Search Results (547)

Due to the effects of pigment deposition and microstructure, the color of eggshells may influence the quality traits and hatchability of eggs. These traits are critical for breeding efficiency and economic outcomes in poultry production. Herein, Beijing-You chicken eggs were used as a model to investigate the effects of eggshell color due to their color-related polymorphism. A total of 4422 eggs were analyzed for their hatchability, categorized by storage duration and eggshell color. Results revealed that white-shelled eggs exhibit significantly lower hatchability and higher early embryo mortality compared to other colors, particularly after long-term storage. Purple-shelled eggs demonstrated superior eggshell quality, including higher strength, thickness, and weight, as well as better internal egg quality indicators such as thick albumen height, Haugh units, and yolk color. Eggshell translucency showed a positive correlation with storage time and egg weight loss at all shell color types, with higher translucency levels associated with greater weight loss over time. This study examines associations between eggshell color, hatchability, translucency, and quality traits. Full article

The Monastery of San Salvador de Oña (Burgos) is a Benedictine site that has undergone substantial modifications since its foundation in the 11th century and preserves a significant corpus of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque artistic remains. Among these, the refectory stands out as a particularly distinctive ensemble, exhibiting sculptural influences from the Burgundy region and serving as a notable example in terms of structure, craftsmanship, and decoration. Material characterization analyses of this ensemble have not only identified the range of pigments present but also documented metallic materials and applied decorative elements, providing the basis for a proposed chronological framework for the various pictorial strata and stages. A detailed examination of the metallic materials and their overlaying layers has facilitated a comprehensive analysis focused on materiality, manufacturing techniques, and methods of application, while also situating the decoration within its historical, artistic, and cultural context. Full article

Underwater fish image segmentation is the key technology to realizing intelligent fisheries and ecological monitoring. However, the problems of light attenuation, blurred boundaries, and low contrast caused by complex underwater environments seriously restrict the segmentation accuracy. In this paper, RetinalConet, an underwater fish segmentation network based on bionic retina dual-channel and multi-module cooperation, is proposed. Firstly, the bionic retina dual-channel module is embedded in the encoder to simulate the separation and processing mechanism of light and dark signals by biological vision systems and enhance the feature extraction ability of fuzzy target contours and translucent tissues. Secondly, the dynamic prompt module is introduced, and the response of key features is enhanced by inputting adaptive prompt templates to suppress the noise interference of water bodies. Finally, the edge prior guidance mechanism is integrated into the decoder, and low-contrast boundary features are dynamically enhanced by conditional normalization. The experimental results show that RetinalCoNet is superior to other mainstream segmentation models in the key indicators of mDice, reaching 82.3%, and mIou, reaching 89.2%, and it is outstanding in boundary segmentation in many different scenes. This study achieves accurate fish segmentation in complex underwater environments and contributes to underwater ecological monitoring. Full article

Light attenuation and excess handling of light-cured luting agents create problems in bonding veneer restorations. The aim of the present study was to assess the curing capacity of light-cured veneer luting agents (VLA) [Choice 2 (CH2), G-Cem Veneer (GCV), Panavia LC Veneer (PNV), PermaCem LC Veneer (PMS), and Variolink Esthetic LC (VEV)] under lithium disilicate veneers, in the presence or absence of touch-cure primers (Adhese Universal Bond DC for VEV, G Premio Bond + DCA Activator for GCV, and V5 Tooth Primer V5 for PNV) and to evaluate material setting under two tack-curing irradiation modes (contact, distant). The methods used were ATR–FTIR spectroscopy and Vickers hardness (VHN) tests (n = 5/product and test). According to the results, all materials cured under the ceramic demonstrated significantly lower DC% from the controls, with a ranking of VEV, CH2 > GCV, PMS, PNV. The primers improved DC% by 4–13% only in the veneer groups. Tack-curing in contact mode demonstrated conversion and hardness values ranging from 37% to 78% and 31% to 57% of the controls respectively, corresponding to a vitreous state. For the distant mode, very low conversion values were found (0–7% of the controls), with untraceable indentations. It can be concluded that low translucency veneers reduce conversion of VLAs, which can be improved by using touch-cure activators. Tack-curing, as instructed, creates vitrified materials, resulting in difficult removal of set excess, which implies the need for better standardization of the procedure. Full article

This study aimed to assess the effect of acidic storage and simulated brushing on the translucency and color stability of 3D-printed resins for prosthodontic applications. Three 3D printed resin materials—Ceramic Crown (CC), OnX (ONX), and Tough 2 (T2)—were compared with a CAD/CAM milled nano-ceramic resin material (Lava Ultimate, LU). Twelve specimens were fabricated from each material and were allocated into two groups based on the storage medium (water or citric acid), followed by simulated tooth brushing for 3650 cycles. The specimens’ translucency (TP) and color stability (ΔE) were determined using a spectrophotometer. The data was compared using ANOVA, independent student t-tests, and a post hoc Tukey test (p < 0.05). Multiple comparisons of mean differences in TP revealed significant differences between the tested materials (p < 0.001), except for groups CC and ONX. Irrespective of the groups, all materials showed decreased TP values after simulated tooth brushing. Regarding color stability, CC (0.66 ± 0.42) and T2 (1.40 ± 0.34) in acid demonstrated the least and greatest color changes, respectively. The ΔE did not vary between the materials or between the storage media (p > 0.05). Except for T2 and LU in water, the other materials showed ΔE values below the perceptibility threshold of 1.2. The material type and storage media affected the translucency of the tested materials. However, regardless of the material type and storage media, there was no discernible impact on the color change of the tested materials. Full article

Precise control of protein translocation is essential for synthetic biology and protein engineering. Here, we present a temperature-responsive system using elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) to regulate the translocation of a conditionally lethal enzyme in Escherichia coli. The enzyme, levansucrase, whose activity becomes lethal in the presence of sucrose, was engineered with an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal ELP tag. At 37 °C, the ELP tag induced intracellular aggregation of the fusion protein, preventing its secretion and allowing cell survival, as indicated by translucent colony formation. In contrast, at 16 °C, the ELP remained soluble, permitting levansucrase secretion into the medium. The resulting conversion of sucrose into levan by the secreted enzyme led to host cell death. These findings highlight ELP-mediated aggregation as a reversible and tunable strategy for regulating protein localization and secretion in E. coli, with potential applications in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and biocontainment systems. Full article

In this study, the effect of growth regulators on shoot proliferation and rooting were evaluated to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for the Cannabis sativa L. cultivars ‘Cherry Soda’ and ‘Purple’. Apical meristems were isolated from actively growing shoots of stock plants and transferred to Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) culture medium containing either 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 μM meta-Topolin to study their shoot proliferation response. Resulting shoot cultures were transferred to medium containing varying levels of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), or Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA), solely or in combination, and were subjected to a 10-day dark incubation followed by a 16 h/8 h light/dark period to identify the best treatment for root production. Among the different shoot proliferation treatments studied, the maximum number of shoots was produced on the control medium that was devoid of any meta-Topolin. Cultures grown on medium containing 5.0 μM meta-Topolin exhibited hyperhydricity, where shoots appeared translucent and pale green in color; were characterized by water-soaked lesions; and leaves appeared curled and brittle in contrast to healthy looking cultures. Among the various rooting treatments studied, shoots grown in the dark for 10 days exhibited the highest frequency of rooting on medium containing 4.0 μM NAA or 6.0 μM IBA + 1.0 μM NAA. Full developed plants with a robust shoot and root system were transferred to soil, acclimatized under conditions for high humidity, and then transferred to ambient conditions in 4 weeks. The micropropagation protocol developed here allows for rapid multiplication of disease-free plants in C. sativa cultivars. Full article

This in vitro study evaluated the impact of simulated gastric acid exposure on the optical (ΔE₀₀, translucency parameter TP, contrast ratio CR) and surface (roughness Ra) properties of monolithic zirconia ceramics under varying sintering rates and surface treatments. Forty-eight disc specimens (10 mm × 10 mm × 1.0 mm) were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 12): slow sintering + polishing; slow sintering + glazing; fast sintering + polishing; and fast sintering + glazing. Specimens were aged in 0.06 M of HCl (hydrochloric acid) for 96 h, and all measurement parameters were assessed against white and black backgrounds before and after aging. Statistical analyses (Shapiro–Wilk, Kruskal–Wallis, Wilcoxon tests; α = 0.05) revealed that acid aging caused a significant increase in ΔE₀₀ across all groups (p < 0.05), with the smallest change observed in the fast-sintering + glazing group and the largest in the slow-sintering + glazing group. Contrast ratios remained high in all groups (CR > 0.92), while only the slow-sintering + glazing group exhibited a significant reduction in TP (p < 0.05). Surface roughness decreased following aging in all groups, with the lowest Ra detected in the fast-sintering + glazing group. These results suggest that fast sintering combined with glazing enhances color stability and yields smoother surfaces under acidic conditions, recommending this protocol particularly for patients at elevated risk of increased oral acidity. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate (a) the degree of conversion (DC%), (b) film thickness, and (c) the effect of film thickness on DC% in modern light-cured resin composite restoratives [Filtek Universal (F), Clearfil Majesty ES 2 Universal (M), Tetric EvoCeram (T) and Viscalor (V)] used for luting composite onlays before/after preheating. For (a), the luting composites placed at 150 μm film thickness under the onlays (4 mm thickness, 2.9% transmittance) were light-cured for 120 s (3 × 40 s top, buccal, lingual sites) before and after preheating (54 °C/5 min-F,M,T and 65 °C/30 s-V). The DC% was measured at central, middle and side locations along the median in-length axis by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Specimens polymerized without onlays (40 s, top) served as controls. For (b), film thickness was measured employing a modified ISO 4049 standard (37 °C plate temperature, 5 N load) before and after preheating, using a dual-cured resin luting agent as control. For (c), onlays were luted with preheated T at 150 and 350 μm film thickness and light-cured for 2 × (3 × 40) s and 3 × (3 × 40) s, employing directly irradiated specimens (60 s, 120 s) as controls. For (a), significant differences were found in F and T before and after preheating. Before preheating, significant differences were registered between F–T, F–M, F–V and V–T, whereas after they were registered between F–M, F–T and F–V. All these values were significantly lower than the controls. For (b), significantly lower film thickness was recorded after preheating (−16.1–−33.3%, highest in V), with a ranking of F, M > V > T (before) and F, M > T, V (after). All values were significantly higher than the control. For (c), increased exposure improved DC% in the greater spacer group, with the controls providing superior values. It can be concluded that the use of modern highly filled composites as luting agents for low translucency onlays may result in suboptimal polymerization and film thickness, warranting caution. Full article

In 1913, the Fabergé workshops in St Petersburg produced the most expensive of their famed Imperial egg commissions, the so-called “Winter Egg,” designed by Alma Pihl. Fashioned from translucent rock crystal and decked in a glittering array of gemstones, the egg followed several other designs on winter themes by the highly respected jeweller. In this article, Fabergé’s winter-themed creations are the starting point for an exploration of how ice, frost, and snow were portrayed by Russian artists of the late imperial period. Such works both reflected and realised many of the shifts in the art world from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, for example, the renewed focus on making art “national,” the rise of artistic opportunities for women, the erasure of boundaries between fine and applied art, the influx of such European movements as Impressionism and Symbolism, and the development of modernist approaches to content and style. The principal focus is on works by artists associated with the Abramtsevo artistic circle (Abramtsevskii khudozhestvennyi kruzhok). How did representations of ice, snow, and frost participate in the emerging dynamic between the national idea and the decorative, which in turn fed into the move towards abstraction? Why did these subjects appear frequently in art by women? Why was winter often presented through the lens of the imagined and the ludic? These works evidence a new subjectivity that arose from Abramtsevo artists’ greater freedom to render lived experience. The paths open to them when working outside the Academic system permitted creativity to range freely in the forging of a national modern style. Full article

Recent evidence suggests that nano-TiO₂ particles improve antimicrobial and physical properties when incorporated into dental prosthetic materials. However, there exists a paucity of information regarding their impact on material properties when the prosthetic materials are 3D-printed over time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time-dependent printability and surface property changes occurring in a 3D-printed denture base resin containing nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles. A 0.4 wt% concentration of 30 nm rutile TiO₂ nanoparticles was ultrasonically dispersed into a denture base resin. Disks were printed weekly using a Form 2 SLA printer until printing failed. Printability, surface roughness (R_a), color difference (ΔE_ab), and translucency parameters were measured across timepoints. Surface roughness was assessed via profilometry, while color and translucency were evaluated using a spectrophotometer under standardized conditions. Print failure occurred at week 8, beyond which the resin could no longer reliably produce full specimens. R_a roughness decreased from 3.83 µm to 0.48 µm, which denoted a significant time-dependent decrease (ρ = −0.733, p = 0.016). Color difference with the unmodified control declined from 26.32 to 17.13 ΔE_ab units (ρ = −0.976, p < 0.001). All printed samples exceeded the clinically acceptable thresholds for both R_a (0.2 µm) and ΔE_ab (<3.7). Although the printability of the resin–TiO2 mixture was maintained for 7 weeks, mixture homogeneity declined over time. TiO₂ additions to a denture polymer produced significant changes in surface roughness and color that were not clinically acceptable. Results from this study illustrate the time dependence required for retaining surface properties in 3D-printed dentures containing nano-TiO₂. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of shade and thickness on the polymerization of SDR^® flow+, a low-viscosity bulk-fill composite, by assessing its degree of conversion (DC). Methods: An in vitro study was conducted using SDR^® flow+ composite resin. Specimens were prepared at two thicknesses (2 mm and 4 mm) and four shades (Universal, A1, A2, A3). Polymerization was performed using a high-intensity LED curing unit. The DC was assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Results: Both shade and thickness significantly influenced DC. Thicker specimens (4 mm) exhibited reduced polymerization compared to thinner specimens (2 mm). Darker shades, particularly A3, demonstrated the lowest DC values due to their higher chroma, which limits light penetration. In contrast, the Universal shade achieved higher DC values, even at increased depths, likely due to its greater translucency. Conclusions: Shade and thickness play a critical role in the polymerization of bulk-fill composites. Ensuring adequate polymerization is essential for the longevity of pediatric restorations. Further in vivo research is needed to confirm these findings and assess their clinical implications. Full article

Background and Objectives: Doppler abnormalities in the ductus venosus (DV) during the first trimester can serve as an early marker for the detection of congenital heart defects (CHDs), but the feasibility of systematically assessing the DV remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of performing DV assessments during routine first-trimester ultrasound screenings. Materials and Methods: A multicenter, prospective, and descriptive study was conducted, including singleton pregnancies undergoing routine ultrasound screening between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. Sonographers were instructed to acquire DV Doppler images during the scan, and each image was blindly reviewed by an expert using predefined quality criteria. The images were categorized as “good”, “medium”, or “unsatisfactory”, and feasibility was defined as the proportion of “good” images. Factors associated with feasibility were analyzed, including sonographer satisfaction, the Herman score and the acquisition time. Results: Of the 87 patients included in this study, a suitable DV Doppler image was feasible in 58.6% of cases. The feasibility was significantly higher when the sonographer was satisfied with the image, when the Herman score exceeded seven (p = 0.01), and when the acquisition time was less than five minutes. A strong correlation was observed between the expert’s assessment and the sonographer’s satisfaction. However, the gestational age, maternal BMI, parity, and operator-perceived image quality were not significantly associated with feasibility. Conclusions: The Doppler assessment of the ductus venosus during first-trimester ultrasound screening is feasible and reproducible in routine clinical practice without significantly increasing the examination time. This suggests DV measurements to enhance the early nuchal translucency measurement to enhance the early detection of congenital heart defects during the first trimester. Full article

Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV) is a rare, often fatal congenital disorder characterized by severe neonatal respiratory distress and associated with complex multisystem malformations. In approximately 90% of cases, the condition is linked to deletions or mutations affecting the FOXF1 gene or its upstream enhancer region on chromosome 16q24.1. This review analyzes reported prenatal cases with 16q24.1 deletion involving FOXF1, aiming to identify recurrent sonographic features and elucidate the underlying genomic and epigenetic mechanisms. We reviewed prenatal cases reported in the literature involving deletions of the 16q24.1 region, including the FOXF1 gene. Here, we expand the case series by reporting a fetus with increased nuchal translucency measuring 8 mm and a de novo 16q24.1 deletion. We identified nine prenatal cases with a 16q24.1 deletion, all involving the FOXF1 gene or its enhancer region. The main ultrasound findings included increased nuchal translucency and cystic hygroma during the first trimester, and cardiac, renal, and intestinal malformations from 20 weeks of gestation onward. Prenatal diagnosis of ACDMPV based solely on ultrasound findings is challenging. In most reported cases, the pregnancy was carried to term, with the diagnosis being confirmed by post-mortem histopathological examination. In the only case in which the pregnancy was terminated at 14 weeks’ gestation, histological examination of the fetal lungs, despite them being in the early stages of development, revealed misaligned pulmonary veins in close proximity to the pulmonary arteries and bronchioles. Evidence highlights the significance of non-coding regulatory regions in the regulation of FOXF1 expression. Differential methylation patterns, and possible contributions of parental imprinting, highlight the complexity of FOXF1 regulation. Early detection through array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) or next-generation sequencing to identify point mutations in the FOXF1 gene, combined with increased awareness of ultrasound markers suggestive of the condition, could improve the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Further research into the epigenetic regulation of FOXF1 is crucial for refining recurrence risk estimates and improving genetic counseling practices. Full article