Search Results (451)

Background: Hemiboea yongfuensis is a recently discovered critically endangered species. It is exclusive to the limestone regions of Yongfu County, Guilin, Guangxi. Currently, there is a lack of mitogenome data for Hemiboea species, hindering the potential of disclosing the evolutionary processes of the mitochondrial genome, which has been far less assembled and shown to be complex in the plant kingdom. Moreover, it prevents potential applications of mitochondrial genome data in phylogenetics and plant adaption, breeding, and conservation. Results: In order to reveal the mitochondrial features and variations and explore the usefulness of mitochondrial genes in phylogenetics, in this study, we assembled the complete mitogenome of H. yongfuensis using PacBio HiFi long reads, and analyzed its codon usage bias, RNA editing sites, repetitive sequences, sequence lateral transfer, phylogenetic relationships, and synteny. The linear mitochondrial genome assembly we obtained has a length of 619,997 bp and a GC content of 43.63%. The assembly encompasses 61 genes, which include 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 21 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 3 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Importantly, our analysis uncovered a significant presence of repetitive sequences with a high proportion of forward repeats in the mitogenome and significant transposition of sequences from the chloroplast to mitochondrion. Additionally, we revealed the codon usage characteristics of protein-coding genes and identified numerous RNA editing events. Furthermore, we assessed the collinearity of the species in the Gesneriaceae family and found rampant reorganizations. The phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial PCGs for the entire Lamiales order show the monophyly of Gesneriaceae as well as other families and a general high phylogenetic resolution. Conclusions: Our study provides the first mitogenome data for H. yongfuensis and the genus Hemiboea, expanding the rapidly increasing but yet limited plant mitogenome resources. It enhances our understanding of the mitogenome and Lamiales evolution, whereas more potentials of the mitogenome data, such as its possible functions in adaptation to limestone habitats, conservation, and germplasm breeding, remain under-exploited. This first reported Hemiboea mitogenome in addition to more mitogenomes from the same and related species would shed further light on these unresolved issues in future studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) have an elevated burden of obesity and cardiometabolic risk, yet factors associated with high blood pressure (BP) in this group remain insufficiently described. This study assessed the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) at a single visit and examined anthropometric and body composition correlates of elevated BP in children with ID. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 461 children and adolescents with ID aged 7–18 y attending special education schools in southeastern Poland. Anthropometric indicators (BMI, waist circumference [WC], hip circumference [HC], and waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]) and body composition parameters (BF%, MM%, FFM%, TBW%) were measured using standardized procedures. BP was assessed three times during one visit, and the average of the second and third readings was used. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used for exploratory assessment of discriminatory performance of anthropometric and body composition parameters, and multivariable logistic regression examined associations with elevated BP (HTN + ISH). Results: Overall, 13.9% of participants had HTN and 10.4% had ISH (combined prevalence: 24.3%). Abdominal obesity was present in 39.5% of participants, and elevated HC in 28.2%, both more common in girls. Higher BP categories were associated with greater WC, HC, BMI, and BF%, and lower MM%, FFM%, and TBW% (p < 0.0001). HC showed the highest discriminatory accuracy for HTN + ISH (AUC = 0.844), followed by MM%, BF%, and FFM%, whereas WHtR demonstrated limited discriminatory performance in ROC analyses. In multivariable models, WHtR ≥ 0.5 was associated with increased odds of elevated BP (OR = 4.25), whereas higher TBW% (≥55.38%) was inversely associated with elevated BP (OR = 0.17) in the total sample; similar patterns were observed in sex- and age-stratified analyses. Conclusions: Children with ID show a high prevalence of elevated BP at a single visit, including HTN-range and ISH-range values. Anthropometric indicators, particularly HC and WHtR, and BIA-derived body composition parameters reflecting higher fat mass and lower lean tissue proportion were associated with elevated BP. These exploratory findings suggest that simple anthropometric and body composition measures may help identify individuals who warrant further BP assessment, although longitudinal studies with repeated measurements are required before clinical application. Full article

Objective: This was a longitudinal study of TCF4 CTG18.1 trinucleotide repeat lengths in 17 patients (27 eyes) diagnosed with Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), and it aimed to correlate the repeat expansion status with disease severity and progression. Design: This was a prospective cohort study looking at FECD clinical progression and TCF4 CTG18.1 repeat length expansion status over time. Methods: A total of 27 eyes from 17 patients diagnosed with FECD were recruited. Only eyes with FECD disease severity of at least Grade 4 on the modified Krachmer clinical grading scale were included; eyes that had previously undergone any form of ocular surgery prior to the first genotyping or during the duration of follow-up were excluded. CTG trinucleotide repeat genotyping was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes at two time points over an average follow-up of 10 years. Over the follow-up period, the FECD progression of each subject was examined using pachymetry, Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam), and endothelial cell density (ECD) readings, during the baseline visit, yearly thereafter, at the time of repeat CTG18.1 genotyping, and at their latest visit. Main Outcome Measures: The clinical progression of FECD patients was assessed using central corneal thickness (CCT), ECD, and any keratoplasty performed. CTG repeat length was assessed twice over the entire follow-up period. Results: The non-expanded alleles were shown to be stable over the period of follow-up and did not develop any expanded repeats. Repeat expansion did not influence the risk of attaining Threshold Disease, although more patients in the L ≥ 40 group (CTG18.1 repeat sequence of more than or equal to 40 repeats) underwent keratoplasty. Conclusions: Through this study, we found that the CTG18.1 allele lengths of <40 repeats in peripheral blood leukocytes showed minimal change over a 10-year period, and none became an expanded repeat. Hence, a single CTG expansion assessment, performed at any point in a patient’s lifetime, is likely a good representation of genetic risk. Clinicians may use this information to better advise patients on the risk of clinical progression and the best therapeutic strategy. Full article

In recent years, the quality of genome assemblies has notably improved, primarily due to advances in third-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. In the present study, we obtained genome assemblies for two flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties, K-3018 and Svyatogor, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) simplex R10.4.1 data and the Hifiasm algorithm optimized for ONT reads. The K-3018 genome assembly was 491.1 Mb and consisted of thirteen full-length chromosomes and two one-gap chromosomes. The Svyatogor genome assembly was 497.8 Mb and consisted of twelve full-length chromosomes and three one-gap chromosomes. All chromosomes had telomeric repeats at their ends for both varieties. Hi-C contact maps and Illumina genomic data supported the accuracy of the obtained assemblies. The K-3018 and Svyatogor genome assemblies surpassed the quality of the best currently available flax genome assembly of variety T397, which serves as a reference for L. usitatissimum in the NCBI Genome database. Comparative analysis revealed that the flax genomes are generally quite similar at the chromosome level, with only a few large-scale differences. Thus, two near-T2T (telomere-to-telomere) flax genomes were assembled from the ONT simplex R10.4.1 reads using Hifiasm ONT without involving Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) HiFi or ultra-long ONT reads as well as optical maps. High-quality flax genomes are essential for improving the efficiency of genetic research, evaluating genetic diversity at the whole-genome level, and developing breeding and genome editing approaches of this valuable multipurpose crop. Full article

This essay reads Grant Allen’s “Pallinghurst Barrow” as folk horror about the late-Victorian spiritualist debates. We read Allen’s story as not only sympathetic to spiritualism, but also as critical of the gendered and genred politics of fin-de-siècle scientific materialism which would preclude such occult experiences—or what we frame as feminine ways of knowing. In both form and content, “Pallinghurst Barrow” challenges masculine science by foregrounding the powerful influence (on Rudolph, the protagonist) of the Gothic ghost story (“gipsy” Rachel’s cautionary tale, repeated by young Joyce). Allen’s interest in the folkloric origins of religion can be traced back to Herbert Spencer’s “Ghost Theory,” a proto-sociological explanation for the cultural construction and transmission of myth (or spirits). A lifelong friend and devotee of Spencer, Allen employs his mentor’s sociology as a way to make sense of non-material forces, including the ghost story circle and its production of Gothic awe or wonder (the wonder tale). Ultimately, then, Allen’s infamous folk horror reads as an allegory of late-Victorian spiritualist debates and, more importantly, as a defence of feminine modes of knowledge and myth-making through collective story-telling. Full article

Gender remains a significant yet often subtle dimension of literacy in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Picturebooks and digital texts may introduce young children to patterned cues about how gender is seen, valued, and enacted, sometimes reinforcing binary expectations even when such messages are not explicit. This paper considers how children may encounter and interpret gender through schemas, scripts, and multimodal features embedded in the texts they read and the literacy practices they participate in. Drawing on insights from picturebook scholarship, cognitive studies, queer theory, and childhood studies, the discussion explores how gender may be shaped through repeated visual, verbal, and affective cues that children learn to recognise and respond to. At the same time, a growing body of inclusive and counter-normative texts may offer opportunities for children to expand or adjust their existing understandings of gender, although such shifts are often partial and dependent on context, mediation, and broader cultural messages. By approaching literacy as an embodied, relational, and multimodal experience, this paper aims to open a reflective space for considering how early literacy practices may support more diverse and expansive possibilities for gender in ECEC settings. Full article

Anyone who starts reading the Qurʾān out of linguistic and literary interest—whether in the original language or in a translation—very quickly becomes aware of the strong rhetorical effect of the text in its forcefulness and intensity. But by what means is this effect achieved? One means is duality, which, in Arabic, is already inherent in thought through the existence of the dual between singular and plural and is therefore of particular importance. The constantly repeated mention of God’s attributes in the Qurʾān—usually two terms of similar meaning, such as ġafūrun raḥīmun “All-forgiving, All-compassionate” (Arberry) or ʿalīmun ḥakīmun “All-knowing, All-wise” (Arberry)—determines the text as caesuras, and a second term is also often added to other terms in order to emphasise and intensify the statement, such as mā la-hū min waliyyin wa-lā naṣīrin “to have neither protector nor helper.” The phenomenon of merism—the totality ‘everything,’ ‘everywhere,’ and ‘always’ expressed by two opposing terms—is also used in the Qurʾān, for example, in ẓāhirun/bāṭinun “inward/outward,” meaning ‘all.’ Full article

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that share clinical and pathological features, as well as genetic causes. A G₄C₂ repeat expansion in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTD, collectively referred to as c9ALS/FTD. Assembly modulation is a new therapeutic approach which appears to target allosteric sites on aberrant forms of multi-protein complexes and restore them to the healthy state. Recent findings demonstrate that tetrahydroisoquinolone (THIQ)-based protein assembly modulators can ameliorate ALS/FTD-associated phenotypes in cellular and animal models. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PAV-615, a novel and advanced THIQ-based modulator, in a c9ALS/FTD mouse model expressing 149 G₄C₂ repeat expansions (referred to as 149R mouse model). Specifically, PAV-615 was administered to 5-month-old 149R mice via intraperitoneal injection for one month. Motor function was evaluated using the hang wire test, while anxiety-like behavior and hyperactivity were assessed using the open-field test. Pathological markers, including dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins, phosphorylated TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (pTDP-43) and ataxin 2-positive stress granules, were quantified by Meso Scale Discovery and immunohistochemistry assays. Compared with vehicle-treated controls, PAV-615 significantly improved motor performance and modestly reduced anxiety-like behavior and hyperactivity in 149R mice. Moreover, PAV-615 treatment significantly decreased cortical DPR, pTDP-43 and ataxin 2-positive stress granule burdens. These results support assembly modulation as a promising therapeutic approach treatment of ALS/FTD. Full article

Background/Objectives: The sequencing of mitochondrial DNA is a valuable tool in forensic genetics, particularly in cases involving degraded samples or those with low nuclear DNA content. In this study, we performed an internal validation for an NGS-based typing of the mitochondrial DNA control region using the Precision ID mtDNA Control Region Panel on the Ion S5^TM sequencer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). This validation enhances the scientific robustness, reliability, and judicial admissibility of the results in forensic cases. Methods: Six parameters were evaluated: minimum read depth, sensitivity, repeatability, concordance with Sanger, reproducibility and heteroplasmy detection employing ten negative controls, nine reference samples, a bone sample, and six experimental mixtures. Libraries were prepared using the Ion Chef^TM system, quantified on the Quantstudio^TM 5 Real-Time PCR, sequenced on the Ion GeneStudio^TM S5, and analyzed with Converge^TM software. Results: In this study, we found that a read depth threshold of 100 reads per position, an optimal concentration of 20 pg/µL, and a detection threshold of heteroplasmies of 20% are appropriate to obtain reliable genetic profiles. This supports the application of this method in forensic casework, in which initial concentrations may be around the optimal concentration exposed here due to the provenience of the samples. Conclusions: The results indicate that the NGS platform is suitable for forensic mtDNA analysis, even under low-template conditions, and offers higher sensitivity compared to Sanger sequencing. However, some limitations were observed in the coverage of specific amplicons, the detections of polymorphisms in homopolymeric regions, and in the detection of low-level heteroplasmies. Full article

Background: Dementia is a chronic, multifactorial syndrome with a high incidence and prevalence worldwide. The clinical assessment of these patients is challenging, imposing several barriers related to the system, the healthcare professional and the patient. While numerous assessment tools exist for dementia, few are specifically validated or widely used in palliative care. This study evaluates the relevance of using the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale for Dementia (IPOS-Dem) in Portugal. The primary objective is to synthesize evidence on the implementation and clinical performance of IPOS-Dem in people with dementia receiving palliative care—including feasibility, acceptability, validity, reliability, and clinical applicability—while the secondary objective is to assess the instrument’s relevance and potential for cultural/linguistic adaptation to context. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out, with research in evidence-based medicine databases on the use of the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale for Dementia (IPOS-Dem) in palliative care, using the terms “dementia”, “alzheimer”, “lewy body”, “cognitive impair”, “outcome”, “IPOS-Dem”, “patient outcome assessment”, “outcome assessment”, “scale”, “palliative care”, and “palliative outcome scale”. Results: The IPOS-Dem was considered to be a useful tool for monitoring patients with dementia while receiving palliative care, allowing for a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of symptoms, as well as involving family members in the care process. It facilitates the identification of previously unknown symptoms and issues, particularly emotional and social concerns. Its use led to an improvement in symptom control and greater family involvement in care. The reduction in missing response rates and the time required to complete the scale with repeated use indicated good adaptation to the scale’s implementation. Difficulties were reported in assessing patients with communication impairments. Some staff also highlighted the need for training in using the scale. The Swiss Easy-Read IPOS-Dem showed significant variation in scores between evaluators, which raises concerns about the reliability and consistency of the scale, indicating that the tool requires further validation. Digital models, although they may present some inconveniences, were suggested as a potential improvement in acceptability. Conclusions: Our review suggests that IPOS-Dem provides initial evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical usefulness in dementia palliative care, making its implementation beneficial for the Portuguese population. Translation and adaptation to the Portuguese population and culture will be necessary, but the scale is promising, and we recommend its national use. Full article

(1) Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant clinical challenge, with early detection hindered by the overlap between physiological postoperative inflammation and incipient infection. Continuous wound temperature monitoring offers a promising, non-invasive method to identify subtle thermal deviations that precede overt clinical signs. This review synthesizes current evidence on the utility of temperature monitoring as an early predictor of SSI and evaluates its clinical applications. (2) Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed and Embase for English-language studies published between 2015 and 2025. Following PRISMA principles, eligible studies were selected that examined continuous or repeated local wound temperature measurements in adult postoperative patients and their association with a clinical diagnosis of SSI. (3) Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings indicate that infected wounds may paradoxically exhibit lower temperatures “cold spots” than non-infected wounds in the early postoperative period. Dynamic indicators, particularly the temperature difference (ΔT) between the wound and adjacent skin and the temperature trajectory over time, proved more predictive than single, isolated measurements. Confounding factors such as patient adiposity were noted to influence thermal signatures. (4) Conclusions: Wound temperature monitoring is a valuable strategy for the early risk stratification of SSI. The analysis of thermal trends and dynamic parameters holds greater diagnostic significance than single readings. Integration with other biomarkers may further enhance specificity, but the development of standardized measurement protocols is essential for reliable clinical implementation and improved postoperative outcomes. Full article

Background and Objectives: Interdialytic blood pressure (BP) better reflects volume status and cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis (HD) patients than peridialytic readings. High-efficiency dialysis techniques—online hemodiafiltration (HDF) in pre-, post-, and mixed-dilution modes, and expanded hemodialysis (HDx) with medium cut-off membranes—aim to improve solute clearance and hemodynamic stability. Their comparative impact on interdialytic BP control remains unclear. This randomized cross-over study compared interdialytic BP profiles across these modalities under standardized treatment conditions. Materials and Methods: Sixteen clinically stable adults with end-stage kidney disease sequentially underwent high-flux HD, HDx, and HDF in pre-, post-, and mixed-dilution configurations, each for one month. Dialysis prescriptions, dry weight, and antihypertensive therapy remained constant. Home BP was measured twice daily on non-dialysis days, yielding ~3600 observations. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. Results: Significant differences were found among modalities for SBP (p = 0.009), DBP (p = 0.004), and MAP (p < 0.001). HDx achieved the lowest mean BP values—SBP 129 (95% CI 127–131) mmHg; DBP 74 (95% CI 73–75) mmHg; MAP 93 (95% CI 91–94) mmHg—significantly lower than high-flux HD and post-dilution HDF (p < 0.05). Differences versus pre- and mixed-HDF did not reach significance. Conclusions: HDx provided modest but consistent reductions in interdialytic BP compared with diffusive and convective high-efficiency modalities. Trial Registration: Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Gdańsk (NKBBN/479-759/2022). Full article

This review examines the contemporary evidence on digital gamification’s effect on English as a foreign language (EFL) and English as a second language (ESL) classrooms’ outcome. The study focuses on vocabulary and other course-integrated skills in low-input contexts. We synthesise findings from education-wide meta-analyses and recent language-specific studies using a narrative approach organised by four questions on learning performance, classroom dynamics, student perceptions, and teacher practices. Across sources, gamification is associated with minor improvements in assessed performance, particularly in vocabulary and reading. Studies also frequently report gains in motivation and moment-to-moment classroom energy. These benefits are not uniform. Effects depend on element mixes, social format, pacing, and assessment timing, and they can taper with repeated use. Evidence on durability remains limited because immediate post-tests dominate and delayed outcomes are scarce. Most studies rely on perception surveys or platform logs rather than systematic observation. Students typically report enjoyment and usefulness with low to moderate anxiety, while teachers highlight the value of quick feedback and predictable routines alongside practical constraints such as preparation time, connectivity, class size, and tool fit. We propose minimum reporting standards that specify dose, element configuration, social design, assessment windows, reliability, inclusion context, and low-tech fallbacks. Better reporting and longer follow-ups are needed to separate short spikes from durable learning. Full article

Silicon-Based Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) exploit inherent manufacturing variations to produce a unique, random, and ideally unclonable secret key. As electronic devices are decommissioned and sent for End of Life (EOL) recycling, the encrypted critical program information remains within the device. However, conventional PUFs remain vulnerable to invasive attacks and reverse engineering that with sufficient time, resources, and effort can enable an adversary to bypass the security enclave of the system and extract this secret data. Recent research has started to explore techniques to respond to tamper attempts using electromigration (EM) and time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) to the PUF entropy source, preventing future authentication attempts with well-known semiconductor reliability failure mechanisms. This work presents a Pre-Amplifier Physical Unclonable Function (Pre-Amp PUF) with a self-corruption function designed and manufactured in a 3 nm FinFET technology. This PUF can perform a destructive read operation as an EOL anti-counterfeit measure against recycled and reused electronics. The destructive read utilizes an accelerated aging technique that exploits both Hot Carrier Injection (HCI) and Bias Temperature Instability (BTI) degradations directly at the PUF entropy source bitcell data. This work demonstrates a silicon proven ability to irreversibly corrupt the encryption key, invalidating the PUF key, and blocking future authentication attempts. By utilizing HCI and BTI aging effects rather than physical damage a PUF that can self-corrupt its own key without being detectable with imaging techniques is demonstrated for the first time. A feedback loop enables corruption of up to ~30% of the PUF entropy source, which is approximately 3× more data corruption than the prior state of the art self-corrupting PUF. Our technique reuses on-chip stable (repeatable) PUF bitcells identifying circuitry and thereby minimizes the area overhead to support this differentiated feature. Full article

The uniform distribution of pesticides via spraying is of crucial importance in achieving effective and environmentally sustainable crop protection. Conventional assessment techniques such as sensor-based patternators and electronic monitoring systems are often expensive, complex to calibrate, and limited in adaptability to different nozzle geometries or operating conditions. The present study introduces and validates a low-cost, image-based method as an alternative to the traditional volumetric approach for evaluating spray pattern uniformity in mechanical patternators. Spray tests were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions in order to minimize environmental variability and ensure repeatability. The present study compared two complementary methods—volumetric measurement and image analysis—to evaluate their agreement and accuracy in determining spray deposition profiles. The findings, which included correlation and multivariate tests, indicated a robust linear relationship between the two approaches (r = 0.990–0.999), with deviations falling below ±3% and no statistically significant multivariate differences (p = 0.067). The image-based approach effectively captured both central and edge regions of the spray pattern, demonstrating precision comparable to volumetric readings. The findings confirm that image analysis provides an accurate, reliable, and repeatable means of assessing spray uniformity without reliance on costly sensor technologies. The proposed method offers a practical and scalable alternative for laboratory calibration, nozzle classification, and research applications focused on optimizing agricultural spraying performance. Full article