Search Results (587,132)

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an economically important crop that accounts for approximately 20% of global sugar production. The success of future breeding programs depends on the effective utilization of existing genetic resources. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of 192 sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) genotypes, including commercial cultivars and accessions obtained from the USDA gene bank, using SCoT and ISSR molecular markers, and to identify potential genetic resources for sugar beet breeding programs. In this study, a total of 192 sugar beet genotypes, including 187 accessions from the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) gene bank and 5 commercial cultivars, were evaluated for genetic diversity using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 68 scorable bands were obtained from five SCoT and three ISSR primers, and all bands were found to be polymorphic (100% polymorphism). Parameters such as polymorphic information content (PIC), Nei’s genetic diversity, and Shannon’s index indicated a high level of variation within the gene pool, with SCoT markers being more informative than ISSR markers. Dendrogram analyses based on Nei’s genetic distance revealed that the populations were separated into two main groups, while the sub-clusterings contained broad genetic variation. STRUCTURE analysis identified four (K = 4) populations for the SCoT data and three (K = 3) populations for the ISSR data; the inclusion of a high number of individuals in the admixture population indicated extensive gene flow. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed both homogeneous groups and differentiated genotypes contributing to within-population diversity. The results demonstrate that the combined use of SCoT and ISSR markers provides powerful and complementary tools for assessing genetic diversity in sugar beet. The findings provide a solid scientific basis for the development of new, high-yielding and high-quality sugar beet cultivars as well as for the conservation of existing genetic resources. Molecular data constitute an important reference for guiding sugar beet breeding programs and for the effective utilization of genetic resources. Full article

Conventional production methods of aragonite production utilize chemical inducers to promote the evolution of the calcite crystalline phase to the aragonite phase of calcium carbonate. The chemical inducers used require a considerable amount of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) to induce crystallization, which is a major operational cost. Application of such materials in large amounts can be a deterrent to achieving a sustainable and economically feasible end-product derived from carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecules. A number of previous research works focused mainly on optimizing the usage of MgCl₂ or introducing alternative chemical inducers for aragonite production. In this work, we are proposing the usage of natural seawater as it is a naturally available and abundant resource to induce the synthesis and continuous production of aragonite compounds. Due to inconsistent quality and salinity of the natural seawater sampled, harvested, and dried, Red Sea Salt is utilized, blended at 33 g/L throughout the laboratory experiments for better statistical control, and is referred to as blended or artificial seawater. A methodology of utilizing seawater, which has a considerable concentration of MgCl₂ compound, can be utilized as a sustainable, natural, and economically feasible natural inducer to synthesize aragonite has been developed by utilizing artificial seawater for laboratory proof of concept. The main effects identified for the optimization of aragonite synthesis are lime (CaO) feedstock concentration in seawater, reaction temperature, and reaction duration. The experiment results indicated that only by increasing temperature and reaction duration, or both, can the aragonite yield be increased. It is suggested that the range of operation to obtain > 80% aragonite purity has been identified with the reaction temperature at 90 °C, reaction duration of 10 min, and CaO concentration in seawater at 1 g/L. The quality of the aragonite synthesized via seawater is characterized using XRD, ICP, FESEM, and TGA, and compared with aragonite particles synthesized using MgCl₂ inducers. In comparison, seawater aragonite has lower residual alkalinity compared to both calcite and aragonite via MgCl₂ and has a mixture of predominantly needle-shaped crystalline structure and remnants of cubic-shaped particles, presumably calcite, suitable for application in food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals (calcium antacids, nutritional supplements, chewable, lozenges). Full article

Mutants with a bright green appearance due to wax synthesis or deposition defects have been reported in various plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, corn, and rice, but they are relatively rare in broccoli (a brassicaceae crop). Here, we describe SY03, a natural mutant of broccoli with a glossy green phenotype owing to epidermal wax deficiency. Genetic analysis indicated that the leaf luster trait of SY03 was controlled by a single recessive gene. By using the F₂ generation and combining bulked segregant analysis and molecular marker techniques, the candidate gene BoFAR3a, homologous to the Arabidopsis FAR gene, was identified within a 96.678 kb interval of chromosome C01. The A→G point mutation in exon 1 of the BoFAR3a coding sequence substitutes the canonical ATG start codon with GTG, which is predicted to abrogate or severely reduce translation initiation. RT-qPCR indicated that the expression levels of BoFAR3a were significantly decreased in the leaves of the glossy green phenotype mutant. Heterologous expression of BoFAR3a in A. thaliana restored the phenotype of A. thaliana mutant FAR3. The discovery of BoFAR3a is of great significance for breeding lustrous and commercially appealing broccoli varieties. This study systematically analyzed the molecular basis of the lustrous green phenotype in broccoli, providing new insights into the epidermal waxy regulatory network of cruciferous crops. In the future, the wax synthesis pathway can be precisely improved through gene editing technology, achieving a coordinated enhancement of the appearance quality and stress resistance of broccoli. Full article

Constrained by the low grade and poor floatability of the run-of-mine ore, the beneficiation of porphyry-type copper–molybdenum sulfide ores generates large quantities of molybdenum tailings, leading to significant environmental risks and resource losses and necessitating urgent recovery and reutilization. In this study, a representative sample of molybdenum tailings with a Mo grade of 0.354% was investigated to analyze its process mineralogy. The results show that molybdenite predominantly exists as fine, flaky particles intimately intergrown with quartz, pyrite, and aluminosilicate minerals, exhibiting an extremely low degree of liberation and an overall ultrafine particle size. Laboratory flotation tests show that the flotation kinetics conform to a first-order model; however, a considerable amount of molybdenum remains in the tailings, indicating that the mineralization process needs to be intensified. Through structural optimization and confined-space design, a vortex-based mineralization reactor was developed. Computational fluid dynamics simulations demonstrate that the mineralizer can generate flow fields with high turbulence intensity and dissipation rates and can induce high-energy, small-scale micro-vortices. On this basis, a semi-industrial rougher flotation system was established by coupling the developed mineralizer with a flotation column. Under optimized operating conditions, namely a feed pressure of 0.06 MPa and an impeller frequency of 20 Hz, single-stage treatment of the tailings produced molybdenum concentrates with a grade of 1.90% and a recovery of 81.29%, while the Mo grade of the tailings was reduced to 0.08%. The results are markedly superior to those obtained using a conventional laboratory flotation cell, demonstrating a substantial enhancement in mineralization efficiency and molybdenum recovery. The proposed approach, therefore, provides a practical reference for the flotation recovery of molybdenum tailings as well as other micro-fine, low-grade metal tailings. Full article

The aim of this review is to explore the improvement in diffraction efficiency, photosensitivity and pressure sensitivity in holographic materials containing glycerol. Glycerol is a well-known, non-toxic, water-soluble polyol compound. Glycerol polymers have attracted increased attention recently due to the diversity of the available compositions. Glycerol provides access to a range of monomers for subsequent polymerizations. Various glycerol containing polymers, including polyvinyl alcohol films, polyesters, polyethers and polycarbonates, have been investigated for different applications. It was discovered in 2009 that the addition of glycerol to the composition of water-soluble holographic photopolymers facilitates the faster formation of holograms due to greater photosensitivity. It was also discovered that the presence of glycerol in holographic photopolymers makes them highly pressure-sensitive. A new family of holographic photopolymer materials, containing glycerol and capable of recording holograms with bright reflections, was reported. The novel photopolymers are composed of glycerol, a polymeric binder, a crosslinking monomer, an initiation system, and sensitising dyes. No wet-processing of holograms is necessary. Each holographic photopolymer film contains bis-acrylamide (BA) monomer in polyvinyl alcohol matrix, triethanolamine and methylene blue dye solution, glycerol and water. It was shown that the new holographic material is capable of reaching a refractive index modulation matching that of the well-known acrylamide photopolymer material, but more quickly. The new holographic photopolymer materials are cheap and environmentally friendly. The use of glycerol to improve diffraction efficiency, photosensitivity and pressure sensitivity in holographic recording layers continues to expand. This review describes the development and applications of glycerol-containing photopolymer materials. An environmentally friendly diacetone-based photopolymer was developed. The positive effect of glycerol on N-vinylpyrrolidone photopolymer was investigated. Finally, potential opportunities for future research in the area of glycerol-containing photopolymers are outlined. Full article

With the rapid growth of data transmission and visual encryption technologies, Visual Secret Sharing (VSS) has become an important technique for image-based information protection. However, many existing VSS schemes remain vulnerable to dishonest participants who attempt to recover secret images through unauthorized stacking or manipulation of shares. To address this issue, this paper proposes a dishonest-participant-resistant VSS scheme based on linearly polarized shares and Probability Distribution Trees (PDTs). The proposed method embeds both secret and fake images into polarized shares, such that any unauthorized stacking of ordinary shares produces a visually plausible fake image or random noise, while only stacking that includes the master share under a predefined optical ordering reveals the true secret image. Binary image binarization and probability-guided polarization assignment are employed to improve computational efficiency and increase uncertainty against adaptive attacks. In addition to visual inspection and contrast analysis, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), and visual information fidelity (VIF) are used as complementary metrics to distinguish authorized reconstructions from unauthorized and partial ones. Experimental results show that authorized reconstructions achieve high visual fidelity and perceptual recognizability, whereas unauthorized and partial reconstructions yield significantly degraded or misleading outputs, demonstrating effective suppression of information leakage and strong resistance against dishonest behavior. Consequently, the proposed scheme enhances security and practical usability compared with existing polarization-based VSS approaches. Full article

The bionic pectoral fin serves as the primary propulsion component of ray-inspired robots. In our previous research, a motion equation was proposed for the real pectoral fin, which can be modeled as a series of NACA airfoil-shaped cross-sections distributed along the spanwise direction. Each cross-section undergoes two coupled rotational motions about its chord line and spanwise rotational axis. To achieve this type of motion, this article introduces a novel bionic pectoral fin mechanism driven by a series of differential gear units. The differential unit generates two coupled rotational motions corresponding to the cross-section of the pectoral fin in motion. A series of interconnected differential units provides a unique topology for the bionic mechanism and can generate a diverse range of motions. Through kinematic analysis, the motion equation was mapped onto the rotational angles of motors in the differential units. The proposed bionic mechanism was then fabricated and subjected to experimental test, demonstrating its effectiveness with a maximum thrust of 0.71 N. The distinctive structure of this bionic mechanism differentiates it from conventional designs and is expected to provide some inspiration for bionic pectoral fins and ray-inspired robots. Full article

Thyroid hormones profoundly modulate hepatic fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and turnover. Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) shows epidemiological links to hypothyroidism, the genetic substrates of this relationship remain unresolved. Integrating large-scale genome-wide association studies with single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, and single-cell chromatin accessibility via state-of-the-art computational approaches, we interrogated the association between NAFLD and hypothyroidism across organ systems, cellular expression landscapes, and molecular–genetic strata. We uncovered pronounced spatial specificity in genetic risk within the liver, prioritized hepatocytes as the principal shared cell type affected, and, leveraging spatial transcriptomics, advanced a dynamic spatiotemporal two-hit model. We further nominated MAGI3, RRNAD1, and PRCC as high-confidence candidate genes and pinpointed a key risk locus, rs926103. These findings deliver a dynamic, testable framework for the full pathophysiological continuum linking NAFLD and hypothyroidism and yield new targets and leads for precision intervention. Full article

The exploration of natural redox-modulating agents to mitigate/reduce oxidative damage triggered by toxins is a major area of interest in nutritional and pharmacological fields. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), traditionally consumed in South Africa for health benefits, was assessed for hepatoprotective effects against fumonisin B1 (FB1)-induced damage. This study involved 24 male rats (n = 6/group) that received FB1 (50 mg/kg diet equivalent, i.p. for 5 days) with or without oral exposure to unfermented (GR) or fermented (FR) rooibos extracts. Alongside somatic records, we assessed blood biochemicals, as well as liver histology, antioxidative stress markers (GSH, GPx, MDA, and carbonylation), regulatory proteins (Nrf2, Sirt3, PGC-α, TRX1, HSP70, and LONp1), inflammation (cytokines), and phospholipid fatty acid profile. Based on results, FB1 suppressed growth, compromised liver function, altered redox status, and elevated stress markers. Both rooibos extracts decreased oxidative damage (↓MDA, ↓carbonylation) and modulated stress regulators (↑Nrf2, ↓HSP70). FR uniquely increased GPx and TRX1 while decreasing IL-1β and PGC-α concentrations, whereas GR strongly increased Nrf2 and Sirt3, reflecting distinct bioactivities linked to their differing polyphenolic profiles. Neither extract compensated for FB1-induced alterations in the liver total phospholipid fatty acid profile or serum cholesterol. In conclusion, GR and FR improved redox potential and inflammatory/stress response; however, this effect was selective, as it did not translate into comprehensive hepatoprotection. These findings support the potential role of rooibos as a dietary modulator of endogenous antioxidant defenses, although clinical translational trials are needed. Full article

AlSi7Mg0.6 aluminum alloy is widely adopted in many industrial fields due to its favorable mechanical properties and lightweight merits. In the catenary system of high-speed railways, AlSi7Mg0.6 aluminum alloy is adopted as the substrate of the positioning hook and positioning support, which exhibit abnormal wear in some railways. Thus, it is very important to reveal the underlying wear characteristics and discover the key factors involved. In this study, the influences of displacement (0.5 mm, 1.5 mm, and 3.0 mm) and applied load (20 N, 50 N, 100 N, and 200 N) on the wear performance of AlSi7Mg0.6 aluminum alloy are investigated experimentally and numerically. Wear experiments are time-consuming and costly, but the finite element method (FEM) can effectively solve this problem. A UMESHMOTION user-defined subroutine integrated with an ABAQUS Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) adaptive mesh technique was developed to simulate the wear evolution process of the aluminum alloy under varying displacements and applied loads. The results indicate that the wear evolution process of AlSi7Mg0.6 aluminum alloy can be effectively simulated using the UMESHMOTION subroutine. The maximum wear depth (MWD) from the FEM deviates from the experimental results by no more than 10%, and the deviation is smaller than the experimental values. The largest deviation occurs when the displacement is 3.0 mm and the applied load is 100 N, where the discrepancy reaches 7.53%. The wear volume (WV) obtained from the FEM shows a deviation of less than 20% compared to experimental results. For the case with a displacement of 0.5 mm, the numerical results underestimate the wear volume, while for the case with displacements of 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm, the numerical results overestimate the wear volume. The largest deviation in this case occurs for the case with a displacement of 3.0 mm and applied loading of 100 N, with a discrepancy of 16.33%. Full article

Background/Objectives: Identification of tools to minimize opioid-related harms is critical in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to better understand community responder and healthcare provider perceptions and preferences regarding the design and function of a potential new opioid sensor device (OSD). Methods: Adults aged ≥ 18 years employed as community responders or healthcare providers in Alabama were recruited via email to participate in an anonymous online cross-sectional survey informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Primary outcomes were assessed via multiple-choice and 7-point Likert-type scales (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree) and included the following topics: (1) past OSD utilization (4 items); (2) perceived importance of OSD design elements (15 items); (3) OSD function and cost preferences (3 items); and (4) UTAUT measures including perceived usefulness of OSDs (3 items), ease of use (4 items), social factors (4 items), resources (4 items), concerns (3 items), and intentions (3 items). Differences in UTAUT measures across professions were assessed via Mann–Whitney U tests, and predictors of OSD utilization intention were analyzed via multiple linear regression. Results: Respondents (N = 145) included pharmacists (40.0%), nurses (23.4%), physicians (14.5%), behavioral health (4.8%), social work (4.8%), and law enforcement (0.7%). Availability in hospital emergency departments was rated as the most important device element (mean [SD] score: 6.66 [0.80]), followed by sensitivity and specificity of the test (6.42 [0.98]), rapid detection time (6.42 [0.88]), ability to detect opioids in a broad range of substance (6.42 [0.93]), and availability in law enforcement offices (6.33 [1.08]). A 2–5 min detection time was rated as reasonable by 32.6% of respondents, with 53.0% preferring to pay <USD 15 per test. There were no statistically significant differences in UTAUT scale scores across professions. Perceived usefulness (β = 0.493; p < 0.001), social acceptance (β = 0.281; p = 0.023), and resource availability (β = 0.708; p = 0.002) were positive predictors and perceived ease of use was a negative predictor (β = −0.472; p = 0.007) of intention to use an OSD. Conclusions: Newly developed OSDs should consider prioritizing accessibility in hospital emergency departments and law enforcement offices, ability to detect a broad range of opioids, detection time between 2 and 5 min, and cost less than USD 15 per test. Future research may explore perspectives from a more diverse sample across multiple states and different professional roles. Full article

In response to growing energy demands and climate pressure in hot regions, this study presents an integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment of building envelope retrofit strategies aimed at facilitating the transition of existing buildings toward Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) targets. Three advanced retrofit solutions—radiative coatings (RC), glazing-integrated photovoltaic (GIPV) systems, and solar green roofs—are evaluated using a validated building performance simulation framework across four representative climatic zones in Egypt. The results demonstrate that radiative coatings provide the most favorable economic performance, achieving return on investment (ROI) values between 12.37% and 21.72% and payback periods ranging from 3.5 to 6.2 years. Solar green roofs and GIPV systems deliver substantial reductions in annual electricity consumption and operational CO₂ emissions, with their performance strongly influenced by climatic conditions and cooling demand intensity. Solar green roofs achieve ROI values of 5.15–6.54% with payback periods of 11.7–14.9 years, while GIPV systems yield ROI values of 4.0–5.24% and payback periods between 14.6 and 17.1 years. Overall, the findings indicate that climate-adapted envelope retrofit strategies can significantly enhance building energy performance while providing measurable economic and environmental benefits. This study offers a robust, data-driven basis for retrofit prioritization and policy formulation in hot regions. Full article

Financial fraud has expanded rapidly with the growth of the digital economy, evolving from conventional transactional misconduct to more complex and data-intensive forms. Traditional rule-based detection methods are increasingly inadequate for addressing the scale, heterogeneity, and dynamic behavior of modern fraud. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a core tool in financial fraud detection research. This review systematically surveys AI-based financial fraud detection studies published between 2015 and 2025. It summarizes representative machine learning and deep learning approaches, including tree-based models, neural networks, and graph-based methods, and examines their applications in major fraud scenarios such as credit card fraud, loan fraud, and anti-money laundering. In addition, emerging research on cryptocurrency- and blockchain-related fraud is reviewed, highlighting the distinct challenges posed by decentralized transaction environments. Through a comparative analysis of methods, datasets, and evaluation practices, this review identifies persistent issues in the literature, including severe class imbalance, concept drift, limited access to labeled data, and trade-offs between detection performance and interpretability. Based on these findings, the paper discusses practical considerations for applied fraud detection systems and outlines future research directions from a data-centric and application-oriented perspective. This review aims to provide a structured reference for researchers and practitioners working on real-world financial fraud detection problems. Full article

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) stands as a classic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. DR is characterized by multidimensional pathological changes in retinal neurons, microvasculature and supportive cells, leading to an intricate damage network. It is predominantly marked by neuropathy, encompassing retinal neuronal dysfunction, aberrant activation of glial cells, and degeneration of synaptic structures. In severe instances, it can result in visual impairment and, in the worst-case scenario, blindness. As diabetes progresses, retinal nerve tissue frequently sustains damage owing to oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and compromised mitochondrial function. Although the precise neuroprotective mechanisms remain elusive, exercise has the ability to bolster mitochondrial function in retinal cells, diminish oxidative stress, and curb inflammatory reactions, thereby safeguarding the neurophysiological function of the retina. Irisin is a myokine primarily secreted by skeletal muscles in response to exercise stimulation. Moreover, being produced in trace amounts across a variety of tissues, it has the capacity to regulate the physiological processes of multiple organs. Recent studies have indicated that irisin can exert powerful neuroprotective effects by enhancing cellular glucose uptake, improving mitochondrial function, inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and resisting ferroptosis. In this review, we systematically collated and synthesized existing evidence on irisin-related signaling pathways and comprehensively assessed its regulatory potential in alleviating neuroinflammation and promoting neural repair in diabetic retinopathy and offer insights into future research directions in this field. Full article

Familial partial lipodystrophy type 3 (FPLD3) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARG), which encodes the key adipogenic transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARγ). Clinical diagnosis is challenging due to phenotypic overlap with common metabolic syndromes. We identified a novel PPARG variant in a Chinese family and performed comprehensive functional characterization to elucidate its pathogenic mechanism. The proband, a 15-year-old boy presenting with atypical fat distribution, severe insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and pancreatitis, underwent clinical evaluation and whole-exome sequencing. The identified variant was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Its functional impact was assessed through in silico modeling, luciferase reporter assays, protein stability analysis (cycloheximide chase), and evaluation of mitochondrial function (JC-1 staining) and adipocyte gene expression in cellular models. A heterozygous PPARG c.634C>T (p.Arg212Trp, R212W) variant was identified and segregated with the phenotype. Functional studies revealed that the R212W mutant exhibits a partial loss of transcriptional activity (~40% of wild-type) while retaining ligand sensitivity. Crucially, we demonstrated that the mutant protein has significantly reduced stability due to accelerated degradation. In adipocyte models, R212W expression led to impaired mitochondrial membrane potential, depleted cellular ATP levels, and downregulated expression of key metabolic genes (glucose transporter 4[GLUT4], adiponectin[ADIPOQ], fatty acid binding protein 4[FABP4], lipoprotein lipase[LPL], perilipin 1[PLIN1]). These functional deficits were partially rescued by treatment with the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone. We report a novel pathogenic PPARG R212W variant associated with FPLD3. Our data extend beyond a simple loss-of-function model by establishing a multi-faceted pathogenic mechanism involving protein destabilization, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular bioenergetic failure. The partial rescue by rosiglitazone suggests a potential therapeutic avenue. This study underscores the importance of integrating clinical phenotyping with deep functional analysis to diagnose and understand rare monogenic lipodystrophies. Full article