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Abnormal crowd behavior recognition is one of the research hotspots in computer vision. Its goal is to use computer vision technology and abnormal behavior detection models to accurately perceive, predict, and intervene in potential abnormal behaviors of the crowd and monitor the status of the crowd system in public places in real time, to effectively prevent and deal with public security risks and ensure public life safety and social order. To this end, focusing on the abnormal crowd behavior recognition technology in the computer vision system, a systematic review study of its theory and cutting-edge technology is conducted. First, the crowd level and abnormal behaviors in public places are defined, and the challenges faced by abnormal crowd behavior recognition are expounded. Then, from the dimensions based on traditional methods and based on deep learning, the mainstream technologies of abnormal behavior recognition are discussed, and the design ideas, advantages, and limitations of various methods are analyzed. Next, the mainstream software tools are introduced to provide a comprehensive reference for the technical framework. Secondly, typical abnormal behavior datasets at home and abroad are sorted out, and the characteristics of these datasets are compared in detail from multiple perspectives such as scale, characteristics, and uses, and the performance indicators of different algorithms on the datasets are compared and analyzed. Finally, the full text is summarized and the future development direction of abnormal crowd behavior recognition technology is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Breast cancer is a complex disease with several subtypes that impact different populations in various ways. This study focuses on the diverse ethnic population of Hawai'i. We aim to investigate whether there are differences in breast cancer subtypes among various racial and ethnic groups that could contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes. This study analyzes the incidence and prevalence of breast cancer subtypes in these groups, considering factors such as age and tumor biology. By identifying subtype-specific risks and outcomes, we hope to provide insights that could lead to more tailored and effective treatments, thereby improving prognosis and reducing mortality disparities in diverse communities. Our findings have important implications for clinical practice in regions with diverse populations. This study highlights the need for more individualized approaches to breast cancer screening and treatment to improve patient outcomes. Background: Differences in the incidence of breast cancer subtypes among racial/ethnic groups have been evaluated as a contributing factor in disparities seen in breast cancer prognosis. We evaluated new breast cancer cases in Hawai'i to determine if there were subtype differences according to race/ethnicity that may contribute to known disparities. Methods: We reviewed 4591 cases of women diagnosed with breast cancer from two large tumor registries between 2015 and 2022. We evaluated breast cancer cases according to age at diagnosis, self-reported race, breast cancer subtype (ER, PR, and HER2 receptor status), histology, county, and year. Results: We found both premenopausal and postmenopausal Native Hawaiian women were less likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.12–0.58 p = 0.001; OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.36, 0.80 p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: The results of our study support that there are racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer subtypes among our population, which may contribute to differences in outcomes. Further evaluation of clinical and pathological features in each breast cancer subtype may help improve the understanding of outcome disparities seen among different racial/ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenazine natural products are a class of colored nitrogen-containing heterocycles produced by various microorganisms mainly originating from marine and terrestrial sources. The tricyclic ring molecules show various chemical structures and the decorating groups dedicate extensive pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and insecticidal. These secondary metabolites provide natural materials for screening and developing medicinal compounds in the field of medicine and agriculture due to biological activities. The review presents a systematic summary of the literature on natural phenazines in the past decade, including over 150 compounds, such as hydroxylated, O-methylated, N-methylated, N-oxide, terpenoid, halogenated, glycosylated phenazines, saphenic acid derivatives, and other phenazine derivatives, along with their characterized antimicrobial and anticancer activities. This review may provide guidance for the investigation of phenazines in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present data on the ability for organogenesis in 22 genotypes of grapevine and developed a direct organogenesis protocol for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha and the rootstock Kober 5BB. The protocol does not require replacement of culture media and growth regulators, and the duration is 11 weeks. The cultivation of explants occurs on modified MS medium with the addition of 2.0 mg L−1 benzyladenine and indole-3-butyric acid (0.15 mg L−1 for the rootstock Kober 5BB or 0.05 mg L−1 for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha). The direct organogenesis protocol consists of three time periods: (1) culturing explants for 2 weeks in dark conditions for meristematic bulk tissue, (2) followed by 4 weeks of cultivation in light conditions for regeneration, and (3) 5 weeks of cultivation in dark conditions for shoot elongation. Based on this protocol, conditions for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the Podarok Magaracha cultivar were developed with an efficiency of 2.0% transgenic plants per 100 explants. Two stably transformed lines with integration into the genome of the pBin35SGFP plasmid construction, confirmed by Southern blotting, were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically reviews the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing technologies to address the issue of crop water stress caused by rising global temperatures and climate change; in particular, it evaluates the effectiveness of various non-destructive remote sensing platforms (RGB, thermal imaging, and hyperspectral imaging) and AI techniques (machine learning, deep learning, ensemble methods, GAN, and XAI) in monitoring and predicting crop water stress. The analysis focuses on variability in precipitation due to climate change and explores how these technologies can be strategically combined under data-limited conditions to enhance agricultural productivity. Furthermore, this study is expected to contribute to improving sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change on crop yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice–crab co-culture (RC) system is a multidimensional integrated farming model with significant potential for balancing ecological and economic benefits in paddy fields. However, improper nitrogen (N) fertilizer application exacerbates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, degrades water quality, and disrupts the balance of the RC ecosystem. Therefore, optimizing and improving N management strategies for the RC system is crucial to maximize its ecological and economic benefits. This study conducted a two-year field experiment to assess the impact of optimizing N application on the productivity, sustainability, and economic benefits in RC systems. Comparisons were made to compare rice and crab productions, GHG emissions, and net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB) between the RC and rice monoculture (RM) systems under different N application rates (0, 150, 210, and 270 kg ha−1) with the aim of identifying the optimal N application rate for the RC system. The results showed that the N application rate of 210 kg ha−1 in the RC system improved the agronomic traits and N use efficiency, leading to a 0.4% increase in rice yield (7603.1 kg ha−1) compared to the maximum rice yield in the RM system at 270 kg ha−1. At this application rate, surface water quality was optimal for crabs, resulting in the highest crab yields (370.1 kg ha−1) and average weights (81.1 g). The lower N application reduced the greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) of the RC system by 13.7% compared to the RM system. The NEEB at the optimal N application rate of 210 kg ha−1 in the RC system reached 8597.5 CNY ha−1, which was 1265.7% higher than that of the RM system at 270 kg ha−1. In summary, optimizing N application in the RC system conserves N fertilizer resources, increases rice and crab yields, and reduces GHG emissions, thereby synergistically enhancing both economic and ecological benefits. Optimizing the N application rate has greater potential in other innovative RC models, and the productivity, sustainability, and economic efficiency should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal intracellular phase transitions in mutant hnRNP A1 may underlie the development of several neurodegenerative diseases. The risk of these diseases increases upon C9Orf72 repeat expansion and the accumulation of the corresponding G-quadruplex (G4)-forming RNA, but the link between this RNA and the disruption of hnRNP A1 homeostasis has not been fully explored so far. Our aim was to clarify the mutual effects of hnRNP A1 and C9Orf72 G4 in vitro. Using various optical methods and atomic force microscopy, we investigated the influence of the G4 on the formation of cross-beta fibrils by the mutant prion-like domain (PLD) of hnRNP A1 and on the co-separation of the non-mutant protein with a typical SR-rich fragment of a splicing factor (SRSF), which normally drives the assembly of nuclear speckles. The G4 was shown to act in a holdase-like manner, i.e., to restrict the fibrillation of the hnRNP A1 PLD, presumably through interactions with the PLD-flanking RGG motif. These interactions resulted in partial unwinding of the G4, suggesting a helicase-like activity of hnRNP A1 RGG. At the same time, the G4 was shown to disrupt hnRNP A1 co-separation with SRSF, suggesting its possible contribution to pathology through interference with splicing regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prolonged utilization of copper (Cu)-containing fungicides results in Cu accumulation and affects soil ecological health. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted using Citrus reticulata cv. Shatangju with five Cu levels (38, 108, 178, 318, and 388 mg kg−1) to evaluate the impacts of the soil microbial processes, chemistry properties, and citrus growth. These results revealed that, with the soil Cu levels increased, the soil total Cu (TCu), available Cu (ACu), organic matter (SOM), available potassium (AK), and pH increased while the soil available phosphorus (AP) and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) decreased. Moreover, the soil extracellular enzyme activities related to C and P metabolism decreased while the enzymes related to N metabolism increased, and the expression of soil genes involved in C, N, and P cycling was regulated. Moreover, it was observed that tolerant microorganisms (e.g., p_Proteobacteria, p_Actinobacteria, g_Lysobacter, g_Sphingobium, f_Aspergillaceae, and g_Penicillium) were enriched but sensitive taxa (p_Myxococcota) were suppressed in the citrus rhizosphere. The citrus biomass was mainly positively correlated with soil AN and AP; plant N and P were mainly positively correlated with soil AP, AN, and acid phosphatase (ACP); and plant K was mainly negatively related with soil β−glucosidase (βG) and positively related with the soil fungal Shannon index. The dominant bacterial taxa p_Actinobacteriota presented positively correlated with the plant biomass and plant N, P, and K and was negatively correlated with plant Cu. The dominant fungal taxa p_Ascomycota was positively related to plant Cu but negatively with the plant biomass and plant N, P, and K. Notably, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (p_Glomeromycota) were positively related with plant P below soil Cu 108 mg kg−1, and pathogenic fungi (p_Mortierellomycota) was negatively correlated with plant K above soil Cu 178 mg kg−1. These findings provided a new perspective on soil microbes and chemistry properties and the healthy development of the citrus industry at increasing soil Cu levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GCDkit.Mineral is a platform-independent (Windows/Mac/Linux) freeware for recalculation, plotting, and statistical treatment of mineral data obtained by microbeam techniques, typically an electron microprobe. It is written in R, a language providing a feature-rich environment for statistics and data visualization. This new program imports compositional data in various commonly used file formats or retrieves them from the clipboard. Routines are available for data management, i.e., grouping, searching, and generation of subsets, using regular expressions and Boolean logic. Raw compositional data (wt%) are recalculated to atoms per formula unit (apfu) based on a required number of O equivalents, atoms, or charges, with or without FeII/FeIII estimation by various methods. Analyses may then be recast to structural formulae, i.e., the atoms are distributed into appropriate crystallographic sites. For minerals forming solid solutions, the molar percentages of end-members are computed. All the data may be treated statistically, either by built-in functions for descriptive and multivariate statistics or using the wealth of tools provided by the wide R community. Raw and recalculated mineral data may be plotted on assorted binary and ternary plots and boxplots. Most are defined as internal templates that provide a means to make later changes to the plot (zooming and scaling, adding comments or legend, identifying data points, altering the size or color of the plotting symbols, etc.). The publication-ready graphics may be saved into several vector- (PostScript, PDF, and WMF) and bitmap-based (e.g., PNG, TIF, and JPG) formats, ready to be imported into a professional graphical, presentation, or desktop publishing software. Importantly, the graphical templates are used as a basis for classification. The general classification routine looks for the name of the polygon within the diagram (= graphical template), into which the analysis falls according to its x–y coordinates. The outcome may be either the name of a mineral or a link to another diagram in the case of more complex classification schemes. Following the rules of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), in some cases, the classification is not done graphically but using prescribed algorithms. The class mechanism in R provides an elegant solution to the computational problems presented by the differing requirements of each mineral group. By assigning each mineral species to a particular class, all algorithms may be implemented as mutually independent but mineral group-specific methods. The default recalculation options for each mineral class are stored externally in a small and simple text file. The program is designed to cater to three potential user groups. For users with no familiarity with R, the program is fully menu-driven and contains embedded default recalculation options for many common rock-forming minerals. More experienced users may easily tweak these parameters, as they are saved in a logically structured plain text file. Seasoned R users may invoke GCDkit.Mineral in command line mode, use batch scripts or Python-driven notebooks (e.g., of project Jupyter), or modify and develop new recalculations or plugins. The lucid, open, and modular design thus makes GCDkit.Mineral a versatile workbench for everyday use, as well as a promising platform for community-driven development. The GCDkit family of R tools, including GCDkit. Mineral, is distributed through the WWW. The current version may be downloaded from http://mineral.gcdkit.org. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing new products that satisfy performance and durability expectations while also addressing environmental concerns is possible through the reuse of residues produced by industrial processes, aiming to fulfill the principles of circular economy. In this study, we improved the performance of a carbon paste sensor by incorporating untreated (RC) and regranulated/thermally treated (RGC) cork, which are considered biomass residues from the cork industry. We explored the electroanalytical behavior of paracetamol in sulfuric acid solutions using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse techniques. The cork-modified carbon paste sensors showed greater sensitivity towards paracetamol. Both modified sensors allowed for an excellent resolution in distinguishing the voltammetric responses of paracetamol in sulfuric acid, showing for both an increase in peak currents compared to the unmodified carbon paste electrode. The quantification of paracetamol without interference has proved to be a feasible operation for the RC- and RGC-modified carbon paste sensors; notably, the first showed the most favorable limits of detection (LD = 2.4112 µM) and quantification (LQ = 8.0373 µM) for paracetamol in the sulfuric acid solution, performing significantly better than the second (LD = 10.355 µM, and LQ = 34.518 µM). Finally, the practical utility of the proposed sensors was assessed by analyzing paracetamol in pharmaceutical samples, obtaining satisfactory results that were in line with those obtainable using high-performance liquid chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the water and carbon cycles within terrestrial ecosystems is crucial for effective monitoring and management of regional water resources and the ecological environment. However, physical models like the SEB- and LUE-based ones can be complex and demand extensive input data. In our study, we leveraged multiple variables (vegetation growth, surface moisture, radiative energy, and other relative variables) as inputs for various regression algorithms, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Random Forest Regression (RFR), and Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN), to estimate water (ET) and carbon fluxes (NEE) in the Haihe River Basin, and compared the estimated results with the observations from six eddy covariance flux towers. We aimed to (1) assess the impacts of different input variables on the accuracy of ET and NEE estimations, (2) compare the accuracy of the three regression methods, including three machine learning algorithms and Multiple Linear Regression, and (3) evaluate the performance of ET and NEE estimation models across various regions. The key findings include: (1) Increasing the number of input variables typically improved the accuracy of ET and NEE estimations. (2) RFR proved to be the most accurate for both ET and NEE estimations among the three regression algorithms. Of these, the four types of variables used together with RFR resulted in the best accuracy for ET (R2 of 0.81 and an RMSE of 1.13 mm) and NEE (R2 of 0.83 and an RMSE of 2.83 gC/m2) estimations. (3) Vegetation growth variables (i.e., VIs) are the most important inputs for ET and NEE estimation. (4) The proposed ET and NEE estimation models exhibited some variation in accuracy across different validation sites. Despite these variations, the accuracy levels across all six validation sites remained relatively high. Overall, this study lays the groundwork for an efficient approach to agricultural water resources and ecosystem monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of soil moisture content (SMC) in the field is a critical aspect of precise irrigation management. The development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms has provided an economically efficient means for field-scale SMC measurements. However, previous studies have mostly focused on single-sensor estimates of SMC. Additionally, the lack of differentiation between various crops and their growth stages has resulted in an unclear understanding of how crop types and growth stages affect the accuracy of SMC estimation at different soil depths. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to use UAV multimodal remote sensing and a machine learning algorithm to estimate the SMC in agricultural fields and investigate estimation's effectiveness under different scenarios. The results indicated the following: (1) The multispectral remote sensing method provided higher accuracy in SMC estimation compared to thermal infrared remote sensing. Moreover, the integration of multimodal data improved the accuracy of SMC estimation, enhancing the coefficient of determination (R2) by approximately 14% over that achieved through the use of multispectral data alone and 39% over that of thermal infrared data alone. (2) Across the entire growth period, the optimal soil depths of SMC estimation for soybean were 10 cm and 20 cm (average R2 were 0.81 and 0.82, respectively), while for corn, they were 10 cm, 20 cm, and 40 cm (average R2 were 0.59, 0.60, and 0.55, respectively). (3) The SMC estimation model performed better for both crops during the first three growth stages, with accuracy declining in the maturity stage. These results demonstrate that this approach can provide relatively accurate root zone SMC estimates for different crops throughout their main growth periods. Thus, it can be employed for SMC monitoring and precision irrigation system design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying green manure in several returning methods to enhance soil fertility and crop benefits is a strong foundation for cropland nutrient management. However, how different types of green manures and their variable doses affect the efficacy of applied manures, either buried or mulched, remain overlooked. The objective of this study was to optimize green manure management to enhance soil fertility and maize biomass using five types of green manures (white mustard, forest rye, fiddleneck, sufflower, and pea) in two different doses (low, 5 g per pot, and high, 10 g per pot), which were either buried or mulched before and after maize sowing. Results revealed that total carbon content increased due to green manure treatments, representing a 10% increase over control, particularly through buried w. mustard (10% increase before maize cultivation) and mulched safflower and pea (12% and 11% increase after maize cultivation over control). Dry maize aboveground biomass yields also improved across all variants, with buried mustard yielding 18.4 g·plant−1 (compared to 8.6 g·plant−1 in the control), mulched mustard yielding 16.4 g·plant−1, and buried pea yielding 17.8 g·plant−1. Green mulching generally acidified the soil (pH 5.71 compared to 6.21 in the control), except for buried fiddleneck (pH 6.39 after maize cultivation) at a high dose of manures. Carbon-mineralizing enzyme activities (dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase) were significantly increased by green manures, with buried fiddleneck showing a 22.6% and 20.6% increase over the control, and mulched fiddleneck showing a 24.5% and 22.4% increase under high doses. The study suggests that partially decomposed and mineralized mulched biomass may induce a negative priming effect on carbon-mineralizing enzymes due to a decrease in the C/N ratio of the soil. It emphasizes that the nutrient content and stoichiometry of green manures, alongside soil characteristics such as the C/N ratio, are critical factors for sustainable soil management and carbon sequestration. These findings underscore the need for careful selection and management of green manures to optimize soil health and carbon-storage outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of drought events pose significant challenges for sustainable agriculture worldwide. Soil microorganisms, both beneficial and pathogenic, play a crucial role in mediating plant–environment interactions and shaping the overall functioning of agroecosystems. This review summarizes current knowledge on the adaptive mechanisms used by different groups of plant-beneficial soil microorganisms—rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)—as well as phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi, in response to drought. The review focuses on identifying the commonalities and differences in the survival strategies of these groups of beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms under drought conditions. Additionally, it reviews and compares the plant defence mechanisms under drought conditions facilitated by rhizobacteria and AMF. Special attention is given to the genetic exchange between beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which allows them to exchange traits. It is observed that drought may favor enhanced genetic exchange and the spread of pathogenic traits in the soil microbiome. This review will be useful for a wide range of readers to better understand the dynamics of the soil microbiome under climate change and to apply this knowledge to sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review is a comprehensive update of the synthesis of monocyclic β-lactams via cycloaddition reactions. According to the IUPAC definition of cycloaddition, both elementary and stepwise processes (formal cycloadditions) have been considered. The years 2019–2022 are covered by the cited literature. The focus of the review is on synthetic aspects with emphasis on the structural scope, reaction conditions, mechanistic aspects, and selectivity results. Selected significant data related to biological activities and synthetic applications are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the transformative potential of precision agriculture and proximal sensing in revolutionizing crop management practices. By delving into the complexities of these cutting-edge technologies, it examines their role in mitigating the adverse impacts of agrochemical usage while bringing crop health monitoring to a high precision level. The review explains how precision agriculture optimizes production while safeguarding environmental integrity, thus offering a viable solution to both ecological and economic challenges arising from excessive agrochemical application. Furthermore, it investigates various proximal sensing techniques, including spectral imaging, thermal imaging, and fluorescence sensors, showcasing their efficacy in detecting and diagnosing crop health indicators such as stress factors, nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and pests. Through an in-depth analysis of relevant studies and successful practical applications, this review highlights that it is essential to bridge the gap between monitoring sensors and real-time decision-making and to improve image processing and data management systems to fully realize their potential in terms of sustainable crop management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is one of the most significant environmental factors that inhibits photosynthesis and decreases the growth and productivity of plants. Using the deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model, this study evaluates the ability of spectroscopy to estimate leaf water content (LWC) in fruit trees. During midday, spectral data were acquired from leaf samples obtained from three distinct varieties of fruit trees, encompassing the spectral range spanning from 350 to 2500 nm. Then, for spectral preprocessing, the fractional order derivative (FOD) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) algorithms were used to reduce the effects of scattering and noise on the collected spectra. Finally, the CNN model was developed to predict LWC in different fruit trees. The results showed that: (1) The spectra treated with CWT and FOD could improve the spectrum expression ability by improving the correlation between spectra and LWC. The correlation level of FOD treatment was higher than that of CWT treatment. (2) The CNN model was developed using FOD 1.2, and CWT 3 performed better than other traditional machine learning methods, such as RFR, SVR, and PLSR. (3) Further validation using additional samples demonstrated that the CNN model had good stability and quantitative prediction capability for the LWC of fruit trees (R2 > 0.95, root mean square error (RMSE) < 1.773%, and relative percentage difference (RPD) > 4.26). The results may provide an effective way to predict fruit LWC using a CNN-based model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated the monitoring and characterization of the pest Magnaporthe oryzae, known as rice blast, in the Bomba rice variety at the Albufera Natural Park, located in Valencia, Spain during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Using reflectance data from different Sentinel-2 satellite bands, various vegetative indices were calculated for each year. Significant differences in reflectance in the visible (B4), infrared (B8), red-edge (B6 and B7), and SWIR (B11) bands were detected between healthy and unhealthy fields. Additionally, variations were observed in the vegetation indices, with RVI and IRECI standing out for their higher accuracy in identifying blast-affected plots compared to NDVI and NDRE. Early differences in band values, vegetative indices, and spectral signatures were observed between the unhealthy and healthy plots, allowing for the anticipation of control treatments, whose effectiveness relies on timely intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A challenging part of studying geometric function theory is figuring out the sharp boundaries for coefficient-related problems that crop up in the Taylor–Maclaurin series of univalent functions. Using Caputo-type fractional derivatives to define the families of Sakaguchi-type starlike functions with respect to symmetric points, this article aims to investigate the first three initial coefficient estimates, the bounds for various problems such as Fekete–Szegő inequality, and the Zalcman inequalities, by subordinating to the function of the three leaves domain. Fekete–Szegő-type inequalities and initial coefficients for functions of the form H − 1 and ζ H (ζ) and 1 2 log H ζ ζ connected to the three leaves functions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the design of a millimeter-wave 1 × 4 linear MIMO array antenna that operates across multiple resonance frequency bands: 26.28–27.36 GHz, 27.94–28.62 GHz, 32.33–33.08 GHz, and 37.59–39.47 GHz, for mm-wave wearable biomedical telemetry application. The antenna is printed on a flexible substrate with dimensions of 11.0 × 44.0 mm2. Each MIMO antenna element features a modified slot-loaded triangular patch, incorporating 'cross'-shaped slots in the ground plane to improve impedance matching. The MIMO antenna demonstrates peak gains of 6.12, 8.06, 5.58, and 8.58 dBi at the four resonance frequencies, along with a total radiation efficiency exceeding 75%. The proposed antenna demonstrates excellent diversity metrics, with an ECC < 0.02, DG > 9.97 dB, and CCL below 0.31 bits/sec/Hz, indicating high performance for mm-wave applications. To verify its properties under flexible conditions, a bending analysis was conducted, showing stable S-parameter results with deformation radii of 40 mm (Rx) and 25 mm (Ry). SAR values for the MIMO antenna are calculated at 28.0/38.0 GHz. The average SAR values for 1 gm/10 gm of tissues at 28.0 GHz are found to be 0.0125/0.0079 W/Kg, whereas, at 38.0 GHz, average SAR values are 0.0189/0.0094 W/Kg, respectively. Additionally, to demonstrate the telemetry range of biomedical applications, a link budget analysis at both 28.0 GHz and 38.0 GHz frequencies indicated strong signal strength of 33.69 dB up to 70 m. The fabricated linear MIMO antenna effectively covers the mm-wave 5G spectrum and is suitable for wearable and biomedical applications due to its flexible characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial–temporal variation in soil organic carbon is an important factor for national targets to mitigate climate change and land degradation impacts. In this research, we took Guangdong Province of China as the study area, evaluated the spatial–temporal distributions of soil organic carbon using data from three China Geochemical Baseline projects (conducted in 2009, 2016, and 2023, respectively), and quantified the main driving factors of spatial–temporal variations in soil organic carbon using the random forest algorithm, further predicting the density and inventories of soil organic carbon. The results demonstrate that the mean value of SOC in Guangdong in 2009 was 0.81%; in 2016 it was 1.13%; and in 2023 it was 1.02%. The inventories of soil organic carbon (0–30 cm) in Guangdong Province were 0.61 Pg in 2009, 0.74 Pg in 2016, and 0.62 Pg in 2023. Soil in Guangdong acted as a carbon sink from 2009 to 2023 as a whole, and the most important driving force behind spatial–temporal variations in soil organic carbon was temperature, followed by precipitation and vegetation cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas bacteria are renowned for their remarkable capacity to synthesize antibiotics, namely mupirocin, gluconic acid, pyrrolnitrin, and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG). While these substances are extensively employed in agricultural biotechnology to safeguard plants against harmful bacteria and fungi, their potential for human medicine and healthcare remains highly promising for common science. However, the challenge of obtaining stable producers that yield higher quantities of these antibiotics continues to be a pertinent concern in modern biotechnology. Although the interest in antibiotics of Pseudomonas bacteria has persisted over the past century, many uncertainties still surround the regulation of the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds. Thus, the present review comprehensively studies the genetic organization and regulation of the biosynthesis of these antibiotics and provides a comprehensive summary of the genetic organization of antibiotic biosynthesis pathways in pseudomonas strains, appealing to both molecular biologists and biotechnologists. In addition, attention is also paid to the application of antibiotics in plant protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sorghum aphid, a significant pest affecting sorghum cultivation in several continents, feeds primarily on sorghum leaves and stems by sucking sap. This feeding behavior results in the depletion of nutrients, sugars, and water in the plants, leading to inhibited growth, chlorosis, wilting, and ultimately death. The main objective of this study was to assess the stability of potential reference genes in the sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sacchari). Nine candidate reference genes underwent a rigorous selection process, and their reliability was evaluated using qRT-PCR Ct values. Various experiments were conducted to determine the best reference genes for the sorghum aphid through systematic stability analyses. The research offers a dependable collection of reference genes that can improve studies on gene expression and functional genomics related to the sorghum aphid. Appropriate reference genes must be selected for accurate qRT-PCR data to conduct a thorough gene expression analysis in the sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sacchari, Hemiptera, Aphididae). This approach will establish a foundation for gene expression analysis and determines the efficacy of RNA interference in the sorghum aphid. Nine potential reference genes, including Actin, 18S, GAPDH, RPL7, EF-1α, EF-1β, 28S, HSP70, and TATA, were assessed under various experimental conditions to gauge their suitability based on qRT-PCR Ct values. The stability of these candidate reference genes in diverse experimental setups was analyzed employing several techniques, including the ΔCt comparative method, geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder. The findings revealed that the quantity of ideal reference genes ascertained by the geNorm method for diverse experimental conditions remained consistent. For the developmental stages of the sorghum aphid, RPL7 and 18S proved to be the most dependable reference genes, whereas GAPDH and EF-1β were recommended as the most stable reference genes for different tissues. In experiments involving wing dimorphism, EF-1α and GAPDH were identified as the optimal reference gene pair. Under varying temperatures, EF-1α and EF-1β were found to be the most dependable gene pair. For studies focusing on insecticide susceptibility, 18S and TATA emerged as the most stable candidate reference genes. Across all experimental conditions, EF-1α and EF-1β was the optimal combination of reference genes in the sorghum aphid. This research has pinpointed stable reference genes that can be utilized across various treatments, thereby enhancing gene expression studies and functional genomics research on the sorghum aphid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary macronutrients on fasting and postprandial responses was examined. Thirty-six healthy dogs were fed a high-carbohydrate (HiCHO) food once daily for 5 weeks, followed by randomization to either a high-protein, low-carbohydrate (PROT_LoCHO) or high-fat, low-carbohydrate (FAT_LoCHO) food for 5 weeks, then crossed over to the other LoCHO food for 5 weeks. Plasma samples were obtained at the end of each feeding period at timepoints before (0 h) and 2 h post-feeding. Apparent total circulating energy availability was assessed as a summation of the energetic contributions of measured glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, triglycerides (TGs), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and fatty acids not from TGs or NEFAs. In both the fed and fasted states, there were increases in circulating apparent total energy availability after feeding the FAT_LoCHO food compared with the HiCHO or PROT_LoCHO foods. Changes from the postabsorptive to postprandial points in catabolic, anabolic, and signaling lipids all exhibited food effects. Consumption of either LoCHO food led to lower leptin/ghrelin ratios in the fasted state relative to the HiCHO food. The FAT_LoCHO food led to the highest postprandial levels of the incretins gastric inhibitory peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1, yet the lowest increases in insulin relative to the other foods. These findings provide information on how macronutrients can influence dietary energy processing and metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antenna design and optimization must ensure robust electrical performance, making its analysis a crucial step in all antenna design processes. Traditionally, this analysis involves setting up various cases after establishing the calculation model, comparing the performance of each case, and summarizing the impact of relevant factors to guide design and optimization. However, this method is time-consuming and inefficient. This paper proposes a sensitivity-based approach for analyzing antenna electrical performance, using a radome-covered array antenna as an example. First, we derive the formulas for calculating the antenna's electrical performance and its sensitivity to the current amplitude, array element position, and radome thickness. We then design comparative experiments to analyze the antenna's performance using the sensitivity-based method and the traditional case enumeration method. Comparing the conclusions of both methods, we find that they yield the same results regarding antenna performance. The proposed sensitivity-based method offers a quantitative evaluation of various influencing factors and provides a more scientific and systematic approach to analyzing antenna electrical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes a significant challenge to global healthcare systems, with limited effective treatments available. This review examines the landscape of novel therapeutic strategies for AD, focusing on the shortcomings of traditional therapies against amyloid-beta (Aβ) and exploring emerging alternatives. Despite decades of research emphasizing the role of Aβ accumulation in AD pathogenesis, clinical trials targeting Aβ have obtained disappointing results, highlighting the complexity of AD pathophysiology and the need for investigating other therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we first discuss the challenges associated with anti-Aβ therapies, including limited efficacy and potential adverse effects, underscoring the necessity of exploring alternative mechanisms and targets. Thereafter, we review promising non-Aβ-based strategies, such as tau-targeted therapies, neuroinflammation modulation, and gene and stem cell therapy. These approaches offer new avenues for AD treatment by addressing additional pathological hallmarks and downstream effects beyond Aβ deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with an increasing prevalence year over year, and the medications used to treat patients with UC clinically have severe side effects. Oyster peptides (OPs) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as functional foods that can alleviate a wide range of inflammatory conditions. However, the application of oyster peptides in ulcerative colitis is not well studied. In this work, an animal model of acute colitis was established using 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and the impact of OP therapy on colitis in mice was examined. Supplementing with OPs prevented DSS-induced colitis from worsening, reduced the expression of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and restored the intestinal barrier damage caused by DSS-induced colitis in mice. The 16S rDNA results showed that the OP treatment improved the gut microbiota structure of the UC mice, including increasing microbial diversity, increasing beneficial bacteria, and decreasing harmful bacteria. In the UC mice, the OP therapy decreased the relative abundance of Family_XIII_AD3011_group and Prevotella_9 and increased the relative abundance of Alistipes. In conclusion, OP treatment can inhibit the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and improve the intestinal microbiota in UC mice, which in turn alleviates DSS-induced colitis, providing a reference for the treatment of clinical UC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) offer diverse health benefits, such as supporting cardiovascular health, improving cognitive function, promoting joint and musculoskeletal health, and contributing to healthy aging. Despite their advantages, challenges like oxidation susceptibility, low bioavailability, and potential adverse effects at high doses persist. Nanoparticle encapsulation emerges as a promising avenue to address these limitations while preserving stability, enhanced bioavailability, and controlled release. This comprehensive review explores the therapeutic roles of omega-3 fatty acids, critically appraising their shortcomings and delving into modern encapsulation strategies. Furthermore, it explores the potential advantages of metal–organic framework nanoparticles (MOF NPs) compared to other commonly utilized nanoparticles in improving the therapeutic effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids within drug delivery systems (DDSs). Additionally, it outlines future research directions to fully exploit the therapeutic benefits of these encapsulated omega-3 formulations for cardiovascular disease treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of water resources is crucial for sustainable development in any region. When considering computer-aided analysis for resource management, geospatial technology, i.e., the use of remote sensing (RS) combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) proves to be highly valuable. Geospatial technology is more cost-effective and requires less labor compared to ground-based surveys, making it highly suitable for a wide range of agricultural applications. Effectively utilizing the timely, accurate, and objective data provided by RS technologies presents a crucial challenge in the field of water resource management. Satellite-based RS measurements offer consistent information on agricultural and hydrological conditions across extensive land areas. In this study, we carried out a detailed analysis focused on addressing agricultural water management issues in India through the application of RS and GIS technologies. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically reviewed published research articles, providing a comprehensive and detailed analysis. This study aims to explore the use of RS and GIS technologies in crucial agricultural water management practices with the goal of enhancing their effectiveness and efficiency. This study primarily examines the current use of geospatial technology in Indian agricultural water management and sustainability. We revealed that considerable research has primarily used multispectral Landsat series data. Cutting-edge technologies like Sentinel, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and hyperspectral technology have not been fully investigated for the assessment and monitoring of water resources. Integrating RS and GIS allows for consistent agricultural monitoring, offering valuable recommendations for effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycelium-based green composites (MBCs) represent an eco-friendly material innovation with vast potential across diverse applications. This paper provides a thorough review of the factors influencing the production and properties of MBCs, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term sustainability goals. It delves into critical aspects such as fungal species selection, substrate type selection, substrate preparation, optimal conditions, dehydrating methods, post-processing techniques, mold design, sterilization processes, cost comparison, key recommendations, and other necessary factors. Regarding fungal species selection, the paper highlights the significance of considering factors like mycelium species, decay type, hyphal network systems, growth rate, and bonding properties in ensuring the safety and suitability of MBCs fabrication. Substrate type selection is discussed, emphasizing the importance of chemical characteristics such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and the C: N ratio in determining mycelium growth and MBC properties. Substrate preparation methods, optimal growth conditions, and post-processing techniques are thoroughly examined, along with their impacts on MBCs quality and performance. Moreover, the paper discusses the importance of designing molds and implementing effective sterilization processes to ensure clean environments for mycelium growth. It also evaluates the costs associated with MBCs production compared to traditional materials, highlighting potential cost savings and economic advantages. Additionally, the paper provides key recommendations and precautions for improving MBC properties, including addressing fungal strain degeneration, encouraging research collaboration, establishing biosecurity protocols, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing storage conditions, implementing waste management practices, conducting life cycle assessments, and suggesting parameters for desirable MBC properties. Overall, this review offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing MBCs production and provides guidance for optimizing processes to achieve sustainable, high-quality composites for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an eight-port antenna array is presented for 5G handheld terminals to support multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) operations. The reported design involves three layers: the top contains eight circular microstrip feed elements; the middle is a low-cost FR-4 substrate, and the bottom layer is a ground plane with four etched octagonal slots. Each resonating element is fed by 50-ohm sub-miniature connectors. To mitigate the detrimental effects of mutual coupling of ports and enhance overall isolation between the adjacent microstrip-fed circular patch elements, a neutralization line is strategically implemented between the feed lines of the antenna array. The design configuration involves two elements at each vertex of the printed circuit board (PCB). The overall dimensions of the PCB are 150 × 75 mm2. Each slot and its corresponding radiating elements exhibit linear dual polarization and diverse radiation patterns. The proposed antenna design achieves the required operating bandwidth of more than 1000 MHz spanning from 3 to 4.2 GHz, effectively covering all the upper C-band frequency range of 3.3 GHz to 4.2 GHz allocated for 5G n77 and n78 frequency range 1 (FR1). Required port isolation and lower envelop correlation coefficient (ECC) are achieved for the band of interest. The proposed design gives a peak gain of up to 4 dB for the said band. In addition to these results, degradation in the performance of the antenna array is also investigated during different operating modes of the handheld device. Measured results from the fabricated unit cell and whole array also have a good match with simulated results. On the whole, the proposed antenna possesses the potential to be used in 5G and the open radio access network (ORAN) compliant handheld devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hawaii is known for its diverse micro-climates, making the evaluation of varieties at different locations an important strategy to determine the best varieties for each climate zone. Demand for dry beans in Hawaii has been rising due to the increase in production of value-added goods made from legumes. Initial field trials in 2017 were conducted to determine the best sowing date for dry beans in Hawaii since there were no previous such determinations. Field trials were conducted between 2018 and 2021 to evaluate 24 varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), 21 varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and 10 varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) for their suitability and yield variability under Hawaii's micro-climates. Preliminary sowing date trials were conducted in 2017, and a variety of trials were conducted between 2018 and 2021; seven field trials were conducted, including two in each of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii County, and one in Kauai County. The trials were conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. For all the study sites, 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer was applied at 30, 13, and 25 kg/ha N-P-K, respectively. A drip irrigation system was used in all locations as supplemental irrigation. Irrigation was used when needed and turned off 2 weeks prior to harvest. The results showed highly significant (p < 0.01) differences in yield between the varieties of each legume crop. Highly significant (p < 0.01) differences in yield were also found between the study locations. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decline in yield by 28% and 45% in chickpea and by 32% and 43% in common bean when planted 1 and 2 months, respectively, after the optimal mid-February planting on Oahu and Maui County. A decline of 21% and 50% in chickpea and 30 and 48% in common bean was recorded when planted 1 and 2 months, respectively, after the optimal mid-March planting in Hawaii County. The study results lead to developing site-specific recommendations for varieties and planting dates from each of the legume crops for each county. However, more studies are needed to develop site-specific recommendations for the micro-climates within each county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental control in greenhouse horticulture is essential for providing optimal conditions for plant growth and achieving greater productivity and quality. To develop appropriate environmental management practices for greenhouse horticulture through sensing technologies for monitoring the environmental stress responses of plants in real time, we evaluated the relative value of the stomatal opening to develop a technology that continuously monitors stomatal aperture to determine the moisture status of plants. When plants suffer from water stress, the stomatal conductance of leaves decreases, and transpiration and photosynthesis are suppressed. Therefore, monitoring stomatal behavior is important for controlling plant growth. In this study, a method for simply monitoring stomatal conductance was developed based on the heat balance method. The stomatal opening index (SOI) was derived from heat balance equations on intact tomato leaves, wet reference leaves, and dry reference leaves by measuring their temperatures in a growth chamber and a greenhouse. The SOI can be approximated as the ratio of the conductance of the intact leaf to the conductance of the wet reference leaf, which varies from 0 to 1. Leaf temperatures were measured with infrared thermometry. The theoretically and experimentally established SOI was verified with tomato plants grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. The SOI derived by this method was consistent with the leaf conductance measured via the porometer method, which is a standard method for evaluating actual leaf conductance that mainly consists of stomatal conductance. In conclusion, the SOI for the continuous monitoring of stomatal behavior will be useful not only for studies on interactions between plants and the environment but also for environmental management, such as watering at plant production sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starlike and convex functions have gained increased prominence in both academic literature and practical applications over the past decade. Concurrently, logarithmic coefficients play a pivotal role in estimating diverse properties within the realm of analytic functions, whether they are univalent or nonunivalent. In this paper, we rigorously derive bounds for specific Toeplitz determinants involving logarithmic coefficients pertaining to classes of convex and starlike functions concerning symmetric points. Furthermore, we present illustrative examples showcasing the sharpness of these established bounds. Our findings represent a substantial contribution to the advancement of our understanding of logarithmic coefficients and their profound implications across diverse mathematical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developing countries, organic agriculture is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for promoting rural economic development and improving farmer welfare. It is primarily smallholders who form the foundation of organic production in these areas. However, these farmers face significant challenges in adopting organic farming methods. The aim of this paper is to investigate solutions to the challenges encountered by smallholders. This research utilizes an integrated approach and includes a case study of the organic sorghum sector in Zunyi, China. The findings indicate that (1) a robust partnership has been established between enterprises, government, and farmers in the organic sorghum industry in Zunyi. Enterprises purchase the sorghum, cover organic certification costs, and partially fund material inputs, while local government facilitates organization, coordination, and technical support, with farmers responsible for production. (2) This collaboration has catalyzed high-quality development in the industry, benefiting all stakeholders. (3) Through this collaborative model, common challenges faced by smallholders, such as obstacles in obtaining certification, income fluctuations, and unfair market conditions, have been mitigated. Consequently, smallholders secure stable and reliable income as they benefit from favorable contract prices for organic sorghum and the assumption by enterprises of most material input costs. This study offers valuable empirical evidence that can guide the expansion of organic agriculture in similar regions and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oats are one of the most useful and widespread cereal crops in the world. In permafrost conditions (Central Yakutia), based on metabolic changes in late summer-sown oat plants (Avena sativa L.), the key processes involved in the cold acclimation of a valuable cereal species were identified. During the onset of low ambient temperatures, metabolites from leaf samples were profiled using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 41 metabolites were identified in oat leaves. It was found that acclimation to suboptimal temperatures during the fall period leads to biochemical (accumulation of mono- and disaccharides and decrease in fatty acids and polyols) as well as physiological and biophysical changes (decrease in leaf PRI reflectance indices and chlorophyll a fluorescence). Therefore, the study contributes to a more holistic understanding of oat metabolism under low-temperature cryolithozone stress. It is believed that the analysis of changes in leaf reflection properties and JIP-test parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence using leaf metabolomic profiling can be used in the selection of valuable varieties of cereal crops to obtain plant fodders with high nutrient contents under conditions of a sharply continental climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the increasing need for green synthesis and environmental protection, the utilization of biological organism‐derived carbons as supports for noble‐metal electrocatalysts has garnered public interest. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which microorganisms generate nanometals has not been fully understood yet. In the present study, we used genetically engineered bacteria of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 (∆SO4317, ∆SO4320, ∆SO0618 and ∆SO3745) to explore the effect of surface substances including biofilm‐associated protein (bpfA), protein secreted by type I secretion systems (TISS) and type II secretion systems (T2SS), and lipopolysaccharide in microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Results showed Pd/∆SO4317 (the catalyst prepared with the mutant ∆SO4317) shows better performance than other biocatalysts and commercial Pd/C, where the mass activity (MA) and specific activity (SA) of Pd/∆SO4317 are 3.1 and 2.1 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C, reaching 257.49 A g−1 and 6.85 A m−2 respectively. It has been found that the exceptional performance is attributed to the smallest particle size and the presence of abundant functional groups. Additionally, the absence of biofilms has been identified as a crucial factor in the formation of high‐quality bio‐Pd. Because the absence of biofilm can minimize metal agglomeration, resulting in uniform particle size dispersion. These findings provide valuable mechanical insights into the generation of biogenic metal nanoparticles and show potential industrial and environmental applications, especially in accelerating oxygen reduction reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inadequate vascularization seen in fast-growing solid tumors gives rise to hypoxic areas, fostering specific changes in gene expression that bolster tumor cell survival and metastasis, ultimately leading to unfavorable clinical prognoses across different cancer types. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1 and HIF-2) emerge as druggable pivotal players orchestrating tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, thus positioning them as prime targets for cancer treatment. A range of HIF inhibitors, notably natural compounds originating from marine organisms, exhibit encouraging anticancer properties, underscoring their significance as promising therapeutic options. Bioprospection of the marine environment is now a well-settled approach to the discovery and development of anticancer agents that might have their medicinal chemistry developed into clinical candidates. However, despite the massive increase in the number of marine natural products classified as 'anticancer leads,' most of which correspond to general cytotoxic agents, and only a few have been characterized regarding their molecular targets and mechanisms of action. The current review presents a critical analysis of inhibitors of HIF-1 and HIF-2 and hypoxia-selective compounds that have been sourced from marine organisms and that might act as new chemotherapeutic candidates or serve as templates for the development of structurally similar derivatives with improved anticancer efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture critically influences crop growth, especially in dryland environments. Precise agricultural management requires real-time monitoring of stratified soil moisture and assessment of crops' daily water needs. We aim to provide low-cost, high-throughput information acquisition services for dryland regions with underdeveloped infrastructure and offer scientific support for sustainable water resource management. We used UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) with multi-spectral sensors for routine maize monitoring, capturing leaf reflectance. Constructing vegetation indices, we quantified the relationship between leaf water content and surface soil moisture, using the Biswas model to predict deep soil moisture distribution. We used UVAs to monitor crop height and calculated the daily water demand for the entire growth period of corn using the Penman Montes equation. We found an R2 of 0.8603, RMSE of 2.455%, and MAE of 2.099% between NDVI and canopy leaf water content. A strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.7510) between canopy leaf water content and soil moisture was observed in the top 20 cm of soil. Deep soil moisture inversion from the top 20 cm soil moisture showed an R2 of 0.9984, with RE mostly under 10%, but exceeding 20% at 120 cm depth. We also constructed a maize height model aligning with a sigmoidal growth curve (R2 = 0.9724). Maize's daily water demand varied from 0.7121 to 9.4263 mm, exhibiting a downward-opening parabolic trend. Integration of rainfall and soil water data allowed for dynamic irrigation adjustments, mitigating drought and water stress effects on crops. We highlighted UAV multi-spectral imaging's effectiveness in monitoring crop water needs, facilitating quick daily water requirement estimations. Our work offers a scientific foundation for managing maize cultivation in drylands, enhancing water resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of using variable-speed permanent magnet synchronous motors in various fields requires the use of speed control techniques. This document presents the vector control of permanent magnet synchronous motors based on proportional integrated controllers using the Xinlinx System Generator tool. The implementation based on the use of Xilinx System Generator blocks aims to achieve speed variation of the machine. The obtained implementation and synthesis results have demonstrated the effectiveness and proper functioning of the control, enabling the machine's speed to remain stable according to the chosen reference. The synthesis allows real-time hardware implementation on the FPGA board using the FPGA in the LOOP technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of global public health importance caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, this disease has worsened with the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. We aim to present and review the history, progress, and future directions in the diagnosis of tuberculosis by evaluating the current methods of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis, with a special emphasis on microscopic examination and cultivation on solid and liquid media, as well as an approach to molecular assays. The microscopic method, although widely used, has its limitations, and the use and evaluation of other techniques are essential for a complete and accurate diagnosis. Bacterial cultures, both in solid and liquid media, are essential methods in the diagnosis of TB. Culture on a solid medium provides specificity and accuracy, while culture on a liquid medium brings rapidity and increased sensitivity. Molecular tests such as LPA and Xpert MTB/RIF have been found to offer significant benefits in the rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB, including drug-resistant forms. These tests allow the identification of resistance mutations and provide essential information for choosing the right treatment. We conclude that combined diagnostic methods, using several techniques and approaches, provide the best result in the laboratory diagnosis of TB. Improving the quality and accessibility of tests, as well as the implementation of advanced technologies, is essential to help improve the sensitivity, efficiency, and accuracy of TB diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Setaria italica is an important crop in China that plays a vital role in the Chinese dietary structure. In the last several decades, high temperature has become the most severe climate issue in the world, which causes great harm to the yield and quality formation of millet. In this study, two main cultivated varieties (ZG2 and AI88) were used to explore the photosynthesis and yield index of the whole plant under heat stress. Results implied that photosynthesis was not inhibited during the heat stress, and that the imbalance in sugar transport between different tissues may be the main factor that affects yield formation. In addition, the expression levels of seven SiSUT and twenty-four SiSWEET members were explored. Sugar transporters were heavily affected during the heat stress. The expression of SiSWEET13a was inhibited by heat stress in the stems, which may play a vital role in sugar transport between different tissues. These results provide new insights into the yield formation of crops under heat stress, which will provide guidance to crop breeding and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, two of the biggest obstacles restricting the further development of methanol fuel cells are excessive cost and insufficient catalytic activity of platinum-based catalysts. Herein, platinum nanoparticle supported graphene aerogel (Pt/3DGA) was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal self-assembly method. The loose three-dimensional structure of the aerogel is stabilized by a simple one-step method, which not only reduces cost compared to the freeze-drying technology, but also optimizes the loading method of nanoparticles. The prepared Pt/3DGA catalyst has a three-dimensional porous structure with a highly cross-linked, large specific surface area, even dispersion of Pt NPs and good electrical conductivity. It is worth noting that its catalytic activity is 438.4 mA/mg with long-term stability, which is consistent with the projected benefits of anodic catalytic systems in methanol fuel cells.. Our study provides an applicable method for synthesizing nano metal particles/graphene-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MgAl oxide coatings composed of MgO and MgAl2O4 phases were doped with CeO2 particles via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of AZ31 magnesium alloy in a 5 g/L NaAlO2 water solution. Subsequently, particles of CeO2 up to 8 g/L were added. Extensive investigations were conducted to examine the morphology, the chemical and phase compositions, and, most importantly, the photoluminescent (PL) properties and photocatalytic activity (PA) during the photodegradation of methyl orange. The number of CeO2 particles incorporated into MgAl oxide coatings depends on the concentration of CeO2 particles in the aluminate electrolyte. However, the CeO2 particles do not significantly affect the thickness, phase structure, or surface morphology of the coatings. The PL emission spectrum of MgAl oxide coatings is divided into two bands: one in the 350–600 nm range related to structural defects in MgO, and another much more intense band in the 600–775 nm range attributed to the F+ centres in MgAl2O4. The incorporated CeO2 particles do not have a significant effect on the PL intensity of the band in the red spectral region, but the PL intensity of the first band increases with the concentration of CeO2 particles. The PA of MgAl/CeO2 oxide coatings is higher than that of pure MgAl oxide coatings. The MgAl/CeO2 oxide coating developed in aluminate electrolyte with a concentration of 2 g/L CeO2 particles exhibited the highest PA. The MgAl/CeO2 oxide coatings remained chemically and physically stable across multiple cycles, indicating their potential for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of the climate change crisis, the increase in air temperature negatively impacts rice crop productivity due to stress from water scarcity. The objective of this study was to determine the rice crop water stress index (CWSI) and stomatal conductance (Gs) under different irrigation regimes, specifically continuous flood irrigation treatments (CF) and irrigations with alternating wetting and drying (AWD) at water levels of 5 cm, 10 cm, and 20 cm below the soil surface ( AWD 5 ,   AWD 10 , and AWD 20 ) in an experimental area of INIA-Vista Florida and in six commercial areas of the Lambayeque region using thermal images captured with thermal sensors. The results indicated that AWD irrigation generated more water stress, with CWSI values between 0.4 and 1.0. Despite this, the yields were similar in CF and AWD 20.   In the commercial areas, CWSI values between 0.38 and 0.51 were obtained, with Santa Julia having the highest values. Furthermore, a strong Pearson correlation (R) of 0.91 was established between the CWSI and Gs, representing a reference scale based on Gs values for evaluating water stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is treated by increasing the level of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein through correction of SMN2 exon 7 skipping or exogenous expression of SMN through gene therapy. Currently available therapies have multiple shortcomings, including poor body-wide distribution, invasive delivery, and potential negative consequences due to high doses needed for clinical efficacy. Here we test the effects of a combination treatment of a splice-correcting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) Anti-N1 with the small compounds risdiplam and branaplam. We show that a low-dose treatment of Anti-N1 with either compound produces a synergistic effect on the inclusion of SMN2 exon 7 in SMA patient fibroblasts. Using RNA-Seq, we characterize the transcriptomes of cells treated with each compound as well as in combination. Although high doses of each individual treatment trigger widespread perturbations of the transcriptome, combination treatment of Anti-N1 with risdiplam and branaplam results in minimal disruption of gene expression. For individual genes targeted by the 3 compounds, we observe little to no additive effects of combination treatment. Overall, we conclude that the combination treatment of a splice-correcting ASO with small compounds represents a promising strategy for achieving a high level of SMN expression while minimizing the risk of off-target effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial diversity profoundly influences soil ecosystem functions, making it vital to monitor community dynamics to comprehend its structure. Our study focused on six agrosystems in Madeira Archipelago, analysing bacteria, archaea, fungi and AMF through classical microbiology and molecular techniques. Despite distinct edaphoclimatic conditions and management practices, bacterial structures exhibited similarities, with Alphaproteobacteria at 18%–20%, Bacilli at 11%–18% and Clostridia at 9%–14%. The predominance of copiothrophic groups suggested that soil nutrient content was the driver of these communities. Regarding archaea, the communities changed among sites, and it was evident that agrosystems provided niches for methanogens. The Crenarchaeota varied between 15% and 29%, followed by two classes of Euryarchaeota, Methanomicrobia (17%–25%) and Methanococci (4%–32%). Fungal communities showed consistent composition at the class level but had differing diversity indices due to management practices and soil texture. Sordaryomycetes (21%–28%) and Agaricomycetes (15%–23%) were predominant. Conversely, AMF communities appeared to be also influenced by the agrosystem, with Glomus representing over 50% of the community in all agrosystems. These insights into microbial groups' susceptibilities to environmental conditions are crucial for maintaining healthy soil and predicting climate change effects on agrosystems' productivity, resilience and sustainability. Additionally, our findings enable the development of more robust prediction models for agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials are widely used in various fields, and ongoing research is focused on developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Using zebrafish as a model organism for studying the potentially toxic effects of nanomaterials highlights the importance of developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Studies conducted on nanomaterials and their toxicity and potential risks to human and environmental health are vital in biomedical sciences. In the present review, we discuss the potential toxicity of nanomaterials (inorganic and organic) and exposure risks based on size, shape, and concentration. The review further explores various types of nanomaterials and their impacts on zebrafish at different levels, indicating that exposure to nanomaterials can lead to developmental defects, changes in gene expressions, and various toxicities. The review also covers the importance of considering natural organic matter and chorion membranes in standardized nanotoxicity testing. While some nanomaterials are biologically compatible, metal and semiconductor nanomaterials that enter the water environment can increase toxicity to aquatic creatures and can potentially accumulate in the human body. Further investigations are necessary to assess the safety of nanomaterials and their impacts on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The frequency and intensity of war-like activities (war, military training, and shooting ranges) worldwide cause soil pollution by metals, metalloids, explosives, radionuclides, and herbicides. Despite this environmentally worrying scenario, soil decontamination in former war zones almost always involves incineration. Nevertheless, this practice is expensive, and its efficiency is suitable only for organic pollutants. Therefore, treating soils polluted by wars requires efficient and economically viable alternatives. In this sense, this manuscript reviews the status and knowledge gaps of mycoremediation. (2) Methods: The literature review consisted of searches on ScienceDirect and Web of Science for articles (1980 to 2023) on the mycoremediation of soils containing pollutants derived from war-like activities. (3) Results: This review highlighted that mycoremediation has many successful applications for removing all pollutants of war-like activities. However, the mycoremediation of soils in former war zones and those impacted by military training and shooting ranges is still very incipient, with most applications emphasizing explosives. (4) Conclusion: The mycoremediation of soils from conflict zones is an entirely open field of research, and the main challenge is to optimize experimental conditions on a field scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]