In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well. Full article

Nuclear speckles are compartments enriched in splicing factors present in the nucleoplasm of eucaryote cells. Speckles have been studied in mammalian culture and tissue cells, as well as in some non-mammalian vertebrate cells and invertebrate oocytes. In mammals, their morphology is linked to the transcriptional and splicing activities of the cell through a recruitment mechanism. In rats, speckle morphology depends on the hormonal cycle. In the present work, we explore whether a similar situation is also present in non-mammalian cells during the reproductive cycle. We studied the speckled pattern in several tissues of a viviparous reptile, the lizard Sceloporus torquatus, during two different stages of reproduction. We used immunofluorescence staining against splicing factors in hepatocytes and oviduct epithelium cells and fluorescence and confocal microscopy, as well as ultrastructural immunolocalization and EDTA contrast in Transmission Electron Microscopy. The distribution of splicing factors in the nucleoplasm of oviductal cells and hepatocytes coincides with the nuclear-speckled pattern described in mammals. Ultrastructurally, those cell types display Interchromatin Granule Clusters and Perichromatin Fibers. In addition, the morphology of speckles varies in oviduct cells at the two stages of the reproductive cycle analyzed, paralleling the phenomenon observed in the rat. The results show that the morphology of speckles in reptile cells depends upon the reproductive stage as it occurs in mammals. Full article

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is an economically important pathogen in the duck industry worldwide that causes high mortality and morbidity in infected birds. We previously found that upregulated IL-17A expression in ducks infected with RA participates in the pathogenesis of the disease, but this mechanism is not linked to IL-23, which primarily promotes Th17 cell differentiation and proliferation. RNA sequencing analysis was used in this study to investigate other mechanisms of IL-17A upregulation in RA infection. A possible interaction of IL-26 and IL-17 was discovered, highlighting the potential of IL-26 as a novel upstream cytokine that can regulate IL-17A during RA infection. Additionally, this process identified several important pathways and genes related to the complex networks and potential regulation of the host immune response in RA-infected ducks. Collectively, these findings not only serve as a roadmap for our understanding of RA infection and the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches for this disease, but they also provide an opportunity to understand the immune system of ducks. Full article

In this study, a phenol–formaldehyde resin–montmorillonite intercalation composite solution was used as a modifier to treat Chinese fir via impregnation and compression. The basic characteristics and wettability of the PF (phenol–formaldehyde)–montmorillonite impregnation solution were analyzed. The effects of the solid content of PF, the quantity of montmorillonite, and the impregnation time on the impregnation weight gain of Chinese fir were studied through orthogonal experiments. The results showed that when the amount of montmorillonite was 1%, the wettability of the PF–montmorillonite impregnation solution performed the best, the curing time was short, and the curing strength was high. The optimal impregnation process consists of a PF solid content of 25%, an impregnation time of 120 min, and a montmorillonite ratio of 1%. Under these conditions, the modified Chinese fir was prepared via hot pressing. The effects of the addition of montmorillonite and different levels of compressibility on the physical and mechanical properties of modified wood were studied. The physical and mechanical properties were found to be better when the compression ratio was 33%: the density increased from 0.33 g/cm³ to 0.58 g/cm³; the surface hardness increased from 33.6 HD to 70.9 HD; the static bending strength increased from 60.4 MPa to 98.7 MPa; and the elastic modulus increased from 6 390 MPa to 11 498 MPa. After 30 days of release, the compression rebound rate was 3.97%. Meanwhile, the micromorphology and heat resistance of the impregnated compressed Chinese fir showed that the PF–montmorillonite impregnation solution entered into the cell cavity and intercellular space of the Chinese fir and formed a good composite, thus improving the water resistance, heat resistance, and physical and mechanical properties. Full article

Nucleosomes are non-uniformly distributed across eukaryotic genomes, with stretches of ‘open’ chromatin strongly associated with transcriptionally active promoters and enhancers. Understanding chromatin accessibility patterns in normal tissue and how they are altered in pathologies can provide critical insights to development and disease. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, a variety of strategies have been devised to identify open regions across the genome, including DNase-seq, MNase-seq, FAIRE-seq, ATAC-seq, and NicE-seq. However, the broad application of such methods to FFPE (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded) tissues has been curtailed by the major technical challenges imposed by highly fixed and often damaged genomic material. Here, we review the most common approaches for mapping open chromatin regions, recent optimizations to overcome the challenges of working with FFPE tissue, and a brief overview of a typical data pipeline with analysis considerations. Full article

This paper explores how water and water-based systems change their structure under different conditions, such as pH, temperature, and electric fields. These changes affect the properties and performance of living and non-living systems that use water or water-based systems in various technologies. We can use pH, temperature, and electric fields to measure and control the structural changes in water and water-based systems and improve the outcomes of different technologies in biology and medicine. More research is needed to understand how various factors influence the structure of water and water-based systems and how this affects living and non-living systems. Full article

Due to the coexistence of Al³⁺ and RE³⁺ and their similar properties, the separation of aluminum from rare earths is difficult. In this study, selective precipitation was used to separate aluminum from rare earth chloride solution via electrochemical regulated hydrolysis. By controlling the current density and electrolytic time, the rate of hydroxyl ion production was regulated, and the selective separation of rare earth and aluminum was realized according to the different precipitation sequences. By altering the temperature, current density, pH value, and other parameters, the separation performance of aluminum from rare earth in mixed rare earth chloride systems was systematically investigated. The removal rate of aluminum reached 88.35%, and the loss rate of rare earth was only 5.99% under optimized conditions. Compared with traditional neutralization hydrolysis, the new process showed higher efficiency and lower rare earth loss rate. Furthermore, a kinetic analysis of aluminum precipitation revealed that the reaction adhered to pseudo-first order kinetics. Additionally, the precipitate obtained via separation and filtration was amorphous alumina hydroxide with a small amount of rare earth attached. No reagent was consumed for the new process, which was more efficient and cleaner, providing a new idea for removing aluminum impurities from rare earth solutions. Full article

This paper presents a miniaturized-structure high-gain antipodal Vivaldi antenna (AVA) operating in the millimeter-wave (mm-wave) band. A gradient-length microstrip-patch-based director is utilized on the flares of the AVA to enhance gain. Additionally, an array of metallic vias is incorporated along the lateral and horizontal edges of the antenna for further gain enhancement and bandwidth extension. Based on the proposed structure, the AVA can achieve a peak gain of 11.9 dBi over a relative bandwidth of 71.24% within 16.5–36.6 GHz as measured, while the electrical dimension is only 1.54 × 2.69 × 0.07 ${{\mathsf{\lambda }}_c}^3$. The measured results show good agreement with the simulated ones. Owning the characteristics of being high-gain and ultra-wideband, and having a compact size, the proposed AVA can be a competitive candidate for future millimeter-wave communication. Full article

The measurement of corneal sensation allows clinicians to assess the status of corneal innervation and serves as a crucial indicator of corneal disease and eye health. Many devices are available to assess corneal sensation, including the Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometer, the Belmonte Aesthesiometer, the Swiss Liquid Jet Aesthesiometer, and the newly introduced Corneal Esthesiometer Brill. Increasing the clinical use of in vivo confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography will allow for greater insight into the diagnosis, classification, and monitoring of ocular surface diseases such as neurotrophic keratopathy; however, formal esthesiometric measurement remains necessary to assess the functional status of corneal nerves. These aesthesiometers vary widely in their mode of corneal stimulus generation and their relative accessibility, precision, and ease of clinical use. The development of future devices to optimize these characteristics, as well as further comparative studies between device types should enable more accurate and precise diagnosis and treatment of corneal innervation deficits. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe the advancements in the use of aesthesiometers since their introduction to clinical practice, compare currently available devices for assessing corneal innervation and their relative limitations, and discuss how the assessment of corneal innervation is crucial to understanding and treating pathologies of the ocular surface. Full article

The Cupressaceae family includes species considered to be medicinal. Their essential oil is used for headaches, colds, cough, and bronchitis. Cedar trees like Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (C. lawsoniana) are commonly found in urban areas. We investigated whether C. lawsoniana exerts some of its effects by modifying airway smooth muscle (ASM) contractility. The leaves of C. lawsoniana (363 g) were pulverized mechanically, and extracts were obtained by successive maceration 1:10 (w:w) with methanol/CHCl₃. Guinea pig tracheal rings were contracted with KCl, tetraethylammonium (TEA), histamine (HIS), or carbachol (Cch) in organ baths. In the Cch experiments, tissues were pre-incubated with D-600, an antagonist of L-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (L-VDCC) before the addition of C. lawsoniana. Interestingly, at different concentrations, C. lawsoniana diminished the tracheal contractions induced by KCl, TEA, HIS, and Cch. In ASM cells, C. lawsoniana significantly diminished L-type Ca²⁺ currents. ASM cells stimulated with Cch produced a transient Ca²⁺ peak followed by a sustained plateau maintained by L-VDCC and store-operated Ca²⁺ channels (SOCC). C. lawsoniana almost abolished this last response. These results show that C. lawsoniana, and its active metabolite quercetin, relax the ASM by inhibiting the L-VDCC and SOCC; further studies must be performed to obtain the complete set of metabolites of the extract and study at length their pharmacological properties. Full article

The exploitation of iron ore could cause heavy metals pollution in the soils, which threatens the ecosystem and human health. In this study, soil, stream sediment, tailings, rock, and atmospheric deposition samples were collected from an iron mine in Baotou City. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, MgO, Na₂O, SiO_2, and Fe₂O₃, as well as the mineral composition and heavy metal speciation of the samples, were analyzed for pollution assessment and source identification of heavy metals. The results reveal that the concentration of Cu in the soils was significantly higher than the background value, and an unpolluted to moderately polluted state was the main pollution level. By analyzing the relationship between Cu/Al₂O₃ and CaO in different samples, as well as the characteristics of the chemical index of alteration (CIA), mineral composition, and the chemical speciation of Cu in soils and profiles, the results suggest that tailings were the source of Cu pollution in soils. The distribution characteristics of Cu and CaO in stream sediments indicated that hydraulic transport may be one of the main migration pathways. In addition, wind transport may also be a pathway of migration. Full article

The sea ice albedo can amplify global climate change and affect the surface energy in the Arctic. In this paper, the data from Visible and Infra-Red Radiometer (VIRR) onboard Fengyun-3C satellite are applied to derive the Arctic sea ice albedo. Two radiative transfer models, namely, 6S and FluxNet, are used to simulate the reflectance and albedo in the shortwave band. Clear sky sea ice albedo in the Arctic region (60°~90°N) from 2016 to 2019 is derived through the physical process, including data preprocessing, narrowband to broadband conversion, anisotropy correction, and atmospheric correction. The results are compared with aircraft measurements and AVHRR Polar Pathfinder-Extended (APP-x) albedo product and OLCI MPF product. The bias and standard deviation of the difference between VIRR albedo and aircraft measurements are −0.040 and 0.071, respectively. Compared with APP-x product and OLCI MPF product, a good consistency of albedo is shown. And analyzed together with melt pond fraction, an obvious negative relationship can be seen. After processing the 4-year data, an obvious annual trend can be observed. Due to the influence of snow on the ice surface, the average surface albedo of the Arctic in March and April can reach more than 0.8. Starting in May, with the ice and snow melting and melt ponds forming, the albedo drops rapidly to 0.5–0.6. Into August, the melt ponds begin to freeze and the surface albedo increases. Full article

More sustainable biosensor production is growing in importance, allowing for the development of technological solutions for several industries, such as those in the health, chemical, and food sectors. Tracking the latest advancements in biosensors’ scientific production is fundamental to determining the opportunities for the future of the biosensing field. This article aims to map scientific production in the biosensors field by running a bibliometric analysis of journal articles registered in the Web of Science database under biosensor-related vital concepts. The key concepts were selected by researchers and biosensor technology developers working on the BioAssembler Horizon project. The findings lead to identifying the scientific and technological knowledge base on biosensing devices and tracking the main scientific organisations developing this technology throughout the COVID-19 period (2019–2023). The institutional origin of the publications characterised the global distribution of related knowledge competencies and research partnerships. These results are discussed, shedding light on the scientific, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to the formation of a scientific knowledge-based focus on the performance and design of these sensors. Moreover, the lack of scientific ties between the three axes of organisations producing expertise in this area (China, USA, and Russia) points towards the need to find synergies through new mechanisms of co-authorship and collaboration. Full article

Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) is a medicinal plant used to treat many conditions when taken as a leaf juice, leaves in capsules, as an ethanolic extract, and as herbal tea. These preparations have been chemically analyzed except for decoctions derived from boiled green leaves. In preparation for a clinical trial to validate BP tea as a treatment for kidney stones, we used NMR and MS analyses to characterize the saturation kinetics of the release of metabolites. During boiling of the leaves, (a) the pH decreased to 4.8 within 14 min and then stabilized; (b) regarding organic acids, citric and malic acid were released with maximum release time (t_max) = 35 min; (c) for glycoflavonoids, quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q-3O-ArRh), myricetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (M-3O-ArRh), kappinatoside, myricitrin, and quercitrin were released with t_max = 5–10 min; and (d) the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) reached a t_max at 55 min and 61 min, respectively. In summary, 24 g of leaves boiled in 250 mL of water for 61 min ensures a maximal release of key water-soluble metabolites, including organic acids and flavonoids. These metabolites are beneficial for treating kidney stones because they target oxidative stress and inflammation and inhibit stone formation. Full article

Intelligent transportation and advanced mobility techniques focus on helping operators to efficiently manage navigation tasks in smart cities, enhancing cost efficiency, increasing security, and reducing costs. Although this field has seen significant advances in developing large-scale monitoring of smart cities, several challenges persist concerning the practical assignment of delivery personnel to customer orders. To address this issue, we propose an architecture to optimize the task assignment problem for delivery personnel. We propose the use of different cost functions obtained with deterministic and machine learning techniques. In particular, we compared the performance of linear and polynomial regression methods to construct different cost functions represented by matrices with orders and delivery people information. Then, we applied the Hungarian optimization algorithm to solve the assignment problem, which optimally assigns delivery personnel and orders. The results demonstrate that when used to estimate distance information, linear regression can reduce estimation errors by up to 568.52 km (1.51%) for our dataset compared to other methods. In contrast, polynomial regression proves effective in constructing a superior cost function based on time information, reducing estimation errors by up to 17,143.41 min (11.59%) compared to alternative methods. The proposed approach aims to enhance delivery personnel allocation within the delivery sector, thereby optimizing the efficiency of this process. Full article

Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) is one of the main shrimp species cultivated around the world. Despite its high yields and easy handling, water pollution from intensive shrimp cultivation remains a serious problem in China. In this study, a compound aquaculture model of P. vannamei and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) was used to investigate the effect of a water spinach floating raft on water quality, antioxidants, non-specific immune response, growth performance, and microbial diversity. The experimental design of this study consisted of two groups with three replicates for each, i.e., control group: aquatic monoculture (AM) system with only P. vannamei; treatment group: P. vannamei-I. aquatica raft aquaponics (AP) system with a 50% cover ratio with a water spinach floating raft. The experiment lasted for seven weeks. The results show that the concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻-N), and active phosphorus (AP) in the AM group were higher than those in the AP group at different sampling times. The water quality index of the AP group was better than that of the AM group, indicating that water spinach can remove the nutrients from aquaculture water bodies. The average daily gain and survival rate of shrimp in the AP group were higher than those in the AM group. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the AP group were better than those in the AM group. The Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indices of the gut, water, and sediment of the AP system were significantly higher than those in the AM system, which implied a higher abundance of microorganisms in the AP system. These results demonstrate that the application of a water spinach floating raft in aquaponics can not only improve the water quality, but also improve the growth performance, antioxidant system, and non-specific immune responses of Pacific white shrimp, while increasing the abundance of microorganisms in the aquaculture system and improving the ecological benefits in terms of the expenditure. Full article

Glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GstO1) catalyzes deglutathionylation and plays an important role in the protein glutathionylation cycle in cells. GstO1 contains four conserved cysteine residues (C32, C90, C191, C236) found to be mutated in patients with associated diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of cysteine mutations on the structure and function of GstO1 under different redox conditions. Wild-type GstO1 (WT) was highly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which caused precipitation and denaturation at a physiological temperature. However, glutathione efficiently inhibited the H₂O₂-induced denaturation of GstO1. Cysteine mutants C32A and C236A exhibited redox-dependent stabilities and enzyme activities significantly different from those of WT. These results indicate that C32 and C236 play critical roles in GstO1 regulation by sensing redox environments and explain the pathological effect of cysteine mutations found in patients with associated diseases. Full article

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial nutrient that has been shown to increase rice productivity and grain quality. Fragrant rice occupies the high end of the rice market with prices at twice to more than three times those of non-fragrant rice. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of increasing Si on the yield and quality of fragrant rice. Also measured were the content of proline and the expression of the genes associated with 2AP synthesis and Si transport. The fragrant rice varieties were found to differ markedly in the effect of Si on their quality, as measured by the grain 2AP concentration, while there were only slight differences in their yield response to Si. The varieties with low 2AP when the Si supply is limited are represented by either PTT1 or BNM4 with only slight increases in 2AP when Si was increased. Si affects the gene expression levels of the genes associated with 2AP synthesis, and the accumulation of 2AP in fragrant rice mainly occurred through the upregulation of Badh2, DAO, OAT, ProDH, and P5CS genes. The findings suggest that Si is a potential micronutrient that can be utilized for improving 2AP and grain yield in further aromatic rice breeding programs. Full article

In response to the environmental implications of the massive quantities of excavation soil generated by global urbanization and infrastructure development, recent research efforts have explored the repurposing of calcined excavation soils as sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). As it is still at an early stage, current research lacks systematic analysis across diverse soil deposits regarding their reactivity and mechanical properties within cementitious binders, despite recognized geographical variability in kaolinite content. Through comprehensive experimentation with soils sourced from four major southern Chinese cities, this study presents a pioneering assessment of the compressive strength, pozzolanic reactivity (X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance), and microstructural development (mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy) of mortars modified by various calcined excavation soils (up to 28 days curing). The experimental data suggest that soils with a kaolinite content above 53.39% produce mortars of equal or superior quality to plain cement mixes, primarily due to their refined pore structures, microstructural densification, and enhanced hydration reactions. The findings highlight kaolinite—specifically, aluminum content—as the principal indicator of excavation soil viability for SCM application, suggesting a promising avenue for sustainable construction practices. Full article

In recent years, new technologies have been applied in cerebral palsy. Among these, immersive virtual reality is one with promising motor and cognitive effects along with the reduced costs of its application. The level of immersion of the subject in the illusional world gives the feeling of being a real part of the virtual environment. This study aims to investigate the safety and the efficacy of immersive virtual reality in children affected by cerebral palsy. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, RehabData, and Web of Science were screened up to February 2023 to identify eligible clinical studies. Results: Out of 788, we included 15 studies involving CP patients. There was high heterogeneity in the outcomes considered, and the results showed non-inferiority to conventional therapy and initial additional benefits in comparison with conventional rehabilitation. Conclusion: Immersive virtual reality emerges as a pivotal technological tool in rehabilitation, seamlessly integrating with conventional therapy within CP rehabilitation programs. Indeed, it not only enhances motivation but significantly increases children’s functional capacity and abilities. Full article

Soil salinization is an adverse phenomenon in agriculture that severely affects crop growth and yield. The use of natural products, such as wood distillate (WD, derived from the pyrolysis of woody biomass), could be a sustainable approach to enhance the tolerance of plants cultivated in the saline soils. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of WD, a foliar sprayed at 0.2% (v/v), in lettuce plants subjected to grow under both moderate and high soil sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (ranging from 0 to 300 mM). The changes in the physiological and biochemical responses of these plants to the varying salt stress conditions allowed the identification of a maximum tolerance threshold (100 mM NaCl), specific to lettuce. Beyond this threshold, levels related to plant defense antioxidant power (antiradical activity) were lowered, while those indicative of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage) were raised, causing significant losses in leaf fresh biomass. On the other hand, WD significantly improved plant growth, enabling plants to survive high salt conditions >200 mM NaCl. Collectively, these observations highlight that treatments with WD could be of paramount importance in coping with current environmental challenges to have better yields under soil conditions of high salt concentrations. Full article

Infrared optoelectronic sensors have attracted considerable research interest over the past few decades due to their wide-ranging applications in military, healthcare, environmental monitoring, industrial inspection, and human–computer interaction systems. A comprehensive understanding of infrared optoelectronic sensors is of great importance for achieving their future optimization. This paper comprehensively reviews the recent advancements in infrared optoelectronic sensors. Firstly, their working mechanisms are elucidated. Then, the key metrics for evaluating an infrared optoelectronic sensor are introduced. Subsequently, an overview of promising materials and nanostructures for high-performance infrared optoelectronic sensors, along with the performances of state-of-the-art devices, is presented. Finally, the challenges facing infrared optoelectronic sensors are posed, and some perspectives for the optimization of infrared optoelectronic sensors are discussed, thereby paving the way for the development of future infrared optoelectronic sensors. Full article