Search Results (6,027)

Citrus fruit processing, mainly for fresh juice production in the food industry, generates significant amounts of residues and by-products enriched with bioactive components. Peels are the primary waste fraction of citrus fruits, along with discarded pulp and seeds. This study aimed to identify the most fast and sustainable extraction process for flavonoids on a laboratory scale by varying the solvent and extraction methodology, and comparing the yields in order to evaluate their influence on total and individual flavonoid content. A chromatographic analysis was also performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with a 10 min run time. Our focus was on selecting the most user-friendly and cost-effective methodology. Ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction equipment were used with green solvents (water and ethanol) and compared for their efficiency in recovering flavonoid compounds from a mixture of peel and pulp. For this study, two widely cultivated Mediterranean citrus varieties were selected: ‘Marsh’ seedless grapefruits (Citrus paradisi Macf.) and ‘Comun’ mandarins (C. deliciosa Ten.). Lab-scale extraction results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction with a simple ultrasonic bath, using an ethanol–water mixture provided the highest total flavonoid recovery and improved the extraction of key flavanones such as hesperidin, narirutin, and naringin. All ethanol–water mixtures tested (1:1, 7:3, and 3:7) yielded higher flavonoid levels in grapefruit (approximately 2500 mg/100 g DW) and mandarin (approximately 1200 mg/100 g DW) wastes compared with water or ethanol alone. This method offers a scalable and green strategy for valorizing citrus residues. Full article

Background/Objective: Aging is associated with a decline in metabolic health, including impaired glucose regulation. Both diet and biological sex impact metabolic health, yet sexual heterogeneity in diet response is understudied. We report on exploratory analyses of sex-specific associations between diet and insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, and android and intermuscular fat composition in older adults. Methods: This secondary analysis uses baseline data from a previously completed clinical trial (n = 96), the MASTERS study. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used to calculate insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity as measures of metabolic function, while dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography were used to assess body composition. Univariate analyses were used to identify sex-specific associations between metabolic health and single nutrients, as well as other dietary components. Feasible solutions algorithm (FSA) modeling was employed to identify food groups that were most associated with insulin sensitivity. Results: In men, greater intakes of vegetable protein (p < 0.0001) and whole grains (p = 0.001) were associated with higher insulin sensitivity, while refined grains (p = 0.003) and conjugated linoleic acids (p < 0.001) were negatively associated. In women, insulin sensitivity was positively associated with alcohol (p < 0.001) and xylitol (p = 0.007). FSA modeling identified whole grains, nuts, and seeds as food groups that predicted higher insulin sensitivity in men, while alcohol remained the strongest predictor in women. Conclusions: Men showed higher insulin sensitivity with plant-based diets, while alcohol intake was the dietary factor most associated with insulin sensitivity in women. The findings of these exploratory analyses support the need for sex-specific clinical trials and dietary guidance for aging populations. Full article

Common bacterial blight (CBB) is a significant disease caused by the seed-borne pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap), which devastates global bean production. This study evaluated the effects of Bacillus subtilis (Bst26), Lactobacillus plantarum (Lpkb10), their combination (Bst26 + Lpkb10), copper hydroxide (CH), and an untreated control on controlling CBB in three bean cultivars (Göynük, Saltan, and Tezgeldi). Disease incidence (CI), disease severity index (DSI), severity score (SC), area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), and disease control (DC), along with agronomic traits such as plant height, number of primary branches, root length, and fresh root weight, were recorded to assess both infection rates and plant health under each treatment. The findings revealed significant differences in DI, DSI, SC, AUDPC, and DC (p ≤ 0.01) among the bean cultivars for CBB. Among the cultivars, the Bst26 treatment and the combination of Bst26 and Lpkb10 showed the highest control effectiveness, with DI values of 33.11% and 33.46% in Saltan, 35.65% and 44.16% in Göynük, and 37.71% and 42.43% in Tezgeldi, respectively, at 21 days after inoculation (DAI). Bst26 alone and in combination with Lpkb10 effectively controlled CBB, with disease reduction of 56.80% and 46.49% in Göynük, 57.08% and 56.62% in Saltan, and 52.18% and 46.19% in Tezgeldi, respectively. Disease progression was highest in the untreated control, with DI ranging from 77.15% to 82.54% across Göynük, Saltan, and Tezgeldi cultivars. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) in plant height, root length, and root weight were observed among treatments and cultivars. Disease parameters were negatively correlated with plant growth traits, and multi-treatment analysis demonstrated that combining bacterial strains effectively reduced disease severity in susceptible cultivars, highlighting their potential for improved CBB management. Full article

Cowpea production in Nigeria, the world’s largest producer, is insufficient to meet domestic demand due to significant yield gaps caused by various production constraints. Several high-yielding improved cowpea varieties have been developed and disseminated among smallholder farmers to improve productivity, but their adoption is low because breeding efforts have not adequately incorporated farmers’ and consumers’ preferred traits. To address this, a study was conducted to evaluate the performance of newly developed cowpea lines and identify those with traits preferred by farmers and consumers. Twenty-four cowpea lines were evaluated in multiple environments under sole and intercropped systems in Nigeria. The study revealed significant (p < 0.001) genotypic and genotype-by-environment interaction effects for grain yield, fodder yield, and other key agronomic traits. Three genotypes consistently outperformed the standard check, with UAM15-2157-4 exhibiting a 57.6% higher grain yield and superior seed quality. UAM15-2157-4 produced the highest grain yield (1289 kg ha⁻¹) under the intercropping system. GGE biplot analysis identified UAM15-2157-4 as the most stable genotype across all tested environments. This genotype, along with other promising lines, possesses desirable traits such as Striga resistance, large seed size, and preferred seed coat color, making them suitable for release and adoption to improve cowpea productivity in the region. Full article

Offshore wind turbines are rapidly scaling in size, which amplifies the need for credible integrated load analyses that consistently resolve the coupled dynamics among rotor–nacelle–tower systems and their support substructures. This study presents a comprehensive ultimate limit state (ULS) load assessment for a fixed jack-up-type substructure (hereafter referred to as K-wind) coupled with the IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine. Unlike conventional monopile or jacket configurations, the K-wind concept adopts a self-installable triangular jack-up foundation with spudcan anchorage, enabling efficient transport, rapid deployment, and structural reusability. Yet such a configuration has never been systematically analyzed through full aero-hydro-servo-elastic coupling before. Hence, this work represents the first integrated load analysis ever reported for a jack-up-type offshore wind substructure, addressing both its unique load-transfer behavior and its viability for multi-MW-class turbines. To ensure numerical robustness and cross-code reproducibility, steady-state verifications were performed under constant-wind benchmarks, followed by time-domain simulations of standard prescribed Design Load Case (DLC), encompassing power-producing extreme turbulence, coherent gusts with directional change, and parked/idling directional sweeps. The analyses were independently executed using two industry-validated solvers (Deeplines Wind v5.8.5 and OrcaFlex v11.5e), allowing direct solver-to-solver comparison and establishing confidence in the obtained dynamic responses. Loads were extracted at the transition-piece reference point in a global coordinate frame, and six key components (Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and Mz) were processed into seed-averaged signed envelopes for systematic ULS evaluation. Beyond its methodological completeness, the present study introduces a validated framework for analyzing next-generation jack-up-type foundations for offshore wind turbines, establishing a new reference point for integrated load assessments that can accelerate the industrial adoption of modular and re-deployable support structures such as K-wind. Full article

Reliable schedule-risk estimation in hybrid software development lifecycles is strategically important for organizations adopting AI in software engineering. This study addresses that need by transforming routine process telemetry (CI/CD, SAST, traceability) into explainable, quantitative predictions of completion time and rework. This paper introduces an integrated probabilistic model of the hybrid software development lifecycle that combines Generalized Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) network semantics with I-AND synchronization, explicit artificial-intelligence (AI) interventions, and a fuzzy treatment of epistemic uncertainty. The model embeds two controllable AI nodes–an AI Requirements Assistant and AI-augmented static code analysis, directly into the process topology and applies an analytical reduction to a W-function to obtain iteration-time distributions and release-success probabilities without resorting solely to simulation. Epistemic uncertainty on critical arcs is represented by fuzzy intervals and propagated via Zadeh’s extension principle, while aleatory variability is captured through stochastic branching. Parameter calibration relies on process telemetry (requirements traceability, static-analysis signals, continuous integration/continuous delivery, CI/CD, and history). A validation case (“system design → UX prototyping → implementation → quality assurance → deployment”) demonstrates practical use: large samples of process trajectories are generated under identical initial conditions and fixed random seeds, and kernel density estimation with Silverman’s bandwidth is applied to normalized histograms of continuous outcomes. Results indicate earlier defect detection, fewer late rework loops, thinner right tails of global duration, and an approximately threefold reduction in the expected number of rework cycles when AI is enabled. The framework yields interpretable, scenario-ready metrics for tuning quality-gate policies and automation levels in Agile/DevOps settings. Full article

Osteocytes translate fluid shear stress into biochemical signals critical for bone homeostasis. Here, we combined 3-dimensional (3D) osteocyte culture, microgravity simulation, fluid shear mimicking reloading after disuse, and real-time calcium signaling analysis to elucidate responses of osteocytes under different mechanical environments. Ocy454 cells were seeded onto 3D scaffolds and cultured under static (control) or simulated microgravity (disuse) conditions using a rotating wall vessel bioreactor. Elevated expression levels of Sost, Tnfsf11 (Rankl), and Dkk1 were detected following disuse, confirming efficacy of the microgravity model. Cell membrane integrity under mechanical challenge was evaluated by subjecting scaffold cultures to fluid shear in medium containing FITC-conjugated dextran (10 kDa). The proportion of dextran-retaining cells, indicative of transient membrane disruption and subsequent repair, was higher in microgravity-exposed osteocytes than controls, suggesting increased susceptibility to membrane damage upon reloading following disuse. Intracellular calcium signaling was assessed under a high but physiological fluid shear stress (30 dynes/cm²). Scaffolds cultured under disuse conditions demonstrated a larger sub-population of osteocytes with high calcium signaling intensity (F/Fo > 10 fold) during fluid shear. The maximum fold change in calcium signaling intensity over baseline and the duration of the peak calcium wave were greater for osteocytes cultured under disuse as compared to static controls, however the bioreactor-cultured osteocytes showed, on average, fewer calcium waves than those cultured under control conditions. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the sub-population of osteocytes with high calcium signaling intensity following exposure to disuse were those that had experienced a transient membrane disruption event during reloading. Together, these results suggest that simulated microgravity enhances osteocyte susceptibility to formation of transient membrane damage and alters intracellular calcium signaling responses upon reloading. This integrated approach establishes a novel platform for mechanistic studies of osteocyte biology and could inform therapeutic strategies targeting skeletal disorders related to altered mechanical loading. Full article

Magnesium and hydrogen fertilization have been reported to contribute to plant growth and metabolite production. Simultaneous fertilization of magnesium and hydrogen is a promising strategy for plant development and secondary metabolism, but remains unexplored in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don, which produces varieties of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs). This study conducted a glasshouse experiment comprising five treatments: MgO, MgSO₄, MgH₂, magnesium powder (MgP), and the control, to investigate and compare the effects of Mg fertilizers and Mg plus H₂ fertilizers on soil pH, Mg uptake, seed germination, plant growth, and MIA biosynthesis in C. roseus. Application of MgH₂, MgP, and MgO fertilizers significantly raised soil pH to 6.14~6.38. MgH₂ and MgP fertilization significantly increased plant weight by 60% and 29% over the control, respectively. MgH₂ and MgP produced greater increases in Mg content, chlorophyll content, plant height, and weight than MgO and MgSO₄. Four fertilizers up-regulated the expression of most MIA biosynthetic genes, especially those in the vindoline pathway. Among them, MgH₂ yielded the highest contents of catharanthine, vindoline, and ajmalicine, reaching 167%, 149% and 517% of the control, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations among H₂ release, soil pH, and Mg uptake, as well as with plant growth and MIA content. These findings suggest that Mg plus H₂ fertilizers released H₂ and increased soil pH to promote Mg uptake, chlorophyll contents, plant growth, and MIA production in C. roseus, highlighting the potential of MgH₂ and Mg powder as innovative fertilizers to enhance alkaloid yields in medicinal plants. Full article

This study successfully established a novel discriminative model that distinguishes between Thai and foreign hemp seed extracts based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) metabolic profiling combined with machine learning algorithms such as hierarchy clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The findings highlighted significant metabolic features, such as vitamin E, clionasterol, and linoleic acid, related with anti-aging properties via elastase inhibition. Our biological validation experiment revealed that the individual compound at 2 mg/mL exhibited a moderate elastase inhibitory activity, 40.97 ± 1.80% inhibition (n = 3). However, a binary combination among these metabolites at 1 mg/mL of each compound demonstrated a synergistic effect against elastase activities up to 89.76 ± 1.20% inhibition (n = 3), showing 119% improvement. Molecular docking experiments aligned with biological results, showing strong binding affinities and enhanced inhibitory effects in all combinations. This integrated approach provided insights into the bioactive compounds responsible for anti-aging effects and established a dependable framework for quality control and standardization of hemp seed-based skincare products. Additionally, the developed models enable effective discrimination between Thai and foreign strains, which is valuable for sourcing and product consistency. Overall, this research advances our understanding of hemp seed phytochemicals and their functional potential, paving the way for optimized natural anti-aging formulations and targeted functional foods. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of foliar-applied calcium-based fertilizers, including a conventional fertilizer (T1) and a nanofertilizer containing Ca, Si, B, and Fe (T2), on fruit traits, seed quality, and early seedling growth of seven determinate tomato genotypes. Field-grown plants were monitored for fruit traits, while seeds underwent germination tests and seedling growth assessments under controlled laboratory conditions. Factorial ANOVA showed significant effects of genotype, treatment, and their interaction on fruit weight, width, germination energy, final germination, seedling vigor index, and initial plant growth, indicating genotype-specific responses. Treatment T2 significantly increased fruit weight and width, germination energy, final germination, seedling vigor, root length, and biomass compared to T1 and control (T0), while shoot elongation rate remained unaffected. Total soluble solids decreased under both treatments, but fruit length, pericarp thickness, and locule number were mainly genetically determined. Principal Component Analysis highlighted differentiation among treatments and correlations among key traits. The enhanced performance under T2 likely results from the synergistic effects of Ca, Si, B, and Fe, improving nutrient uptake and physiological activity. These findings suggest that foliar nanofertilizer application is a promising approach to optimize tomato yield and seedling performance. Full article

White lupin improvement is challenged by the need to select for low seed content of total quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) when crossing low-alkaloid (sweet-seed) with bitter-seed (landrace) material. This study, which focused on 45 international landraces and 142 broadly sweet-seed breeding lines, aimed at (a) assessing the ability of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to distinguish broadly sweet-seed from bitter-seed material and, possibly, lines with particularly low QA content within broadly sweet-seed material; and (b) comparing landrace and breeding material in terms of the composition and amount of QA compounds. QA content was analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method. NIRS analyses were performed either on whole-seed samples or ground samples. The range of variation for total QA was 95–990 mg/kg among breeding lines and 14,041–37,321 among landraces. NIRS was able to discriminate broadly sweet-seed from bitter-seed material when using flour samples, non-destructive 10-seed samples, and even individual whole seeds (with <1% misclassification). It was unable to identify material with particularly low QA content. Landrace and breeding line germplasm differed in the proportions of individual QAs. Patterns of geographical variation for total QA content of landraces were identified. Our results can contribute to define an efficient NIRS-based pipeline to select for low total QA content. Full article

Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin, TKS) is a natural rubber (NR)-producing species whose roots contain 3% to 27% NR, underscoring its considerable research and economic significance. The myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor family, one of the largest in plants, plays pivotal roles in metabolic regulation, stress responses, and various growth and developmental processes. To identify key MYB transcription factors involved in hormone-induced rubber biosynthesis, we conducted homology-based and bioinformatic analyses to characterize 268 MYB family proteins in the TKS genome. Utilizing transcriptome data from jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) treatments, we screened and shortlisted 10 candidate TkMYB transcription factors. Through tissue-specific expression profiling, TkMYB7 was selected as the primary candidate. We confirmed that promoter analysis combined with yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that TkMYB7 directly binds to and regulates the expression of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (TkACAT5), a key enzyme in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Furthermore, heterologous overexpression of TkMYB7 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced seed germination and root development. These findings identify TkMYB7 as a novel transcriptional regulator linking JA and ET signaling pathways to rubber biosynthesis in TKS, representing a promising target for the genetic improvement of rubber yield. Full article

Seed germination is crucial for seedling establishment and is regulated by precise reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Class III peroxidases (PRXs), which are plant-specific enzymes, play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis. However, members of the PRX gene family in tomato, particularly their functions in modulating seed germination, remain poorly understood. In this study, 102 tomato PRXs (SlPRXs) were identified, and they were classified into five groups based on phylogenic analysis. Chromosomal localization revealed that these SlPRX genes are unevenly distributed across 12 tomato chromosomes, with chromosome 02 harboring the highest densities. Gene structure analysis revealed that SlPRXs contain 1 to 10 exons, and SlPRX4 possesses the most exons. All SlPRX proteins possess the characteristic peroxidase domain and share conserved structural motifs. Collinearity analysis suggested that segmental duplications might be the main contributor to the expansion of the SlPRX family. Promoter analysis revealed numerous cis-acting elements related to abiotic/biotic stress responses, phytohormones, and growth and development. Notably, seed germination-related elements such as CARE and RY element were identified in some SlPRXs. Enzymatic and electrophoresis assays indicated that PRX activity increased with seed germination. Moreover, SHAM, the inhibitor of PRX, exerted an inhibitory effect on tomato seed germination. Transcriptome data revealed stage-specific induction of SlPRXs during germination, with distinct expression peaks between 0 and 96 h post imbibition. These findings were further validated by qRT-PCR of the selected SlPRX genes. Overall, the findings enhance our understanding of SlPRX family members in tomato and highlight their potential for improving seed germination. This study also provides valuable genetic resources and potential molecular markers for breeding tomato varieties with improved germination vigor and stress resilience. Full article

Low-temperature stress inhibits seed germination in rapeseed. Nonetheless, the continuous dynamic changes in seed germination under low-temperature stress, particularly at the transcriptome level, remain poorly understood. In this study, two rapeseed lines with contrasting LTG phenotypes—HY7201 (cold-tolerant) and HY3404 (cold-sensitive)—were subjected to transcriptome analysis. In total, we identified 76,996 DEGs across 18 groups, with a greater number of DEGs detected in HY7201 compared to HY3404. Additionally, genes related to antioxidative metabolism were specifically upregulated in HY7201. Furthermore, WGCNA identified 29 hub candidate genes associated with specific time points. Gene expression changes during LTG were most pronounced between 18 and 96 h. The average fold change relative to the control was 4.74. Among these genes, some exhibited particularly high fold changes, such as LOC106407757 (HERK1) and LOC106437922 (FER), which were upregulated 11.6-fold at 24 h and 35.4-fold at 18 h, respectively. Finally, 17 key candidate genes specifically expressed in the two lines were identified. Among these, BnaRGL2 was of particular interest, as it is predicted to interact with ABI3 to modulate LTG through GA and ABA signaling pathways. The findings provide valuable insights for breeders aiming to utilize rapeseed germplasm resources to advance low-temperature resistance breeding. Full article

Caleosins (CLOs) or peroxygenases (PXGs), a class of structural proteins of lipid droplets (LDs), comprise a small family of multifunctional proteins widely involved in oil accumulation, organ development, and stress responses. Despite the proposal of two clades termed H and L in Arabidopsis thaliana, their evolution in the order Brassicales has not been well established. In this study, the first genome-wide analysis of the caleosin family was conducted in papaya (Carica papaya), a Caricaceae plant without any recent whole-genome duplication (WGD). A high number of five members representing both H and L clades were identified from the papaya genome. Further identification and comparison of 68 caleosin genes from 14 representative plant species revealed seven orthogroups, i.e., H1–4 and L1–3, where H1 and L1 have already appeared in the basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda, supporting their early divergence before angiosperm radiation. Five CpCLO genes belong to H1 (1) and L1 (4), and extensive expansion of the L1 group was shown to be contributed to by species-specific tandem and transposed duplications, which may contribute to environmental adaptation. Orthologous and syntenic analyses uncovered that lineage-specific expansion of the caleosin family in Brassicales relative to A. trichopoda was largely contributed to by tandem duplication and recent WGDs, as well as the ancient γ whole-genome triplication (WGT) shared by all core eudicots. Independent gain or loss of certain introns and apparent expression divergence of caleosin genes were also observed. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that CpCLO2 and −5 are constitutively expressed, whereas others appear to be tissue-specific, implying function divergence. Interestingly, the H-forms CpCLO1 and RcCLO1 were shown to exhibit similar expression profiles to most oleosin genes that are preferentially expressed oil-rich tissues such as seeds/endosperms, shoots, and calluses, implying their putative involvement in oil accumulation, as observed in Arabidopsis. The results obtained from this study provide a global view of CpCLO genes and insights into lineage-specific family evolution in Brassicales, which facilitates further functional studies in papaya and other non-model species. Full article