OptoJump), including bilateral and unilateral conditions. Primary outcomes were jump height (H), mean average power (PU), and contact time (CT), analyzed via the MGM-15 method. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant time effects for bilateral performance: H (F(2,40) = 16.593, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.453), PU (F(2,40) = 19.281, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.491), and CT (F(2,40) = 6.009, p = 0.005, η²_p = 0.231). From T1 to T3, bilateral jump height increased by 17.0%, accompanied by a 14.5% increase in average power and a 10.3% reduction in contact time. Unilateral performance improved significantly in both limbs, with progressive reduction in inter-limb asymmetry across the intervention period. Performance gains were largely maintained at T3, indicating short-term retention of neuromuscular adaptations. These findings suggest that simulator-based, feedback-driven neuromuscular training represents a time-efficient strategy for optimizing explosive performance and inter-limb symmetry within competitive microcycles although the single-group design and absence of a control group warrant cautious interpretation. Full article

The enzyme-treated soybean protein (ETSP) could improve their application as an ingredient and substitute for fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds. In the present research, an eight-week feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effects of using ETSP as a particle substitution in FM on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidant, intestinal barrier integrity and relative mRNA expression levels in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A cohort of 450 fish (15.52 ± 0.04 g/fish) were randomly divided into five groups with five replacement levels of ETSP: 0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0% (control, H2-12.5, H2-25.0, H2-37.5 and H2-50.0). Results showed that final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) reach the highest value, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) reaches lowest in H2-25.0 group. The activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were remarkably increased by replacing FM with ETSP at certain level, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Higher levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) as well as lower activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected with ETSP replacement. Histological examination revealed that villus height in mid-intestine was the highest, while this factor in pyloric caeca was not affected. The activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) and the contents of D-lactate (D-Lac) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum were gradually decreased when replacing FM with ETSP in the diets. In addition, replacement of FM with ETSP at 25% improved intestinal barrier function by upregulating gene expression related to the tight junctions (occludin, claudins, ZO-1 and ZO-2) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) while downregulating pro-inflammatory factors (IL-8 and TNFα). Moreover, proper amount of ETSP instead of FM can upregulate mRNA expression of LAT1, PEPT1 and PEPT2 in the intestine. In conclusion, at the fishmeal level used in the diet tested in the present study, 25% replacement is the most beneficial for juvenile largemouth bass. Full article

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a major agricultural byproduct whose complex lignocellulosic matrix hinders direct reuse and poses environmental risks when stockpiled. This study evaluated whether pretreatment with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could enhance SMS as a soil amendment for blueberry cultivation. Two PGPR-treated SMS formulations, along with raw SMS and a blank control, were applied to blueberry seedlings in a 10-month greenhouse experiment. Plant height, rhizosphere soil nutrients, enzyme activities, lignocellulose fractions, and the microbial communities were monitored over three growth phases and four sampling points. PGPR-treated SMS significantly increased blueberry height gain during the fast-growing phase (June–September) and sustained elevated levels of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium throughout the experiment. Activities of cellulase, xylanase, laccase, peroxidase, protease, and lipase were markedly enhanced, accompanied by reduced lignin and cellulose contents and persistently high glucose availability. The amendments reshaped bacterial and fungal communities, enriching Bacillota, Acidobacteriota, Acidibacter, and Hyphomicrobium, and increasing alpha diversity, with clear structural separation from controls in principal coordinate analysis. Correlation and principal component analyses linked improved plant growth to nutrient availability, enzyme stimulation, and specific microbial taxa. These findings indicate that PGPR-treated SMS acts as a multifunctional amendment that promotes lignocellulose degradation, sustains soil fertility, and restructures the rhizosphere microbiome, offering a sustainable recycling strategy for horticultural production. Full article

Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental concern worldwide. Cadmium is one of the most common and hazardous heavy metals and is known to impair intestinal barrier integrity. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum against cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)-induced toxicity in chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 30 birds/group). Following a 4-day acclimation period, the chickens were subjected to a 28-day feeding trial. The control group (CON) received a standard basal diet, the probiotic group (LB) received L. plantarum at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL via oral gavage, the co-treatment group (LC) received L. plantarum at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL together with CdCl₂ at 80 mg/kg, and the toxin group (CD) received CdCl₂ at 80 mg/kg. Cadmium exposure markedly increased mortality, reduced survival rates, elevated serum liver enzyme activities (p < 0.0001), increased cadmium accumulation in tissues (p < 0.05), and decreased body weight gain in chickens (p < 0.0001). Moreover, cadmium exposure was associated with altered tissue Ca²⁺ homeostasis, upregulation of PIEZO1 expression and impairment of the epithelial tight-junction proteins, including ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1. In contrast, L. plantarum supplementation improved intestinal barrier integrity and restored intestinal morphology, including villus height and crypt depth, which were adversely affected by cadmium exposure. Collectively, L. plantarum supplementation attenuated cadmium-induced systemic and intestinal toxicity, as evidenced by multiple protective mechanisms, such as reduced mortality, decreased tissue cadmium accumulation (p < 0.05), improved biochemical parameters, and preservation of intestinal morphology and tight-junction integrity. These findings suggest that L. plantarum may provide a potential dietary strategy for mitigating cadmium toxicity in broiler chickens. Full article

Background/Objectives: The therapeutic window for growth hormone (GH) therapy in late-pubertal males with advanced bone age (BA ≥ 15 years) is generally considered closed. Yet, open knee physes may indicate residual growth potential. This single-arm retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of letrozole combined with GH in Chinese males with short stature, advanced BA (15 –< 18 years), and open knee physes. Methods: We included 139 male adolescents stratified by baseline BA: 15 ≤ BA < 16 (n = 24), 16 ≤ BA < 17 (n = 31), and 17 ≤ BA < 18 (n = 84). All received subcutaneous GH (0.05–0.07 mg/kg/day) and oral letrozole (2.5 mg/day). The primary outcome was the change in final adult height (FAH) from baseline predicted adult height (PAH). Longitudinal changes in height velocity and height SDS-BA were also assessed. Results: Among 75 patients who reached FAH, combination therapy was associated with a mean gain of 6.58 ± 3.46 cm over baseline PAH (p < 0.001). The gain was inversely correlated with baseline BA; the largest gain occurred in the 15 ≤ BA < 16 subgroup (10.04 ± 4.66 cm), significantly exceeding gains in the 16 ≤ BA < 17 (6.30 ± 3.01 cm) and 17 ≤ BA < 18 (5.70 ± 2.52 cm) subgroups (p < 0.001). In the youngest subgroup, FAH exceeded mid-parental height. The safety profile was acceptable; acne was the most common adverse event (46.76%), and no severe metabolic or endocrine disorders were observed. Conclusions: Letrozole plus GH therapy may be associated with improved FAH in late-pubertal males with advanced BA and open knee physes, with gains varying by baseline skeletal maturity and being numerically greatest in those with BA 15 –< 16 years. Knee epiphyseal status may be a useful consideration when individualizing therapy in this population. Full article

Wle vanillin is widely used as a flavoring agent in food products, its potential as a non-antibiotic feed additive for broilers remains unexplored. This study primarily investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of vanillin on antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory response, immune function, and gut microbiota composition in broilers. One-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to five groups: a basal diet group, a positive control group (basal diet + 100 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC)), and three vanillin-supplemented groups (0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.4%) for 42 days. Results showed that vanillin improved antioxidant capacity, with elevated serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Broilers receiving vanillin supplementation showed lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) and higher interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression compared with controls. Additionally, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were also greater in the vanillin group. It also enhanced intestinal health by increasing the duodenal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, improving intestinal morphology, raising the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, and promoting Lactobacillus proliferation compared with CTC. Notably, growth performance data were exploratory in nature; vanillin was associated with numerical improvements in average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (F/G) ratio. These preliminary findings suggest that vanillin requires further investigation as a potential feed additive. Full article

Peat swamp forests play a critical role in maintaining the ecological integrity of tropical peatlands. The conservation and restoration efforts on these ecosystems have gained considerable attention considering their vulnerability. Accurate spatial mapping of aboveground biomass (AGB) is important to support such measures, and it can be accurately implemented using airborne LiDAR. However, the high operational cost of LiDAR surveys typically restricts their spatial coverage. This study estimated AGB of peat swamp forests by combining two remote sensing datasets, i.e., Planet NICFI imagery (2023–2024) and partially covered airborne LiDAR (10.56% of the total area), in the Katingan–Mentaya peat swamp forest, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Two workflows were proposed and compared. The first, DL-PowerReg, estimated canopy height model (CHM) using a U-Net deep learning model trained on Planet imagery, followed by AGB mapping through power regression. The second, StepwiseReg-DL, derived LiDAR-based AGB through stepwise regression of LiDAR metrics, then upscaled it to the full study area using U-Net with Planet imagery as input. DL-PowerReg (MAE = 52.24 t/ha) outperformed StepwiseReg-DL (MAE = 62.08 t/ha) and additionally produced an intermediate CHM map, providing complementary information on forest structure. The two approaches estimated total AGB storage in the study area at 47.75 Mt (mean = 239.91 t/ha) and 40.07 Mt (mean = 201.30 t/ha), respectively. This study demonstrates a methodological framework for leveraging spatially incomplete LiDAR data in high-resolution wall-to-wall forest biomass mapping. Full article

(1) Background: French contrast training (FCT) enhances sports performance, but its long-term efficacy in elite basketball players remains unclear. This study compared FCT and traditional strength training (TST) on jump performance and lower-limb strength. (2) Methods: Sixteen elite basketball players (age 22.4 ± 1.4 years; 14 male, 2 female) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of FCT (n = 8) or TST (n = 8). The TST protocol consisted of barbell back squat, barbell Bulgarian split squat, conventional deadlift, and barbell hip thrust (4 sets of 8, 6, 4, 4 repetitions at 80%, 95%, 90%, 90% of one-repetition maximum [1RM]; 2–3 min inter-set rest). Assessments included countermovement jump (CMJ) kinetics, CMJ with arm swing (CMJA), running CMJ, running single-leg CMJ, and back squat 1RM, analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA. (3) Results: A significant Group × Time interaction favored FCT for maximal relative force (p = 0.007, ηp² = 0.41): FCT increased 6.80% (Cohen’s d = 1.55), TST decreased 2.41% (d = −0.36). Significant time effects (p < 0.001–0.044) occurred for CMJA, running CMJ, flight height, reactive strength index, and back squat 1RM, with large improvements in both groups (e.g., back squat 1RM: FCT +30.45%, d = 2.89; TST +26.77%, d = 2.34). The interaction for average power approached significance (p = 0.053, ηp² = 0.24). No other interactions were significant. (4) Conclusions: Both FCT and TST improved performance, but FCT yielded superior gains in maximal relative force. Limitations include small sample (n = 16), mixed-gender composition, short 8-week intervention, and lack of retention testing. Full article

With global restrictions on in-feed antibiotics, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed to combat weaning-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. Fucoidan, a bioactive seaweed polysaccharide, exerts beneficial effects on gut health due to its immunomodulatory and prebiotic properties, but its mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of dietary fucoidan supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota composition, and microbial metabolites in weaned piglets. The extracted fucoidan was characterized by a sulfate content of 23.7%, a molecular weight of 29.3 kDa, and fucose as the predominant monosaccharide. A total of 48 weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups (n = 24 per group): a control group and a 500 mg/kg fucoidan treatment group. Growth performance was evaluated throughout the experiment. On day 28, jejunal and colonic tissues were collected to assess mucosal morphology (n = 6 per group), while cecal and colonic contents were collected for analysis of the gut microbiota and bacterial metabolites. Fucoidan supplementation significantly enhanced average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, p < 0.05) and mitigated diarrhea during the trial. Notably, piglets fed fucoidan exhibited increased villus height compared to controls (p < 0.05). Fucoidan modulated the gut microbiota by increasing cecal microbial diversity (p < 0.05) and shifting bacterial composition. These modifications involved an altered Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, as well as an enrichment of Prevotellaceae, Lactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05). Consistently, metabolite profiling analysis revealed increased cecal concentrations of lactate (p < 0.05) and butyrate (p < 0.05), which were positively associated with the growth of beneficial taxa. These findings demonstrate that fucoidan alleviates weaning-induced intestinal disorders by improving intestinal morphology and modulating gut microbiota and their metabolites. This study provides a strategy for utilizing marine-derived polysaccharides as functional feed additives to enhance animal health. Full article

Agrivoltaic (APV) systems enable the simultaneous production of food and renewable electricity. They create spatially heterogeneous environments that influence crop productivity. The quantitative relationships linking cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) with wheat productivity remain poorly studied. The objective of this study was to quantify the spatial distribution of cumulative PAR beneath a commercial single-axis tracking APV system and determine its relationship with wheat flowering, physiological responses, and grain yield. Wheat was cultivated across a 19-row transect between photovoltaic arrays at the Bar-Ilan University Agrivoltaic Research Farm, Israel. Cumulative PAR was measured separately for flowering (88 days after sowing, DAS) and physiological maturity (158 DAS). Physiological traits (plant height, SPAD chlorophyll index, and leaf nitrogen concentration), flowering, grain yield, and yield loss were quantified along the radiation gradient. Cumulative PAR varied among the 19 rows from 347 to 1917 mol m⁻² at flowering and from 1570 to 4451 mol m⁻² at maturity, while corresponding PAR losses ranged from 82.2% to 1.6% and 65.2% to 1.3%, respectively. Flowering increased from 33% in the most shaded row to 100% in the central rows and exhibited a strong quadratic relationship with cumulative PAR (R² = 0.916; r = 0.913; p < 0.001). Plant height increased with increasing cumulative PAR, whereas SPAD and leaf nitrogen were greatest in the shaded edge rows, indicating physiological acclimation to reduced irradiance. Grain yield ranged from 2.96 to 6.04 t ha⁻¹, corresponding to 46.2% yield loss to a 9.8% yield gain relative to the open-field reference. Grain yield was strongly associated with cumulative PAR (R² = 0.811; r = 0.862; p < 0.001), while grain-yield loss closely followed PAR loss (R² = 0.842; r = −0.883; p < 0.001). The results demonstrate that cumulative seasonal PAR is the principal environmental variable governing wheat development and productivity beneath tracking APV systems. The predictive equations developed here provide a practical framework for designing agrivoltaic systems that maximize crop productivity while maintaining efficient photovoltaic electricity generation. Full article

Diarrhea and impaired intestinal development are major constraints in newly hatched domestic pigeons raised for meat production, leading to reduced growth performance and increased reliance on antimicrobial interventions. Cecropin AD (CAD) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide with potential activity against bacterial pathogens and may represent an alternative strategy for improving intestinal health in poultry. In this study, we evaluated the safety and biological effects of a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing CAD (rTS-CAD₃) in one-day-old domestic pigeons. Pigeons were inoculated with rTS-CAD₃, parental TS09-C, or PBS and monitored for growth performance, diarrhea incidence, viral RNA persistence, inflammatory responses, intestinal bacterial abundance, gut microbiota composition, intestinal morphology, and epithelial barrier function. rTS-CAD₃ caused no mortality, detected only transient viral RNA, and did not induce excessive inflammatory responses. Compared with TS09-C and PBS controls, rTS-CAD₃ significantly increased body weight gain and average daily gain while reducing diarrhea incidence. Importantly, rTS-CAD₃ decreased intestinal Escherichia coli abundance, reshaped the gut microbiota by reducing Proteobacteria and Escherichia–Shigella while increasing Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, improved villus height and the villus-to-crypt ratio, and enhanced occludin expression. These findings demonstrate that NDV-vectored CAD delivery can reduce intestinal bacterial burden, increase occludin expression, and alleviate diarrhea in domestic pigeons. The rTS-CAD₃ represents a promising antimicrobial peptide-based strategy for reducing spontaneous diarrhea and dependence on conventional antibiotics in poultry production. Full article

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most widely deployed additive manufacturing methods, and the mechanical performance of FDM-printed parts is governed by a small set of strongly coupled process parameters. Silk PLA, a PLA-based filament engineered to deliver a high-gloss finish with improved mechanical performance, has received far less attention than commodity PLA, and its parameter–property relationships remain incompletely characterized. In this work, the effects of three FDM printing parameters: (i) layer height (0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mm), (ii) extrusion temperature (200, 210, and 220 °C), and (iii) print speed (100, 120, and 140 mm/s) on the tensile characteristic of Silk PLA were investigated through a full-factorial design consisting of 27 parameter combinations and 135 ASTM D638 Type-I specimens. Tensile tests were performed on an MTS E42 universal testing frame, while Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was employed to obtain full-field longitudinal and transverse strain distributions and to identify the onset and location of necking. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the statistical significance, while an interpretable machine learning (ML) pipeline combining extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) values, and partial dependence plots (PDPs) was employed to quantify the relative influence of each parameter and elucidate its effect on the tensile response. Both analyses identified extrusion temperature as the dominant factor governing ultimate tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Partial dependence analysis further revealed that strength gains saturate above 210 °C and are maximized at an intermediate print speed of 120 mm/s, providing actionable guidance for process optimization. The highest tensile strength, 40.68 MPa, was achieved at a layer height of 0.20 mm, an extrusion temperature of 220 °C, and a print speed of 120 mm/s. DIC measurements showed that thinner layers (0.10 mm) produced higher breaking strains and necking that initiated at the gauge-section edges, whereas thicker layers (0.20 mm) shifted necking toward the mid-gauge. Together, the experimental, statistical, and ML results provide a consistent, mechanistically interpretable framework for optimizing FDM process parameters for Silk PLA functional parts. Full article