Search Results (6,295)

Background: Pediatric craniofacial fractures are difficult to assess on computed tomography (CT) because growth-related anatomy and subtle fracture patterns can obscure clinically relevant findings. We evaluated a lightweight 2.5D deep-learning approach after expansion of an earlier 63-examination pilot. Methods: The retrospective cohort comprised 209 fully anonymized pediatric craniofacial CT examinations from 209 unique patients, with exactly one examination per patient (103 fracture-positive and 106 fracture-negative). The center contributions were Katowice (n = 135), Olsztyn (n = 34), and Lodz (n = 40). Central axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstructions were stacked as a three-channel input to an ImageNet-initialized ResNet-18. The historical experiment retained a stratified 146/63 training/development–validation split. Reviewer-requested post hoc analyses comprised descriptive calibration, controlled retraining without vertical flipping, three repetitions of five-fold cross-validation, input and initialization ablations, and leave-one-center-out testing. Results: On the 63-examination development-validation subset, AUROC was 0.934 (95% CI 0.862–0.989) and AUPRC was 0.938 (95% CI 0.878–0.987). Repeated five-fold cross-validation yielded mean AUROC 0.899 (SD 0.033) and AUPRC 0.891 (SD 0.040). Leave-one-center-out AUROC varied from 0.604 (SD 0.025) for Katowice to 0.793 (SD 0.097) for Lodz; the Olsztyn holdout permitted sensitivity-only assessment. Conclusions: The original split and repeated cross-validation support an internal feasibility signal, but the post hoc center-held-out results show that performance was not uniformly transportable across institutions. The findings do not establish external validity or clinical utility. Full article

Phytochemicals with antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) are considered potential in-feed anti-mycotoxigenic agents that may complement conventional post-harvest control strategies. Therefore, we screened fourteen phytochemicals, including seven quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), for anti-F. graminearum activity, evaluated their individual and combined efficacy in inhibiting mycelial growth, spore germination, and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and explored the underlying mechanisms via transcriptomic analysis. Matrine (MT), sophoridine (SR), and sophocarpine (SC) exhibited antifungal activity against F. graminearum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 5, 4, and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The three QAs at their MICs completely inhibited mycelial growth and DON production in liquid cultures, but were less effective on potato dextrose agar plates and in pig feed. Particularly pronounced antifungal activity and inhibitory effects on DON production were observed when the three QAs were applied in combination with berberine hydrochloride (BBR). The observed inhibition appears to be attributed to dysregulated expression of the TRI cluster genes and ERG biosynthesis genes, coupled with significant modulation of steroid biosynthesis (ko00100) and central carbon/lipid metabolism pathways. These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence supporting the further exploration of QA–BBR combinations to control fungal proliferation and DON accumulation in pig feed. Full article

Komagataella phaffii has emerged as an important eukaryotic microbial cell factory for the production of industrial enzymes, biopharmaceuticals, and food-related proteins owing to its rapid growth, capacity for eukaryotic post-translational modifications, and suitability for high-cell-density fermentation. However, efficient heterologous protein production remains constrained by limitations in transcriptional regulation, protein secretion, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein-folding capacity. This review summarizes recent advances in engineering key expression elements underlying heterologous protein production in K. phaffii, with particular emphasis on promoter architecture redesign (e.g., upstream activating sequence (UAS) duplication and core promoter mutagenesis), signal peptide replacement and sequence engineering, molecular chaperone co-expression, and quantitative regulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Rather than focusing on individual expression modules, this review highlights a systems-level engineering perspective that integrates regulatory elements, intracellular processing, and secretory pathway optimization, illustrating the ongoing transition from empirical modification of individual expression elements to systems-level engineering of the secretory pathway. Recent advances in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches are further accelerating the development of predictive and precision engineering approaches for K. phaffii. Together, these advances provide a foundation for the rational design of next-generation K. phaffii cell factories for the sustainable production of structurally complex and high-value recombinant proteins. Full article

Nursery-plant grading relies on morphological traits, but leaf metabolic variation associated with nursery-plant grade remains unclear. In this study, untargeted HPLC-QTOF-MS metabolomics was applied to mature and young leaves of Grade I, II, and III apple nursery plants to explore grade-associated metabolic variation and its relationship with growth performance. After quality filtering, 198 positive-ion features were retained from mature leaves, while 259 positive-ion and 8 negative-ion features were retained from young leaves. Multivariate analysis showed clear grade-associated separation in both leaf types, with stronger discrimination in young leaves. A combination of orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) modeling and trend analysis identified 20 and 28 differential features in mature and young leaves, respectively. Cross-model prioritization further highlighted key metabolites putatively annotated as methyl nicotinate and 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in mature leaves, and methyl nicotinate, nicotinamide riboside, cis-jasmone, and methyl (9Z,14Z)-12,13,16-trihydroxyoctadeca-9,14-dienoate in young leaves. These key metabolites were potentially associated with NAD precursor metabolism, membrane lipid remodeling, and oxylipin-related signaling. Correlation analysis showed that they were associated with both initial grading traits and post-transplant growth performance. These metabolites represent candidate molecular correlates of grade-associated physiological variation and growth performance in apple nursery plants. Full article

Fire rapidly reshapes soil environments, yet direct experimental evidence of how soil microorganisms respond through both functional trait adjustment and spatial redistribution remains limited. Here, we used nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) as a model system to test whether their response to fire is mediated by coordinated changes in functional traits and vertical redistribution. We first compared strains isolated from naturally burned habitats with those from adjacent unburned habitats and identified consistent trait shifts; we then tracked NTF dynamics in artificial soil profiles exposed to simulated fire. Strains from burned habitats produced 53–1114% more trapping structures and exhibited bait-based predation efficiencies 9–41% higher than those from unburned habitats. Conidia of fire-adapted strains were smaller, with reductions in length and width of 0.3–8.0 µm and 0.1–3.4 µm, respectively. Hyphal growth rates increased significantly in Dactylellina and Drechslerella but declined overall in Arthrobotrys. In the soil-profile microcosm experiment, simulated fire completely eliminated Arthrobotrys from the topsoil (0–5 cm), whereas Dactylellina and Drechslerella from deeper layers (10–20 cm) were subsequently detected in upper layers, indicating upward redistribution and recolonization within 7–56 days. Together, these results reveal two complementary mechanisms underlying NTF adaptation to fire: individual-level trait shifts, which likely reflect the reallocation of resources from reproductive structures to predatory traps and hyphal expansion, and community-scale vertical redistribution, which enables recolonization via deep-soil source populations. Our work provides experimental evidence that soil microorganisms cope with abrupt fire disturbance through coordinated trait shifts and vertical spatial redistribution, offering mechanistic insights that may support trait-oriented restoration management of post-fire soil ecosystems. Full article

Ecological resilience is a critical indicator of forest ecosystem stability and the capacity to respond to disturbance. Under intensifying climate change and human activities, accurately evaluating forest ecological resilience is important for ecosystem restoration and sustainable management. This study developed a satellite time−series−based framework for assessing ecological resilience from the complementary perspectives of resistance and recovery. Taking the Qianshan region, a typical forest area in the northeastern forest belt, as a case study, MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time−series data from 2005 to 2024 were analyzed. The Breaks For Additive Season and Trend (BFAST) algorithm was used to detect vegetation breakpoints, after which ecological resistance and recovery were quantified using breakpoint magnitude and post−disturbance NDVI growth rate. The optimal−parameter−based geographical detector (OPGD) was further applied to identify the spatial drivers of resistance and recovery and their interaction effects. Approximately 21% of the pixels in the Qianshan region experienced at least one breakpoint during the study period, and more than 80% of the disturbed pixels contained only one detected breakpoint. More than 70% of the disturbed pixels subsequently exhibited vegetation recovery, and most recovered pixels had normalized recovery values between 0.40 and 1.00. In contrast, ecological resistance was generally low and varied substantially among land−cover types. Forests exhibited higher resistance but lower recovery, whereas grasslands and croplands showed lower resistance but stronger post−disturbance recovery. Among the individual factors, precipitation and slope had relatively high explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of recovery. Factor interactions substantially enhanced explanatory power, with the interaction between precipitation and elevation exerting the strongest influence on resistance and the interaction between precipitation and slope exerting the strongest influence on recovery. Although mining density had relatively limited explanatory power at the regional scale, mining activities caused non−negligible localized impacts, particularly in open−pit mining areas. The proposed framework provides a practical basis for long−term monitoring, ecological restoration, and differentiated forest management in disturbance−prone regions. Full article

Wildfires are a major factor influencing vegetation dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. Soil moisture (SM) and vegetation optical depth (VOD) control fuel availability and flammability, but their interactions and feedbacks with wildfire dynamics on large spatial scales remain insufficiently understood. To investigate soil and vegetation water dynamics in the vicinity of wildfires, we employ a multi-sensor remote sensing approach that combines long-term (2000–2020) microwave-based SM and VOD data with optical fire observations across Africa. In addition to characterizing regional SM and VOD anomaly patterns in the vicinity of fire activity, this study also examines whether wildfire alters the coupling between SM and VOD dynamics during dry-down periods—an aspect that has not yet been addressed at the continental scale. Our results reveal strong regional differences in pre-fire trajectories: in the Southern Sahel, both variables exhibit positive anomalies 5–6 months before a fire, indicating above-average conditions associated with vegetation growth, whereas Southern Africa exhibits a continuous decline prior to the fire. Across varying land cover classes, regions with sparse vegetation show a multi-year increase in SM and VOD prior to fires, while areas with high biomass do not exhibit long-term fuel accumulation. Our post-fire analysis reveals an accelerated loss of SM and enhanced recovery of VOD during comparable initial conditions. These results demonstrate that wildfires not only alter the soil and vegetation water states but also modify the coupling between SM and VOD during dry-down periods. The drying of SM and the gain of VOD following a fire are accelerated, indicating intensified water exchange between the soil and vegetation, as well as likely faster SM uptake by post-fire vegetation. This leads to temporary shifts in the ecohydrological functioning of African ecosystems. Full article

This study analyses, within the post-pandemic tourism context, whether differences in degree and stage of tourism development in heritage historic centres shape the nature and direction of the social, demographic, and economic transformations they undergo. To this end, using Angra do Heroísmo (Azores, Portugal) and Vegueta–Triana (Canary Islands, Spain) as comparative study areas, a mixed-methods approach is applied, based on official statistics and accommodation records for the period 2018–2025, as well as fieldwork conducted between June and August 2024 and between July and September 2025, including 31 semi-structured interviews with key informants. The results show a recent intensification of touristification in both Macaronesian island spaces, although its forms and perceived effects differ according to their previous tourism trajectories and residential conditions. In Vegueta–Triana, it is more clearly associated with saturation, commodification of space, housing pressure, and weakening of the residential function, whereas in Angra do Heroísmo, it is more closely linked to heritage-based hotel development and functional revitalisation, although concerns about housing and population loss are also emerging. The comparison shows that the effects of post-pandemic tourism growth depend not only on visitor volumes, but also on the depth and speed of change and on local governance capacity. Full article

Background/Objectives: On 1 November 2023, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) introduced major reforms to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in Australia, extending the minimum re-test interval for average-risk men (item 66655) from 12 to 23 months and introducing a new annual high-risk item (66654). These changes were aimed at reducing overscreening, aligning practice with national guidelines, and improving cost efficiency; however, their real-world impact on PSA utilisation, downstream diagnostic activity, and health-system costs has not been evaluated. Methods: We performed a national, population-level analysis of all reimbursed PSA tests (items 66655 and 66654) and prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (item 63541) from November 2021 to October 2025 using MBS claims data. Monthly utilisation trends were examined descriptively and modelled using interrupted time-series segmented regression with Newey–West heteroscedasticity- and autocorrelation-consistent standard errors. Economic impacts were estimated using schedule fees. MRI trends were assessed to explore early signals of downstream diagnostic change. Results: Prior to the reform, average-risk PSA testing (item 66655) averaged 61,704 claims per month (median 62,526). After November 2023, utilisation fell immediately to 49,620 and stabilised at a lower mean of 44,702 claims per month (median 43,495), representing a sustained 27.6 percent reduction. High-risk PSA testing (item 66654) accounted for 130,739 claims post-reform (10.9 percent of monthly post-reform PSA activity), but the increase in high-risk testing did not offset the reduction in average-risk claims; total PSA claims fell from 61,704 to 50,149 per month (−18.7 percent). Interrupted time-series modelling confirmed a large, significant step decrease for item 66655 (−23,191 claims, 95% confidence interval (CI) −31,215 to −15,167; p < 0.001) and for total PSA testing (−16,876 claims, 95% CI −25,899 to −7853; p < 0.001). In contrast, prostate MRI utilisation increased from 3854 to 4454 monthly scans (+15.6 percent) with no significant step-change at the time of the reform (p = 0.74) but a significant acceleration in post-reform growth (+49 scans/month, p = 0.0095). The reform resulted in an estimated net saving of $2.8 million in annual PSA expenditure. Conclusions: The November 2023 MBS reforms led to a large, immediate, and durable reduction in reimbursed PSA screening among average-risk men, while high-risk testing increased modestly but remained proportionally small. Total PSA testing declined meaningfully, producing substantial cost savings for Medicare. Rising MRI utilisation indicates that downstream diagnostic activity did not fall in parallel with reimbursed PSA claims, though this trend may reflect independent drivers of MRI growth rather than preserved screening vigilance. Reductions varied by jurisdiction, with two smaller jurisdictions showing net increases over the study window, underscoring that the national pattern was not uniform. Full article

The scarcity of effective selective herbicides has made weed management a limiting factor for alfalfa yield and large-scale cultivation. This study aimed to preliminarily screen selective herbicides with acceptable safety to alfalfa and establish an effective weed management program based on sequential pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications through greenhouse screening and multi-year field trials. The greenhouse herbicide safety evaluation showed that, among the 22 herbicides tested, the post-application of 2 pre-emergence herbicides (s-metolachlor and prodiamine) and 5 post-emergence herbicides (benazolin, bentazon, fluazifop-p, imazethapyr, and nicosulfuron) showed a relatively higher survival rate (~4× the standard dose) on two alfalfa cultivars through assessing visual efficacy, plant height, and dry biomass per plant. However, even herbicides that result in relatively high plant survival can produce induce significant growth inhibition and biomass reduction when applied at high doses. Those herbicides were further tested under field conditions (2020–2023) for evaluation of weed control efficiency and alfalfa plant biomass yield potential and nutritive values. Among the herbicide application regimes, the pre-application of prodiamine followed by post-application of bentazon or fluazifop-p showed the most effective weed control efficacy (70–85% reduction of weed biomass in the alfalfa plot), which was greater than the reductions achieved with all single-herbicide applications (24–48%) and sequential application of s-metolachlor followed by the five post-emergence herbicides (25–46%). Additionally, the optimized combinations had no significant effect on the 1st and subsequent alfalfa plant height compared to that of alfalfa in weed-free control. No significant reductions in alfalfa yield or nutritive value were observed in the herbicide-treated plots treated with prodiamine followed by bentazon or fluazifop-p compared with the weed-free control. Collectively, sequential application combining pre- (prodiamine) and post-emergence (bentazon or fluazifop-p) herbicides shows effective weed control in alfalfa under the tested conditions, which provides a useful weed management program to enhance alfalfa forage production and nutritive values. Full article

The rising health consciousness among Millennials and Generation Z is boosting the demand for non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers (NABLABs), which offer the sensory appeal of beer with fewer ethanol drawbacks. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of this sector, covering market trends, regulatory complexities, and the technical aspects of biological and physical dealcoholisation methods, and offering insights into production costs and environmental impact. The global market for NABLABs is experiencing rapid growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate of approximately 7% (2024–2028) and an estimated market value approaching USD 44 billion by 2034. Market penetration remains geographically heterogeneous, and there is a lack of regulatory harmonisation, particularly within the European Union, where national thresholds for ethanol content classification diverge significantly. From a process engineering perspective, NABLAB production can be achieved using two main technological approaches: (i) biological ethanol limitation strategies, encompassing controlled mashing, arrested fermentation, cold-contact fermentation and the use of maltose-negative or genetically modified yeast strains, and (ii) post-fermentation dealcoholisation, employing thermal separation technologies, such as vacuum distillation, thin-film evaporation and spinning cone columns, or membrane-based processes such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, pervaporation, osmotic distillation and dialysis, alongside emerging supercritical CO₂ extraction. A critical technological trade-off persists between the efficiency with which ethanol is removed and the retention of volatile flavour-active compounds, including esters and higher alcohols. It is evident that biological processes are associated with the accumulation of worty aldehydes and the attenuation of antimicrobial barriers, resulting in increased risks to microbiological safety. Empirical evidence has been documented showing that E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes have been found to survive for extended periods in craft NABs exhibiting pH > 4.20 and an alcohol-by-volume (ABV) < 0.5%. This emphasises the importance of validated thermal or sterile filtration treatments, particularly in the craft beer sector. Full article

20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) is the active form of the steroid hormone ecdysone and is responsible for regulating insect development, molting, and metamorphosis. Infection with the entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana enhances innate immunity and reduces 20E titers in Lymantria dispar. To further explore the role of the 20E signaling pathway in antifungal immunity, we combined exogenous hormone assays, proteomic profiling, and RNAi-mediated knockdown. In this study, exogenous hormone assays revealed that 20E accelerated the death of B. bassiana-infected larvae, whereas juvenile hormone (JH) markedly delayed it. 20E promoted larval weight gain and food utilization efficiency in L. dispar during fungal infection compared to the B. bassiana group. Moreover, the 20E + B. bassiana group significantly decreased the expression of the Toll pathway-related genes, Attacin2, Gloverin4, and Lysozyme4, while reducing hemocyte counts and Pvf2 expression. Furthermore, the 20E + B. bassiana group increased the number of hyphae in the hemolymph, but had no obvious effect on hemocyte encapsulation capacity compared to the B. bassiana group. Proteomic analysis showed that Cyp306a1 and Cyp314a1 were significantly down-regulated in L. dispar at 48 h post-infection with B. bassiana. Knockdown of Cyp306a1 delayed molting and increased larval mortality in L. dispar, but did not alter the mortality rate upon B. bassiana infection compared to the dsGFP group. Intriguingly, dsCyp306a1 + B. bassiana group had significantly increased the expression of Toll3, Toll5, Toll7, Gloverin4 and Cecropin5 compared to the B. bassiana group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that reduced 20E signaling shifts L. dispar from growth toward immune activation during B. bassiana infection. This study provides valuable insights into the 20E-mediated trade-off between growth and immunity. Full article

Vitamin A plays an important role in multiple homeostatic functions such as vision, immunity, epithelial cell integrity and differentiation, cell signaling, pulmonary function, reproduction, growth, and development. Vitamin A deficiency was described in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) due to a multitude of causes, such as suboptimally managed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, advanced cystic fibrosis-related liver disease (aCFLD), and a history of intestinal resection, and is generally rare in contemporary practice. Apart from true vitamin A deficiency, low vitamin A levels may also be noted in various inflammatory states, as vitamin A is a negative acute-phase reactant. In the current era of cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR)-directed therapies, there is a paradigm shift in vitamin A status, with deficiency statuses becoming rarer, and instead higher serum vitamin levels (in some cases, even in the hypervitaminosis range) are increasingly reported. People with aCFLD, renal insufficiency, post-lung transplantation, and pregnancy are prone to vitamin A toxicity. Hence, CF clinicians should be proactive in evaluating these abnormalities and proficient in managing both deficiency and toxicity, as both these conditions can be associated with adverse outcomes. In this review, we detailed the basics of vitamin A metabolism, manifestations of both vitamin A deficiency and excess, and their clinical implications in pwCF. Full article

Accumulation of radionuclides in crop products can pose public health risks. Parameters of ¹³⁷Cs root uptake by maize were investigated at four growth stages, from leaf development to ripening (June–September), in the post-Chornobyl area of the Plavsk radioactive hotspot (the Tula region of Russia). It was established that the chernozem of the agrosystem still contains about 180 kBq ¹³⁷Cs m⁻². Seasonal trends of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in above- and belowground parts of maize differ appreciably. In aerial parts, the ¹³⁷Cs accumulation rate increases as vegetative organs develop from June to July, then drops when generative organs appear in August. In the belowground biomass, the ¹³⁷Cs content increases with the growth of fine roots, which serve as relative concentrators of the radionuclide. However, at all stages of growth, radionuclide transfer to maize occurs with low intensity. It does not directly depend on changes in biomass, dry matter content, or ⁴⁰K content, and only slightly relates to the ash content. The transfer factor is estimated to be 6.2 × 10⁻³ for cob kernels (grain) and 3.8 × 10⁻² for stems and leaves, which corresponds to the IAEA-recommended values and ensures acceptable levels of ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in crop products produced in the territory. Full article

Background: Incomplete microwave ablation (iMWA) of lung cancer often leads to rapid recurrence and metastasis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored whether iMWA promotes tumor progression by activating the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS–STING) signaling pathway and its downstream effector ZEB1 in tumor cells. Materials and Methods: An in vivo iMWA model was established in nude mice bearing H1650 lung tumors, and an in vitro sublethal heat treatment model was used to mimic incomplete ablation. Transcriptomic profiling, molecular assays and functional analyses assessed cellular behavior and signaling activity changes post-iMWA; genetic and pharmacologic interventions modulated STING signaling and autophagy. Results: Post-iMWA residual cells exhibited enhanced proliferation and invasion. Thermal injury induced necrosis and inhibited mitophagy, causing cytosolic mtDNA accumulation that activated the intrinsic cGAS–STING pathway. This upregulation of ZEB1 drove epithelial–mesenchymal transition and dissemination. Notably, silencing STING or ZEB1, or pharmacologically restoring autophagy, significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Conclusions: iMWA drives malignant progression of lung cancer through an mtDNA–cGAS–STING–ZEB1 signaling axis. Targeting this pathway—by inhibiting STING or enhancing autophagy—may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate recurrence and metastasis following microwave ablation. Full article