Search Results (41)

The foliar application of various biostimulants, such as protein hydrolysates (PHs), has been associated with improved nutrient uptake efficiency and stress tolerance in perennial crops, like olive (Olea europaea L.). In this study, PHs obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis by Alcalase Pure (referred to as treatment H1), Alcalase Pure and Flavourzyme (referred to as treatment H2), or Alcalase Pure and Protana™ Prime (referred to as treatment H3) with proteins from pumpkin seed cake were tested for their potential beneficial growth, performance, and nutrition effects in one-year-old olive seedlings grown under controlled conditions. Amino acid and element compositions were evaluated in the PHs, which were used for foliar application six times at eight-day intervals. Control (C) plants were treated the same way, but without PHs. Shoot and root growth, leaf reflectance indices, and the composition of micro and macronutrients in different organs and leaf tissues were determined. Plants in the H2 treatment grew significantly better than C plants. They had the highest Photochemical Reflectance Index and a Chlorophyll-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index similar to that of C plants, indicating an optimal growth/photosynthesis balance. A decrease in the concentration of several mineral elements in the lower epidermis in H2- and H3-treated plants compared to C and H1-treated plants was accompanied by their increase in the spongy mesophyll, indicating their redistribution to support increased metabolism, resulting in increased shoot growth in these two treatments. Arguably, these observed effects could be attributed to the amino acid profile of the H2 mixture, which had the highest concentration of L-proline, L-arginine, and L-lysine among the three PH mixtures, and a higher L-asparagine concentration than the H1 mixture. Overall, the results highlight the applicative potential of tailored PH formulations for the optimization of growth, mineral element composition, and physiological performance in olive cultivation. Full article

Thidiazuron, 6-benzylaminopurine riboside, and meta-topolin are cytokinins often used in apple tissue cultures. Three different CK-containing Murashige and Skoog media were used during the experiments: medium without CK or media containing 4.5 μM thidiazuron, 4.5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine riboside, or 4.5 μM meta-topolin, respectively. Comparative ultrastructural studies across cytokinin types and apple cultivars were lacking. We studied the changes in photosynthetic pigment content of the leaves with absorption spectroscopy and chloroplast structure with light and transmission electron microscopy. At the light microscopy level, large changes were detected in the length and length-to-width ratios of the chloroplasts in the spongy and palisade mesophyll cell sections in 6-benzylaminopurine riboside- and meta-topolin-treated leaves of the McIntosh scion. In the chloroplasts of the McIntosh plants treated with 6-benzylaminopurine riboside and meta-topolin, and Húsvéti rozmaring leaves treated with meta-topolin, the diameter of grana increased. In both cultivars, thidiazuron caused the height of grana to increase. Thidiazuron and 6-benzylaminopurine riboside influenced leaf anatomy both in the Húsvéti rozmaring and McIntosh cultivars. 6-benzylaminopurine riboside and thidiazuron treatments reduced the content of photosynthetic pigments in the in vitro leaves of both cultivars. In contrast, meta-topolin treatment had no significant effect on the chlorophyll content as compared to the control. Differences were observed not only among the effects of cytokinins, but even between the two apple scions examined. In in vitro apple shoot cultures, TOP maintained chloroplast integrity and pigment content, whereas TDZ exerted stress-like effects. Full article

In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity of the Asian spongy moth, Lymantria dispar asiatica Vnukovskii (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), in Korea. We obtained 123 sequences of the species, including those from 26 regions in Korea. We analyzed the genetic diversity within the Korean samples (n = 87) and haplotype networks between the Korean and global samples (123 sequences from 26 regions in Korea and five other countries) using median-joining (MJ) network analysis. The results showed low nucleotide diversity and high haplotype diversity (π = 0.00159; Hd = 0.660). The neutrality tests were also significantly negative. The MJ network recovered a star-shaped network with diverse populations in Korea, with 12 haplotypes and a dominating haplotype, H07, in all regions. Two haplogroups, Middle and Southern, were identified. The Middle haplogroup included haplotypes from Shandong, China, indicating shared populations between the two regions. In contrast, the Southern haplogroup, primarily found in ship and harbor samples, likely originated from invasive populations. This pattern reflects the influence of human activities such as international trade, highlighting the importance of strict monitoring at ports to prevent the introduction of invasive pests and to support effective forest pest management. Full article

Background and Objectives: The male urethra is a complex structure that plays a critical role in genitourinary health and function. Despite its importance, histological descriptions of the penile urethra, particularly its epithelial components, remain incomplete. This study offers a comprehensive histological analysis of the penile urethra, focusing on the epithelium across distinct anatomical regions, including the glans, distal and proximal fossa navicularis and spongy urethra. Materials and Methods: Utilizing five human penile specimens, we employed various staining techniques to elucidate the structural characteristics of these epithelial tissues. Results: Our findings reveal notable variations in epithelial composition, such as the presence of glycogen-rich cells in the distal fossa navicularis and the presence of mucous glands in the spongy urethra and proximal fossa navicularis. Additionally, we identified a previously underreported valvule-like structure in the distal fossa navicularis in two of the specimens. In addition, the epithelium of the glans and the distal fossa navicularis are thicker than the ones of the proximal fossa navicularis and the spongy urethra. With a similar vascular density, the orientation of the blood vessels also diverges starting with the distal fossa navicularis. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the histological organization of the penile urethra, offering critical reference data that can enhance our understanding of urethral pathologies and improve the outcomes of surgical interventions, particularly in the context of tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery. Full article

The boxwood leafminer Monarthropalpus flavus (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) has historically been considered a leafminer, but some researchers suggested it induced galls on Buxus species leaves. The larvae of M. flavus create small blister-like galls on Buxus sempervirens leaves, causing tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Histological examination reveals that M. flavus larvae cause the formation of small blister galls, which involve tissue reorganization in the mesophyll. Unlike typical leafminers, which only disrupt existing tissues, M. flavus induces the appearance of a neo-formed tissue, near the larval chamber. This tissue, originating primarily from spongy parenchyma cells, significantly increases as the leaf thickens. Various histochemical analyses show that the new tissue contains starch, lipids, terpenes, and proteins, providing evidence of reprogramming in the plant’s metabolism. The study concludes that M. flavus induces rudimentary galls, not simply mines, due to the formation of new tissue, whose cells have cytological characteristics distinct from those found in non-galled leaves. However, despite some gall-like features, it does not create new vascular elements, distinguishing it from more complex galls formed by other gall-inducing species. Full article

This study investigates the anatomical adaptations of leaves from two halophyte species, Nitraria retusa (Forsskal) Asch. and Atriplex halimus L., in response to pollutants from a cement factory and human activities. In industrial areas, these plants absorb pollutants through their leaf surfaces, including Cu, Zn, and Pb. The two species were examined for anatomical changes under air pollution, and key factors including leaf blade thickness, palisade parenchyma cell height, spongy parenchyma cell diameter, epidermal characteristics, and stomatal traits were assessed. Under pollution, the leaves displayed smaller and denser stomata and idioblasts in the palisade and spongy parenchyma. These anatomical responses suggest that N. retusa and A. halimus could be effective bioindicators for detecting cement dust pollutants. Their leaf relative water content (RWC) exhibited a range of values: 70.1% and 87% for N. retusa and 64.8% to 74.2% for A. halimus on the highly polluted site (S1) and the control site (S4), respectively. Notably, a statistically significant site effect was observed (p > 0.01), confirming previous studies, and indicating reduced leaf relative water content (RWC) values in plants exposed to heavy metals like Cd and Pb. Heavy metals can lead to mineralization by binding to cell walls, altering their physicochemical properties and plasticity. Furthermore, significant correlations between specific heavy metals and histological parameters in A. halimus leaves indicated potential interactions between metal composition and leaf structure, highlighting their role in modulating anatomical adaptations. The correlation of leaf thickness, upper epidermal thickness, and stomatal density with Zn and Pb levels underlines the importance of these anatomical features in heavy metal accumulation and retention in plant tissues. Full article

This study analyzes the elemental and oxide compositions of three selected agricultural residues—Dried Pawpaw Leaves (DPL), Kola Nut Pod (KNP), and Sweet Orange Peel (SOP)—for their potential as heterogeneous catalysts. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis identified calcium (25%) and potassium (29%) as the primary elements in DPL and KNP, with calcium oxide (CaO) and potassium oxide (K₂O) as the dominant oxides. SOP had a similar composition but lacked vanadium. Calcined residues were analyzed at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 900 °C using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), revealing stable silicon dioxide (SiO₂) content and temperature-dependent variations in CaO and K₂O, indicating their catalytic potential for transesterification processes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed non-uniform, spongy microstructures, enhancing the surface area and catalytic efficiency. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identified functional groups essential for catalytic activity, such as hydroxyls, methyl, and carboxyl. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of crystalline phases like calcium carbonate and calcium oxide, crucial for catalytic performance. Experimental biodiesel production using a mixture of the calcined residues (33.33% each of KNPA, SOPA, and DPLA) resulted in the highest biodiesel yield at 65.3%. Model summary statistics, including R² (0.9824) values and standard deviations (0.0026), validated the experimental design, indicating high precision and prediction accuracy. These results suggest that the selected agricultural residues, when calcined and mixed properly, can serve as effective heterogeneous catalysts, with significant implications for biodiesel production, supporting previous research on the importance of calcium in catalytic processes. Full article

Currently, the number of patients with cancer is expanding consistently because of a low quality of life. For this reason, the therapies used to treat cancer have received a lot of consideration from specialists. Numerous anticancer medications have been utilized to treat patients with cancer. However, the immediate utilization of anticancer medicines leads to unpleasant side effects for patients and there are many restrictions to applying these treatments. A number of polymers like cellulose, chitosan, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), peptides and Poly (hydroxy alkanoate) have good properties for the treatment of cancer, but the nanofibers-based target and controlled drug delivery system produced by the co-axial electrospinning technique have extraordinary properties like favorable mechanical characteristics, an excellent release profile, a high surface area, and a high sponginess and are harmless, bio-renewable, biofriendly, highly degradable, and can be produced very conveniently on an industrial scale. Thus, nanofibers produced through coaxial electrospinning can be designed to target specific cancer cells or tissues. By modifying the composition and properties of the nanofibers, researchers can control the release kinetics of the therapeutic agent and enhance its accumulation at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity. The core–shell structure of coaxial electrospun nanofibers allows for a controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents over time. This controlled release profile can improve the efficacy of cancer treatment by maintaining therapeutic drug concentrations within the tumor microenvironment for an extended period. Full article

Khat leaves, indigenous to eastern Africa, have been chewed for centuries for their stimulant effects, attributed to alkaloids such as cathinone and cathine. Although associated with gastric disorders like gastritis and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the morpho-anatomy of khat leaves using light microscopy and histochemistry and to assess the effects of leaf extracts and alkaloids on human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1). The study identified specific cells in the palisade–spongy transition zone as storage sites for psychoactive alkaloids. Leaf extracts were prepared by mimicking the chewing process, including a prolonged salivary phase followed by a gastric phase. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were evaluated using LDH and MTT assays, respectively. Additionally, the impact on IL-8 secretion, a key chemokine in gastric inflammation, was analysed under normal and TNF-α-stimulated conditions. The results showed no increase in cytotoxicity up to 250 µg/mL. However, there was a significant decrease in cell metabolism and a reduction in both basal and TNF-α-induced IL-8 secretion, but cathinone and cathine were inactive. These findings suggest that khat may not directly cause the gastric issues reported in the literature, which would rather be attributed to other confounding factors, highlighting the need for further research to clarify its biological impacts. Full article

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is very rare but potentially life-threatening. Early and accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of its management. The objective of this study is to encourage sonographers to become familiar with a variety of grayscale sonographic features, facilitating rapid recognition of the patterns and prompting them to apply color flow Doppler for a diagnosis of uterine AVM and possible further investigations or interventions. We present six cases of uterine AVM presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding at varying degrees of severity, from abnormal menstruation to life-threatening bleeding following curettage. All initially provided some clues of uterine AVM upon grayscale ultrasound, leading to the application of color Doppler flow to support a diagnosis, with confirmation using abdominal computer tomography angiography (CTA) in most cases, resulting in definitive treatment using uterine artery embolization or other interventions. Most importantly, this study provides various sonographic features of uterine AVM, such as appearances of small tubular structures, spongy patterns, a conceptive-product-like appearance, and spaghetti-like patterns. Hopefully, familiarity with these sonographic features can facilitate practitioners to make an early diagnosis, leading to proper further investigation and intervention, and to prevent serious complications from potentially being caused by this subtle but very serious disorder. Full article

It is thought that geopolymers are easy to carbonate, especially when they are cured in ambient temperatures. Matrix gel’s composition and microstructure, and new products of geopolymers (GPs) after carbonation were investigated in this study on the basis of XRD and SEM-EDS measurements and ternary diagram analysis, which were prepared from low-lime fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) alone or a blend, as a precursor. The specimens were hardened in a 20 °C environment with alkali activator solution (S/N = 1.1 in mole), followed by storage under sealing or accelerated carbonation. XRD patterns show that carbonation products were nahcolite for the sole FA-based GP and calcite for the GPs using GGBS alone or as a blend. The SEM images of carbonated samples show that there were cube-shaped calcite and small calcite particles in the GGBS-based GP, but hail-like particles in the FA/GGBS blend-based GP. The hail-like particles were complexes of calcite and C-A-S-H gels determined by ternary diagram analysis, and were found to plug the top of the pores of the spongy C-A-S-H gels. We also confirmed that combined ternary diagram analysis of S-(C + M + N)-A and A-(C + M)-N are very effective in determining the gel type of a geopolymer, as well as the products and compositional changes after carbonation, in which oxide components of gels are determined by SEM-EDS. In the former diagram, C-A-S-H gels were plotted linearly along the (C + M + N)-albite (Ab) join, while N-A-S-H gels showed a scattered distribution. In the latter diagram, the plots for N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels are distributed in different zones. N = Na₂O, C = CaO, M = MgO, A = Al₂O₃, S = SiO₂, H = H₂O. Full article

“Calling behaviour” is a stereotyped rhythmic motor pattern displayed by female moths, by which they emit the sex pheromone to attract of conspecific males. Calling occurs through a squeezing mechanism based on the turtleneck-like folding and unfolding of the ovipositor cuticle during its telescopic extensions and retractions. This mechanism is under the control of the terminal abdominal ganglion (TAG). By combining anatomical and electrophysiological approaches, here we studied the morpho-functional organisation of the abdominal muscles and the activity of motoneurons from TAG nerve N4-N6 as correlated to the ovipositor movements during calling in the female spongy moth Lymantria dispar. Our results show that the three abdominal segments S7, S8 and S9 (ovipositor) are highly specialized structures containing cuticular appendages, hinges, apodemes and several large muscles, innervated by N4 and especially by N5. N6 mainly innervates the oviductal tract. We also identified a number of motor units from N4 and N5, the spike activity of which is correlated with the ovipositor movements during calling. In conclusion, the release of sex pheromones in the female spongy moth is obtained by extensions and retractions of the ovipositor operated by a coordinated motor program, which is mainly sustained by the activity of a few motor units under the control of TAG nerves N4 and N5. Full article

Food texture is an important factor in the liking and choice of food. Food neophobia, the avoidance of unfamiliar foods, has been linked with sensitivity to textural properties of food. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between food neophobia, pickiness to food textures and the liking of food items with diverse textural properties among Finnish consumers. Finnish adults aged 18−45 years were recruited. The level of food neophobia was assessed with Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). Participant’s agreement to a statement “I’m very picky regarding food textures” was measured by a 7-point Likert scale, and the degree of liking of various food items, including vegetables, fruits and berries (e.g., mushroom, cloudberry), grain products (e.g., rye bread, oatmeal), dairy (e.g., ‘squeaky cheese’, smoothie) and other foods (e.g., tofu, other plant-based proteins, shrimp) by using a 9-point hedonic liking scale. Participants were divided into three groups based on the mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) of the FNS scores: individuals with FNS scores < M − 0.5 × SD were considered ‘neophilic’, those with scores between M ± 0.5 × SD were ‘neutral’ and those with scores > M + 0.5 × SD were ‘neophobic’. Results: Consumers (N = 135, of which 88% were females) responded to the questionnaires. Of the respondents, 32% were neophobic, 34% neutral and 34% neophilic. Neophobia was associated with self-reported pickiness to food texture; neophobics were pickier compared to neophilics and neutrals (p < 0.001). Neophobics showed lower liking of tofu (p = 0.015), other plant-based proteins (p = 0.008), ‘squeaky cheese’ (p = 0.024) and shrimps (p = 0.004) compared to neophilics. Furthermore, the neutral group had a lower liking of smoothies (p = 0.046) and tofu (p = 0.004) compared to neophilics. No other differences in food liking were shown between the groups. Neophobics were less likely to have a university-level education than neutrals and neophilics (p = 0.003); age and sex did not differ between the groups. Adult consumers with food neophobia showed pickiness to food textures and lower liking of several food items with textural properties that are known to be challenging and can be described as spongy. The textural properties of foods should be considered more frequently when developing new foods to ensure more enjoyable food experiences for consumers. Full article

The goal of this study is to detect indicators of damage to birch stands in western Siberia by spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) using remote sensing methods. The need for such indicators is due to the fact that the size of the study area is about 1 million square kilometers, and ground methods are too laborintensive. It is crucial for these indicators to differentiate the effects of insects from other destructive factors like fires and droughts. During the 2021–2022 fieldwork, we identified 18 areas for trial (intensive damage due to caterpillars) and control. For each area, we obtained seasonal time-series data of vegetation index NDVI mean values within its boundaries. We acquired the data from a Sentinel-2 satellite with a spatial resolution of 10 m. Relative reduction indices of NDVI during the season were introduced for pairs of damaged–control plots. We also considered the effect of foliage regeneration on damaged trees. The obtained indicators demonstrate increased analytical significance in identifying areas affected by pests compared to the simple reduction in vegetative indices. Full article

A flexible and dependable method that has been extensively employed to construct nanofibrous scaffolds that resemble the extracellular matrix made from polymeric materials is electrospinning (ES). ES is superior to other techniques because of its unique capacity to create nanofibers with a high surface-to-volume ratio, low cost, simplicity of setup, freedom in material choice, and ability to alter the surface attributes and usefulness of the nanofibers. However, the low productivity of nanofibrous membrane from conventional ES with the generation of tightly packed nanofibrous sheet-like two-dimensional membranes impedes cellular infiltration into scaffolds during tissue regeneration. Moreover, toxic organic solvents are desired for polymer dissolution for ES. Such solvents produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during electrospinning, which can degrade the indoor air quality of working place. Furthermore, when electrospun membranes containing traces of such VOCs are employed as tissue scaffolds, it may cause serious effect to cells and tissue. This justifies the need for alternative green solvents which are not only environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and low-cost but also biocompatible with medicinal values. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on summarizing the recent advances in ES machines, fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) spongy nanofibrous membrane, and introducing green solvent for polymer processing. Finally, based on the findings of the existing literature and our experience, this review mainly focuses on essential oils as future “greener” alternatives to current toxic solvents used in ES process. Full article