Search Results (27,402)

Small ruminants, such as newborn lambs, rely on timely colostrum intake to acquire passive immunity through the absorption of immunoglobulin (Ig). Evaluating Ig transfer is important for ensuring lamb health and survival. However, current methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radial immunodiffusion (RID) are widely used but remain costly and require specialized facilities. The immunocrit assay has been proposed as a lower-cost alternative for evaluating serum Ig concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the immunocrit method in lambs by comparing it with ELISA, RID, and total serum protein. Serum was collected from 135 Katahdin-Easycare lambs 24–36 h after birth. Samples were analyzed using sheep immunoglobulin G ELISA, Sheep immunoglobulin G RID, serum protein, and the immunocrit method. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess linear relationships between the methods, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate test accuracy, with RID as the gold standard (15 mg/mL cutoff). The immunocrit showed a high correlation with RID (r = 0.870), moderate correlation with serum protein (r = 0.725), and good correlation with ELISA (r = 0.607). The ROC analysis showed that the immunocrit had a sensitivity of 100% at a cutoff of 4.34%. These results indicate that the immunocrit method provides comparable accuracy to RID and serum protein, and could serve as a reliable, practical, and inexpensive tool for on-farm evaluation of passive transfer in Katahdin-Easycare crossbred lambs between 24 and 36 h after birth. Full article

Background/Objectives: Haemophilia-related bleedings primarily affect the musculoskeletal system, and functional tests are used in clinical management. Yet, fine motor skills of the upper extremities have not been evaluated in adult persons with haemophilia (PwH). The Moberg Pick-Up Test (MPUT) assesses fine motor skills but has only been psychometrically evaluated in other cohorts. This study aims to examine its psychometric properties in PwH. Methods: A total of 40 moderate or severe PwH A or B were included. The MPUT, consisting of three trials, was conducted twice by rater A and once by rater B. The best performance per hand of each MPUT was used. Subjective hand function (Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) and numeric rating scale (NRS)), elbow joint status (Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS)), pain (NRS), and wrist range of motion (ROM) were utilised for convergent validity evaluation. Inter-rater and test–retest reliability were determined through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for raw and log10-transformed data. Results: Inter-rater and test–retest reliability demonstrated moderate-to-excellent ICCs for both data types (ICC range: 0.624–0.918). The DHI correlated moderately with the average MPUT score of both hands (r = 0.410; p = 0.016). Left-hand MPUT scores did not correlate with left elbow HJHS scores, whereas right-hand MPUT scores correlated with right elbow HJHS scores (r = 0.396, p = 0.018). Subjective left-hand function (NRS) correlated with the results of the MPUT (r = 0.433; p = 0.009). Conclusions: The MPUT is a reliable and partially valid tool and can be useful to assess fine motor skills in PwH. Full article

This study explores the feasibility of estimating tibiofemoral joint contact forces using deep learning models trained on in vivo biomechanical data. Leveraging the comprehensive CAMS-Knee datasets, we developed and evaluated two machine learning network architectures, a bidirectional Long Short-Term-Memory Network with a Multilayer Perceptron (biLSTM-MLP) and a Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) model, to predict medial and lateral knee contact forces (KCFs) across various activities of daily living. Using a leave-one-subject-out validation approach, the biLSTM-MLP model achieved root mean square errors (RMSEs) as low as 0.16 body weight (BW) and Pearson correlation coefficients up to 0.98 for the total KCF (${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{tot}}$) during walking. Although the prediction of individual force components showed slightly lower accuracy, the model consistently demonstrated high predictive accuracy and strong temporal coherence. In contrast to the biLSTM-MLP model, the TCN model showed more variable performance across force components and activities. Leave-one-feature-out analyses underscored the dominant role of lower-limb kinematics and ground reaction forces in driving model accuracy, while EMG features contributed only marginally to the overall predictive performance. Collectively, these findings highlight deep learning as a scalable and reliable alternative to traditional musculoskeletal simulations for personalized knee load estimation, establishing a foundation for future research on larger and more heterogeneous populations. Full article

Primula beesiana is a perennial herbaceous plant predominantly distributed in the alpine wetland regions of Yunnan Province, China. This species faces dual threats from habitat fragmentation and climate change, but research into its genetic background is severely lacking. Consequently, systematic analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of Primula beesiana is crucial in formulating scientific conservation strategies. In this study, 86 individuals from six natural populations in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, were collected and genotyped using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). A total of 1537 high-quality SNP loci were identified and used for genetic diversity, principal component (PCA), population structure (STRUCTURE), and gene flow analyses. Analysis of base substitutions revealed twelve mutation types, with transversions accounting for 67.9% and a transition/transversion ratio (Ti/Tv) of 0.47, potentially indicating strong environmental selection pressure. Although high overall genetic diversity was observed, significant genetic differentiation may exist among populations (Fst = 0.0056-0.0407), with heterozygote deficiency detected across all populations. Genetic structure analyses consistently grouped the six populations into four distinct clusters. Populations MDJ, WH, and HS each formed independent clusters, exhibiting clear genetic isolation, whereas XHC2, XHC1, and NX clustered together, showing high genetic similarity and frequent gene flow. Mantel tests demonstrated a significant positive correlation between genetic and geographical distances (r = 0.854, p < 0.01), supporting an isolation-by-distance model. Gene flow estimates varied considerably among populations (5.90-44.69) and decreased with increasing geographical distance. This study provides the first genomic-level evidence of significant genetic differentiation and isolation based on distance in Primula beesiana populations, offering crucial scientific support in identifying evolutionarily significant units and developing zoned conservation management strategies for this species. Full article

Amid the uncertainties of the post-pandemic era, there has been a notable rise in information addiction among individuals, which may function as a coping mechanism in response to perceived situational threats. Family cohesion can function as a protective factor against internet addiction. However, the mechanism by which family cohesion mitigates internet addiction remains largely undiscovered. The study aimed to reveal the role of family cohesion in increasing information addiction behavior and the mediating effects of mindfulness and anxiety in this epidemic. A total of 1043 college students completed an online questionnaire including the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACESIII), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and Information Addiction Scale. (1) Family cohesion and information addiction exhibited a negative correlation; (2) mindfulness and anxiety functioned as mediators within this association; (3) stronger family cohesion was predictive of reduced information addiction behavior through a chain mediating effect, whereby mindfulness negatively predicted anxiety. These findings substantiate the study’s theoretical framework, underscoring the interconnected nature of information addiction during crises. Full article

Objectives: The aroma profile is a key determinant of fruit quality. Methods: In this study, mature ‘Summer Black’ grape berries were collected from 36 major producing areas in southern China to evaluate regional differences in fruit quality, volatile compounds were analyzed by via GC-MS, and a representative volatile profile was established. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing was employed to identify key genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway related to aroma formation. Results: The results showed the following: (1) Samples from CD-2 exhibited the highest soluble solid content and the largest TSS/TA ratio. (2) A total of 20 volatile compounds were selected as indicators for the aroma fingerprint. MS-1 samples contained the most diverse aroma compounds (19 types), while CS-2 had the fewest (12 types). (3) Eight aroma compounds were consistently detected across all regions: hexanal, trans-2-hexenal, n-hexanol, β-citronellol, geraniol, nerol, benzyl alcohol, and phenethyl alcohol. Among these, hexanal and trans-2-hexenal were the most abundant; phenylethyl alcohol exhibited the most significant variation in percentage content across all samples, and was determined to be the representative and dominant volatile compound in ‘Summer Black’ grapes. (4) A transcriptome analysis of six representative regions identified 15 differentially expressed genes associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and metabolism. Among them, PAO (Vitvi04g01467) was significantly correlated with phenethyl alcohol content. Conclusions: These findings provide a basis for evaluating the aroma quality of ‘Summer Black’ grapes and offer insights for regional cultivation selection. Full article

As a critical institutional arrangement for regulating the distribution of ecosystem service benefits, the scientific setting of ecological compensation standards is particularly vital in cross-regional watershed governance. However, there is currently a lack of methods grounded in the multifunctionality of forests and residents’ preferences for determining compensation. Taking the Jinghe watershed as a case study, this research employed a contingent valuation questionnaire survey (n = 747 valid responses) to analyze residents’ perceptions and willingness for forest ecological compensation. The results show that (1) watershed residents generally understand the multifunctional services of forests (cognitive rate: 71.6%–96.4%), and most agree that upstream forest construction benefits downstream ecology, but 30%–40% remain unclear about specific compensation policies. (2) The average willingness to accept (WTA) compensation for upstream residents is 314.10 CNY/mu/year, while the average willingness to pay (WTP) for downstream residents is 289.59 CNY/mu/year. This translates to a compensation standard range of 4343.85 to 4711.5 CNY/ha/year, approximately twice the local afforestation cost but one-sixth of the estimated total ecosystem service value. (3) While over 60% of respondents prefer compensation via governmental funds, there is notable and growing acceptance for development-oriented mechanisms like industrial collaboration and joint park construction under fiscal constraints. (4) Regression analysis indicates that occupation, annual income, and ecological cognition positively influence willingness, whereas age and household size show negative correlations; formal education level showed no significant impact. This study provides empirical evidence and a preference-based framework for setting scientifically grounded and socially accepted multifunctional ecological compensation standards in cross-regional watersheds. Full article

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) has a great economic potential due to its phytotherapeutic properties. Its propagation, however, faces numerous challenges due to the limited availability of standardized technical protocols for the crop. Vegetative propagation represents a, or even the, viable method for multiplying the genetically identical individuals while preserving their phytochemical profile, at lower costs and with shorter production times. This study investigated the morphological and colorimetric attributes associated with vegetative propagation success, aiming to develop sustainable cultivation strategies. Four cutting lengths (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) were evaluated after 21 days of rooting, considering fresh mass, basal diameter, presence of apical meristem, number of root primordia, root length, and foliar and stem color parameters. Logistic regressions indicated that longer cuttings (p = 0.0101), greater fresh mass (p = 0.073) and the presence of apical meristem (p = 0.065), as well as greener leaves (p = 0.089), were positively associated with rooting probability (p < 0.10). Positive correlations between morphological and colorimetric variables were confirmed by Principal Component Analysis, with the first two principal components explaining 31.2% of the total variance in the dataset. The results provide support for the development of more efficient and low-cost vegetative propagation protocols, promoting uniformity and autonomy in local cutting production of marijuana. Full article

Background/Objectives: Haemodynamic changes following ischaemic large-vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke might affect clinical outcome, including after endovascular recanalization. Using non-invasive quantitative MRA (qMRA), we report for the first time serial intracranial flow rate measurements following LVO and investigate flow rate changes, collateral pathway development, and their possible clinical significance. Methods: We report data from the prospective IMPreST study (Interplay of Microcirculation and Plasticity after Ischemic Stroke, registered at clinicaltrials.gov, no. NCT04035746). Patients with first-ever unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and/or M1/2 middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions were included. After being evaluated for gold-standard treatment, including endovascular thrombectomy, patients underwent early (<3 days) and late subacute (7 ± 3 days) qMRA flow measurements of the M1-MCA, A2-ACA (anterior cerebral artery), and P2-PCA (posterior cerebral artery) segments bilaterally. Results: Among 31 patients enrolled, 23 patients (17 recanalized, 6 non-recanalized) received both qMRA sessions. M1 volume flow rate (VFR) ratios (ischaemic/non-ischaemic hemisphere) in recanalized patients were symmetric (0.98–1.01) over time, while in non-recanalized patients M1 VFR ratios remained lower (0.74–0.77). P2 VFR ratios increased over time and were negatively correlated with M1 VFR ratios in late measurements (p = 0.016), possibly reflecting subacute activation of leptomeningeal collaterals via P2-PCA. In recanalized patients, lower M1 VFR ratios at 7 ± 3 days were significantly associated with a higher NIHSS at discharge after adjusting for infarct size, age, and NIHSS at admission (p = 0.02). Total hemispheric flow significantly decreased by up to 9% between early and late measurements in both the ischaemic and non-ischaemic hemispheres (p = 0.005). Conclusions: qMRA may help to understand flow status and collateral pathway activation after LVO stroke. Past the acute phase, low arterial flow to the affected region is associated with poorer neurological status, including after successful recanalization. Full article

Rapid and accurate identification of the source of mine water inrush is a key technical challenge in preventing and controlling such accidents. To enhance the accuracy and stability of source identification, this study proposes a combined model integrating maximum information coefficient (MIC) feature selection, factor analysis (FA) for dimensionality reduction, and Multinomial Logistic Regression. First, MIC is utilized to select key variables from hydrochemical indicators that exhibit strong correlations with the water source type, effectively capturing significant nonlinear characteristics. Second, FA is adopted to reduce the dimensionality of the selected features, eliminate multicollinearity, and extract potential common factors. Finally, a combined discrimination model based on MIC-FA-Logistic regression is constructed. Using the Yangliu Coal Mine in the Huaibei Mining Area as a case study, 67 water samples were collected from four aquifers. Nine hydrochemical indicators, specifically Na⁺ + K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, total hardness, pH value, and total alkalinity, were selected as initial variables. MIC effectively quantified the complex correlation strengths between these indicators and the water source types. Consequently, eight indicators (Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, total hardness, pH, HCO₃⁻, total alkalinity, and Na⁺ + K⁺) were selected as key discriminant variables. FA transformed these eight indicators into five new comprehensive variables, optimizing the model’s input structure. The discrimination accuracy rates of the MIC-FA-Logistic regression model for the training and test samples were 89.1% and 95.2%, respectively. This performance is significantly superior to traditional Logistic regression, FA-Logistic regression, MIC-Logistic regression, and SVM models. This study provides a method for discriminating mine water inrush sources characterized by high precision, high stability, and strong interpretability. Full article

Objective: This study compared the effects of submaximal and supramaximal accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) on lean mass and function in the trained (TL) and contralateral non-trained (NTL) legs of women. Methods: Twenty recreationally trained women were randomly assigned to submaximal (90% 1-RM) or supramaximal (120% 1-RM) AEL leg press training (2/week, 10 weeks, 4 sets of 8 repetitions) with 30% 1-RM concentric loading. Total thigh lean mass (TTLM), unilateral leg press 1-RM, mechanical power at 40% (P40), 60% (P60), and 80% (P80) of 1-RM, unilateral countermovement (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) height, and muscle endurance (XRM) were assessed for each leg before and after intervention. Results: Regarding the TL, the submaximal group showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in 1-RM, P40, CMJ, and DJ, while the supramaximal group showed increased TTLM, 1-RM, P40, P60, and XRM. No significant differences were observed between groups. In the NTL, both groups showed significant increases in 1-RM and P40. Additionally, the submaximal group demonstrated improvements in P60, while the supramaximal group showed significant increases in both P60 and P80, and in TTLM. TL and NTL changes correlated significantly for 1-RM, CMJ, and TTLM. However, TL and NTL changes differed significantly for 1-RM and P40 in the submaximal group and for TTLM in the supramaximal group. Conclusions: Submaximal and supramaximal AEL resulted in similar neuromuscular improvements in both TL and NTL in women. Supramaximal loading provided additional benefits in mechanical power lean mass, while submaximal loading improved explosive performance. Supramaximal loading may not be necessary for active women. Full article

Granite residual soil (GRS) is highly susceptible to water-induced softening, posing significant risks of slope instability and collapse. Conventional impermeable grouting often exacerbates these hazards by blocking groundwater drainage. This study investigates the efficacy of a permeable water-reactive polyurethane (PWPU) in stabilizing GRS, aiming to resolve the conflict between mechanical reinforcement and hydraulic conductivity. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted on specimens with varying initial water contents (5%, 10%, and 15%) and PWPU contents (5%, 10%, and 15%). To reveal the multi-scale failure mechanism, synchronous acoustic emission (AE) monitoring and digital image correlation (DIC) were employed, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microstructural characterization. Results indicate that PWPU treatment significantly enhances soil ductility, shifting the failure mode from brittle fracturing to strain-hardening, particularly at higher moisture levels where failure strains exceeded 30%. This enhancement is attributed to the formation of a flexible polymer network that acts as a micro-reinforcement system to restrict particle sliding and dissipate strain energy. An optimal PWPU content of 10% yielded a maximum compressive strength of 4.5 MPa, while failure strain increased linearly with polymer dosage. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of a porous, reticulated polymer network that effectively bonds soil particles while preserving permeability. The synchronous monitoring quantitatively bridged the gap between internal micro-crack evolution and macroscopic strain localization, with AE analysis revealing that tensile cracking accounted for 79.17% to 96.35% of the total failure events. Full article

To investigate the health risks of particulate matter during spring dust storms in Beijing, this study selected atmospheric particulate samples collected during a typical dust storm event in March 2021. The DNA damage rates induced by PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were measured using the Plasmid Scission Assay (PSA) and were used as an indicator of their oxidative potential. Water-soluble heavy metal elements (WSHM) in the samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicate that due to the influence of the dust storm, the monthly average PM_2.5 mass concentration in March 2021 reached as high as 83 μg/m³, which could potentially raise the difficulty of air pollution control. It was found that during the dust storm event, PM_2.5 induced a higher DNA damage rate (mean 42.35% at an experimental dose of 200 μg/mL in the PSA) than PM₁₀ (mean 40.46% under the same experimental dosage). The DNA damage rates of dust storm particles showed a positive correlation trend (r = 0.60) with total WSHM concentrations. Exposure toxicity, calculated by multiplying the DNA damage rates under certain experimental PM doses by the PM mass concentrations, showed that the exposure risk of PM_2.5 during dust storms even exceeded that of PM_2.5 during haze events. This study reveals the potential toxicity and health risks associated with PM during dust storms, which calls for increased attention. Full article

To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, cadmium (Cd) uptake and translocation of plants with distinct mycorrhizal dependency (MD), a pot experiment was conducted using Paspalum notatum (high MD) and Lolium perenne (low MD) under two Cd gradients (5 mg·kg⁻¹, 50 mg·kg⁻¹) with AMF-inoculated/non-inoculated treatments, with 0 mg·kg⁻¹ set as the control group. AMF significantly enhanced the dry weight and colonization rate of both plant species, and the MD of Paspalum notatum remained consistently higher. The growth-promoting effect of AMF (quantified by MD) exceeded the toxicity induced by Cd stress, thereby mitigating growth inhibition by promoting hyphal growth in the rhizosphere. AMF improved the root bioconcentration factor (BCF) and total Cd extraction capacity of the plants, which was correlated with the plants’ inherent Cd absorption capacity but not with MD. AMF exerted species-specific regulatory effects on the translocation factor (TF): the TF of Paspalum notatum increased after inoculation, while that of Lolium perenne decreased. Full article

Background: Twenty-four-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep) may be associated with adolescent cognitive performance, but evidence from Central/Eastern Europe is limited. Methods: A total of 82 Slovak adolescents (15–19 years) completed tests of IQ, attention, and visual memory. Participants wore a wrist accelerometer 24/7 for seven consecutive days (processed in GGIR v3.0–3). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total sedentary time, and sleep duration were derived from accelerometry; physical activity was also self-reported using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Non-parametric tests and Spearman correlations were applied; sleep × MVPA interaction models (robust HC3 standard errors) were adjusted for age and sex. Results: MVPA was low (median 32.9 min/day; 11% met ≥60 min/day), while sedentary time was high (median 652.6 min/day). Associations between movement behaviours and cognition were generally small, and no sleep × MVPA interaction effects were observed. The PAQ-A overestimated device-based MVPA (mean bias +1.68 units; 95% limits of agreement +1.10 to +2.25), with greater overestimation in girls and older adolescents. Conclusions: In this convenience sample, 24 h movement patterns were suboptimal, and their associations with cognition were modest and exploratory. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article