The need for chronic systemic immunosuppression, which is associated with unavoidable side-effects, greatly limits the applicability of allogeneic cell transplantation for regenerative medicine applications including pancreatic islet cell transplantation to restore insulin production in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Cell transplantation in confined sites enables the localized delivery of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs to prevent graft loss by innate and adaptive immunity, providing an opportunity to achieve local effects while minimizing unwanted systemic side effects. Nanoparticles can provide the means to achieve the needed localized and sustained drug delivery either by graft targeting or co-implantation. Here, we evaluated the potential of our versatile platform of drug-integrating amphiphilic nanomaterial assemblies (DIANAs) for targeted drug delivery to an inflamed site model relevant for islet transplantation. We tested either passive targeting of intravenous administered spherical nanomicelles (nMIC; 20–25 nm diameter) or co-implantation of elongated nanofibrils (nFIB; 5 nm diameter and >1 μm length). To assess the ability of nMIC and nFIB to target an inflamed graft site, we used a lipophilic fluorescent cargo (DiD and DiR) and evaluated the in vivo biodistribution and cellular uptake in the graft site and other organs, including draining and non-draining lymph nodes, after systemic administration (nMIC) and/or graft co-transplantation (nFIB) in mice. Localized inflammation was generated either by using an LPS injection or by using biomaterial-coated islet-like bead implantation in the subcutaneous site. A cell transplant inflammation model was used as well to test nMIC- and nFIB-targeted biodistribution. We found that nMIC can reach the inflamed site after systemic administration, while nFIB remains localized for several days after co-implantation. We confirmed that DIANAs are taken up by different immune cell populations responsible for graft inflammation. Therefore, DIANA is a useful approach for targeted and/or localized delivery of immunomodulatory drugs to decrease innate and adaptive immune responses that cause graft loss after transplantation of therapeutic cells. Full article

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s antioxidant defenses. It poses a significant threat to the physiological function of reproductive cells. Factors such as xenobiotics and heat can worsen this stress, leading to cellular damage and apoptosis, ultimately decreasing reproductive efficiency. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in defending against oxidative stress and protecting reproductive cells via enhancing antioxidant responses. Dysregulation of Nrf2 signaling has been associated with infertility and suboptimal reproductive performance in mammals. Recent advancements in therapeutic interventions have underscored the critical role of Nrf2 in mitigating oxidative damage and restoring the functional integrity of reproductive cells. In this narrative review, we delineate the harmful effects of heat and xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress on reproductive cells and explain how Nrf2 signaling provides protection against these challenges. Recent studies have shown that activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway using various bioactive compounds can ameliorate heat stress and xenobiotic-induced oxidative distress and apoptosis in mammalian reproductive cells. By comprehensively analyzing the existing literature, we propose Nrf2 as a key therapeutic target for mitigating oxidative damage and apoptosis in reproductive cells caused by exposure to xenobiotic exposure and heat stress. Additionally, based on the synthesis of these findings, we discuss the potential of therapies focused on the Nrf2 signaling pathway to improve mammalian reproductive efficiency. Full article

Blast furnace slag is an industrial waste. Its disposition is generally by means of landfilling or stacking, which goes against the concept of sustainable development. In order to maximize its reuse and abate its adverse effects on the natural environment, this study innovated a solution of using blast furnace slag to produce 3D printing materials. Blast furnace slag was mixed with desulfurization gypsum to adapt to the operation of 3D printers. The mixture has fluidity, viscosity, and hydraulicity. Fluidity allows the mixture to smoothly pass through the transportation pipeline and nozzle of the machine; viscosity ensures that the extruded mixture is gradually stacked and settled; hydraulicity guarantees that the mixture solidifies and forms completely solid objects after dehydration and drying. Fully suitable 3D printers are rare in the market. Therefore, the printing nozzle and reserve device of the 3D printer were designed and improved in this study according to the material characteristics, enhancing the smoothness of the mixture during 3D printing. The sustainable application of blast furnace slag in the field of 3D printing not only favors diminishing environmental pollution and resource consumption but also provides a further sustainable production method for human beings. Full article

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is one of the most commercially important crustacean species in China. The aim of this study was to characterize the toxic effects of butachlor (an herbicide of the acetanilide class) on juvenile E. sinensis crabs. The lethal effects and the acute toxicity of butachlor on juvenile E. sinensis specimens were assessed through a semi-static in vitro experiment. We determined the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as the levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the gills and the hepatopancreas of the juvenile crabs, at different time points over a 14-day short-term exposure to butachlor. Moreover, we measured the residual levels of butachlor in three different tissues (gills, hepatopancreas, and muscles) of the juvenile crabs over a longer period. Our findings revealed that butachlor is highly toxic for juvenile E. sinensis crabs. In fact, the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values of butachlor at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were found to be 4.22, 1.84, 0.34, and 0.14 mg/L, respectively, while the safe concentration was 0.014 mg/L. The antioxidant defense ability of the juvenile E. sinensis crabs against butachlor was induced after exposure to the herbicide at a concentration of 0.01 mg/L. After 14 days of exposure to butachlor at 0.04 and 0.16 mg/L, both SOD and CAT were found to be significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), the GSH levels were found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the MDA levels were identified as significantly increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, after 14 days of exposure to butachlor at 0.16 mg/L, the activities of SOD and CAT as well as the content of GSH in the hepatopancreas were found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Our results revealed that a high concentration of butachlor was capable of inducing oxidative stress and damage in juvenile E. sinensis crabs. The maximal residual value of butachlor was obtained in the gills, with a content of 4.56 μg/kg. Butachlor was not detected after 24 days in the aforementioned three tissues of the juvenile crabs, thereby indicating that it was effectively metabolized. Full article

Chronic environmental exposure to toxic heavy metals, which often occurs as a mixture through occupational and industrial sources, has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including Parkinsonism. Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) typically presents along with manganese (Mn), especially in welding rods and high-capacity batteries, including electric vehicle batteries; however, the neurotoxic effects of vanadium (V) and Mn co-exposure are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the neurotoxic impact of MnCl₂, V₂O_5, and MnCl₂-V₂O₅ co-exposure in an animal model. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally administered either de-ionized water (vehicle), MnCl₂ (252 µg) alone, V₂O₅ (182 µg) alone, or a mixture of MnCl₂ (252 µg) and V₂O₅ (182 µg) three times a week for up to one month. Following exposure, we performed behavioral, neurochemical, and histological studies. Our results revealed dramatic decreases in olfactory bulb (OB) weight and levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the treatment groups compared to the control group, with the Mn/V co-treatment group producing the most significant changes. Interestingly, increased levels of α-synuclein expression were observed in the substantia nigra (SN) of treated animals. Additionally, treatment groups exhibited locomotor deficits and olfactory dysfunction, with the co-treatment group producing the most severe deficits. The treatment groups exhibited increased levels of the oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxynonenal in the striatum and SN, as well as the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein PKCδ and accumulation of glomerular astroglia in the OB. The co-exposure of animals to Mn/V resulted in higher levels of these metals compared to other treatment groups. Taken together, our results suggest that co-exposure to Mn/V can adversely affect the olfactory and nigral systems. These results highlight the possible role of environmental metal mixtures in the etiology of Parkinsonism. Full article

In recent years, biomonitoring has gained more attention, particularly when assessing the environmental health of significant areas, such as those near waste-to-energy facilities. These requirements coincide with the chance to detect environmental pollutants using sensitive organisms. Bees were shown to be quite effective in evaluating the presence of certain compounds by analyzing their associated matrices, such as pollen, honey, or wax. In our study, we employed the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as an indicator to initially monitor the vicinity of the waste-to-energy plant in Acerra, which is situated in the Campania region of Italy. The primary aim was to determine whether the facility was accountable for any environmental releases of dioxins or dioxin-like compounds. Then, we assessed the presence of additional pollutants in the same area, including trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides, released by human activities. To obtain further information about environmental quality, a second biomonitoring station was installed near the Caivano S.T.I.R. (Waste Shredding, Sifting, and Packaging Plant). The results showed the dioxin levels did not exceed predetermined limitations at the Acerra site, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the waste-to-energy facility and the bees’ ability to detect the presence of other pollutants. Additionally, this biomonitoring system exhibited sensitivity to environmental variations, thereby enabling the evaluation of xenobiotic flux between two proximate zones and across temporal scales. This pioneering study suggests the advantages of utilizing bees to detect a wide range of contaminants, thereby providing valuable insights into environmental quality and potential health risks for both ecosystems and human populations. Full article

Several studies suggest that HTLV-1 infection may be associated with a wider spectrum of neurological and clinical manifestations that do not meet diagnostic criteria for HAM. These conditions may later progress to HAM or constitute an intermediate clinical form: intermediate syndrome (IS), a mid-point between asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and those with full myelopathy. Thus, we determined the incidence of HAM cases in the HTLV-1-asymptomatic and IS patients, and the clinical/laboratory associated markers. A total of 204 HTLV-1-positive patients were included in this study, divided into two groups: Group 1, including 145 asymptomatic HTLV-1 subjects (ASY), and Group 2, including 59 patients with inflammatory clinical symptoms in more than three systems and a high proviral load (PVL). During a 60-month follow-up time, with the age ranging from 47 to 79 years, ten patients of the fifty-nine initially diagnosed as IS developed HAM (iHAM), and two patients of the initial 145 ASY developed HAM directly. Women were more prevalent in all groups. For the iHAM patients, the age ranged from 20 to 72 years, with a mean of 53 (±15 SD). Older age was associated with the development of HAM, higher PVL and IS; however, there was no any specific symptom or clinical sign, that was associated with risk for iHAM. In conclusion, IS cases could be an early phase of development of HAM. These findings show the presence of higher incidence probabilities in our cohort than previously reported. Full article

Inherited muscular diseases (MDs) are genetic degenerative disorders typically caused by mutations in a single gene that affect striated muscle and result in progressive weakness and wasting in affected individuals. Cardiac muscle can also be involved with some variability that depends on the genetic basis of the MD (Muscular Dystrophy) phenotype. Heart involvement can manifest with two main clinical pictures: left ventricular systolic dysfunction with evolution towards dilated cardiomyopathy and refractory heart failure, or the presence of conduction system defects and serious life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The two pictures can coexist. In these cases, heart transplantation (HTx) is considered the most appropriate option in patients who are not responders to the optimized standard therapeutic protocols. However, cardiac transplant is still considered a relative contraindication in patients with inherited muscle disorders and end-stage cardiomyopathies. High operative risk related to muscle impairment and potential graft involvement secondary to the underlying myopathy have been the two main reasons implicated in the generalized reluctance to consider cardiac transplant as a viable option. We report an overview of cardiac involvement in MDs and its possible association with the underlying molecular defect, as well as a systematic review of HTx outcomes in patients with MD-related end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy, published so far in the literature. Full article

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) helps to identify the weak points in the processing, manufacturing, and assembly of products and plays an important role in improving product reliability. To address the shortcomings of the existing FMEA methods in terms of the uncertainty treatment of information and not considering the weights and correlations between risk factors, we propose a new FMEA method. In this paper, the Fermatean fuzzy Z-number (FFZN) is proposed by fusing the Fermatean fuzzy number and Z-number. Extending it to the Bonferroni mean (BM) operator, the Fermatean fuzzy Z-number-weighted Bonferroni mean (FFZWBM) operator is proposed. A new FMEA method is proposed based on this operator. In order to overcome the factors not considered in the FMEA method, two new risk factors are proposed and added. The ability of experts to express fuzzy information is enhanced by introducing the FFS. The weights and correlations between the influencing factors can be handled by aggregating the evaluation information using the FFZWBM operator. Finally, the proposed method is applied to an arithmetic example and the accuracy of the proposed method is proved by teaming it with other methods. Full article

Pulpal pathology in young permanent teeth, caused by dental caries or trauma, can lead to disruption of root formation, leaving the tooth with an uncertain prognosis. Current therapies for such cases present a number of limitations; thus, the aim of this article is to provide an overview on the use of nanofibers in endodontics. The search was conducted on two databases and eight articles met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Data on nanofiber production and fiber characteristics were extracted and systematized in tables. Moreover, the ability of novel scaffolds to deliver either drugs or different therapeutic agents without interfering with the products’ characteristics is analyzed from the in vitro and in vivo data. The potential for nanofiber-based scaffolds to induce cellular differentiation and overcome the limitations of classic regenerative endodontic treatment is also discussed. Full article

Mining communities often rely on tourism as a vehicle for post-mining territorial development. Sometimes, these expectations of the locals are justified by the natural setting and/or the well-preserved industrial heritage; however, these potential tourist destinations are disadvantaged primarily by their image, often associated with decay in the perception of travellers. In this paper, we treat travellers as stakeholders, able to decisively influence the image of a destination by uploading content (photos, reviews and ratings) on Google Maps and TripAdvisor, and we emphasise that user-generated content should be considered when shaping the tourism development strategies. Taking as case studies three former mining regions trying to capitalise on their tourist potential—Jiu Valley and Ștei, in Romania and La Louvière, in Belgium—this article proposes a method for assessing the image of the destination, also aiming to identify those aspects that require improvement. Full article

The T-2 toxin (T-2) is a type A trichothecene found in cereals. The formation of metabolites is a frequent cause of mycotoxin-induced toxicity. In this work, the conversion of T-2 during biotransformation reactions in HepG2 cells was evaluated. For this, HepG2 cells were exposed to 30 (IC₅₀/2) and 60 (IC₅₀) nM of T-2 for 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 24 h, and the concentrations of T-2 and its metabolites HT-2, T2-triol, T2-tetraol and neosolaniol were determined in both the cell fraction and culture medium through liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry–time of flight (LC-Q-TOF MS). Results showed a fast metabolization of T-2 (>90%) during the first 2 h, with HT-2 as its main (>95%) biotransformation product. The cell fraction showed higher levels (p < 0.05) of HT-2 (39.9 ± 2.1 nM) compared to the culture medium (12.53 ± 2.4 nM). This trend was also observed for the identified metabolites. T2-triol reached its maximum concentration (1.7 ± 0.4 nM) at 2 h, and at later times a time-dependent increase in the T2-tetraol and neosolaniol concentrations was observed. The identification of T-2 metabolites shows the need to continue combined toxicity studies of mycotoxins for a correct risk characterization of these natural contaminants. Full article

This study investigated the meat quality, expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and metabolism-related genes, ribonucleotides and fatty acids in Longissimus thoracis of Thai native pigs (TNPs) from different geographical regions (GR). Forty-one 9–10-month-old castrated TNPs (BW 60 kg), consisting of 18, 11 and 12 pigs from Northern (NT), Southern (ST) and Northeastern (NE) regions, respectively, were slaughtered. GR did not affect (p > 0.05) the expression of MyHC, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase 1 and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein genes. The trend of MyHC was MyHC IIx > MyHC IIb > MyHC IIa > MyHC I. The NT loin had higher (p < 0.05) glycogen, C18:2n6, C20:4n6 and cooking loss, lower inosine, inosine monophosphate and hypoxanthine and a shorter sarcomere length than the ST and NE loins. The ST loin had a lower (p < 0.05) a* compared to other loins. Principal component analysis established significant relationships between the TNP and specific meat quality traits. This finding suggests that GR affected the meat quality, ribonucleotides and selected fatty acids in TNPs. These results provide relevant information that can be used to optimize the use of Thai native pork. Full article

Illicium verum, commonly known as star anise, represents one of the notable botanical species and is recognized for its rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds. Beyond its culinary application as a spice, this plant has been extensively utilized in traditional medicine. Given the contemporary emphasis on incorporating natural resources into food production, particularly essential oils, to enhance sensory attributes and extend shelf life, our study seeks to elucidate the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial (in vitro, in situ) and insecticidal properties of Illicium verum essential oil (IVEO). Also, microbiological analyses of pumpkin sous vide treated with IVEO after inoculation of Salmonella enterica were evaluated after 1 and 7 days of study. GC/MS analysis revealed a significantly high amount of (E)-anethole (88.4%) in the investigated EO. The disc diffusion method shows that the antibacterial activity of the IVEO ranged from 5.33 (Streptococcus constellatus) to 10.33 mm (Citrobacter freundii). The lowest minimal inhibition concentration was found against E. coli and the minimum biofilm inhibition concertation was found against S. enterica. In the vapor phase, the best antimicrobial activity was found against E. coli in the pears model and against S. sonei in the beetroot model. The application of the sous vide method in combination with IVEO application decreased the number of microbial counts and eliminated the growth of S. enterica. The most isolated microbiota identified from the sous vide pumpkin were Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. cereus, B. licheniformis, and Ralstonia picketii. Modifications to the protein composition of biofilm-forming bacteria S. enterica were suggested by the MALDI TOF MS instigations. The IVEO showed insecticidal potential against Harmonia axyridis. Thanks to the properties of IVEO, our results suggest it can be used in the food industry as a natural supplement to extend the shelf life of foods and as a natural insecticide. Full article

Sensory descriptive analysis of aged feng-flavored Baijiu liquor indicated notable differences in samples of different ages. The samples of freshly distilled Baijiu and those with shorter storage times exhibit bran and fresh green flavors, whereas, with increasing storage time, honey, sweet, and floral fragrances are gradually enhanced. Samples of feng-flavored Baijiu were prepared using headspace solid-phase microextraction, followed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 496 compounds were identified in all samples, mainly categorized as 14 groups of substances, including esters and aldehydes. Interestingly, 42 of these substances were found in Feng-flavored Baijiu for the first time. Chemometrics was used to analyze the key differential compounds. First, 143 differential compounds closely related to aging were preliminarily screened, and principal component analysis revealed that these compounds were separated by baijiu age. Then, 65 differential compounds were selected by partial least squares discriminant analysis. Furthermore, 43 key differential compounds were selected by combined analysis with variable importance in projection and Pearson correlation coefficients. Partial least squares regression was used to study the correlation between the sensory properties and key differential compounds, and the results indicated that most compounds were closely related to the aging period of the Baijiu. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and reference for flavor research on feng-flavored Baijiu. Full article

Negative effects of salt stress may be counteracted by adequate management of sulfated nutrition. Herein, we applied 3.50, 4.25, and 5.00 mM SO₄²⁻ in a nutrient solution to counteract salt stress induced by 75 and 150 mM NaCl in cabbage cv. Royal. The increase in NaCl concentration from 75 to 150 mM reduced the contents of macronutrients and micronutrients in the shoot. When increasing from 3.50 to 4.25 mM SO₄²⁻, the contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) in shoots were enhanced, at both concentrations of NaCl. Increasing from 3.50 to 4.25 mM SO₄²⁻ enhanced iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and sodium (Na) concentrations with 75 mM NaCl. With 150 mM NaCl, the increase from 3.50 to 4.25 mM SO₄²⁻ enhanced the contents of Cu and Mn, but also those of Na. Chlorophylls a, b, and total decreased as the concentration of SO₄²⁻ increased in plants treated with 150 mM NaCl. With 75 mM NaCl, carotenoid concentration had a positive relationship with SO₄²⁻. Hence, the 4.25 mM SO₄²⁻ concentration increased the contents of macronutrients and micronutrients in the presence of 75 mM NaCl, while, with 150 mM NaCl, it improved the contents of macronutrients except K. The chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio remained close to 3 when the plants were treated with 5.00 mM SO₄²⁻, regardless of NaCl. Similarly, this level of SO₄²⁻ increased the concentration of carotenoids, which translated into reductions in the total chlorophyll/carotenoid ratios, indicating a protective effect of the photosynthetic apparatus. It is concluded that higher doses of sulfur favor the accumulation of nutrients and increase the concentration of carotenoids under salt stress. Full article

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the length of the dry period (DL) and the risks of dystocia and stillbirths in Holstein cows. A total of 1072 healthy cows in lactations 1 and ≥2 were categorized based on the DL (mean: 58.07 ± 0.33 days) into three groups: short DL (<40 days; 13.0% of cows), medium DL (40–70 days; 60.1%), and long DL (>70 days; 26.9%). Dystocia occurred in 12.4% of cows, while stillbirths accounted for 4.1% of calves. The medium DL group had the highest number of unassisted calvings. The dystocia rates were 11.4% for cows with gestation (GA) ≤ 274 days; 6.0% for cows with GA = 275–282 days; and 19.9% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). In season 1 (November–April), dystocia occurred in 15.0% of cases compared to 8.8% in season 2 (May–October) (p < 0.001). The stillbirth rates ranged from 3.6% to 4.0% for cows with medium and long DLs; while those with a short DL had 5.8% (p < 0.05). The stillbirth rates were 5.2% for cows with GA ≤ 274 days; 3.2% for cows with GA = 275–282 days; and 5.1% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). Season 1 had a stillbirth rate of 4.8%, while season 2 had a stillbirth rate of 3.3% (p < 0.001). This research provides insights that could assist the dairy industry in making informed decisions to reduce the incidence rates of dystocia and stillbirths in cows. Full article

Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells in most of the patients affected by prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa). However, PSMA expression has also been demonstrated in the endothelial cells of newly formed vessels of various solid tumors, suggesting a role for PSMA in neoangiogenesis. In this scenario, gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) or fluoro-18 (¹⁸F)-labeled PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) may play a role in tumors other than PCa, generally evaluated employing other radiopharmaceuticals targeting different pathways. This review aims to investigate the detection rate of PSMA-PET compared to other radiopharmaceuticals (especially [¹⁸F]FDG) in non-prostate tumors to identify patients who may benefit from the use of such a theragnostic agent. Methods: We performed a bibliographic search on three different databases until February 2024 using the following terms: “positron emission tomography”, “PET”, “PET/CT”, “Prostate-specific membrane antigen”, “PSMA”, “non-prostate”, “not prostate cancer”, “solid tumor”, “FDG”, “Fluorodeoxyglucose”, “FAPi”, “FET”, “MET”, “DOPA”, “choline”, “FCH”, “FES”, “DOTATOC”, “DOTANOC”, and “DOTATATE”. Only original articles edited in English with at least 10 patients were included. Results: Out of a total of 120 articles, only 25 original articles comparing PSMA with other radiotracers were included in this study. The main evidence was demonstrated in renal cell carcinoma, where PSMA showed a higher detection rate compared to [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT, with implications for patient management. PSMA PET may also improve the assessment of other entities, such as gliomas, in defining regions of early neoangiogenesis. Further data are needed to evaluate the potential role of PSMA-PET in triple-negative breast cancer as a novel therapeutic vascular target. Finally, unclear applications of PSMA-PET include thyroid and gastrointestinal tumors. Conclusions: The present review shows the potential use of PSMA-labeled PET/CT in solid tumors beyond PCa, underlining its value over other radiopharmaceuticals (mainly [¹⁸F]FDG). Prospective clinical trials with larger sample sizes are crucial to further investigate these possible clinical applications. Full article

Hitherto, over 50% of countries with marine waters have established MSPs or launched related legal actions. However, there are still conceptual and practical challenges to be overcome in the development of MSP. In this study, we investigate two main approaches in MSP (hard vs. soft sustainability) through reports, published manuscripts and meeting proceedings in seven pioneering countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada). We highlight the gaps, challenges, and solutions in each of these approaches. From our findings, there are four common challenges in both soft and hard sustainability approaches as follows: (i) the political framework and inconsistent support of MSP efforts, (ii) insufficient knowledge on social dimensions, (iii) insufficient stakeholder engagement in the diversity of stakeholder’s groups or in their contribution to the planning process from the initial steps, and (iv) finding a balance between environmental conservation and economic growth. We recommend that future studies should investigate how MSP can become more adaptive to long-term environmental and economic targets, how effective involving socioeconomic strata is in MSP, and how decision-making tools could help to cover the gaps in MSP. Furthermore, public forums are suggested to be developed to facilitate the systematic sharing of MSP experiences worldwide. Full article

The Tietê River receives most of the effluents and diffuse wastes from the São Paulo metropolis (21.9 million inhabitants). The study aimed to assess the extent to which environmental changes affected the fish fauna. We compared, in rainy and dry seasons, three sites in Tietê and three in tributaries with much better water quality conditions. No physical barriers exist between the sites. Fish were sampled with gillnets (exposed overnight) and the assemblage’s ecological attributes calculated. Water depth, transparency, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total dissolved solids, pH, redox potential, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll were simultaneously determined. Low oxygen concentrations (near zero in the rainy period), and the opposite for nutrients and total solids, separated the predominantly hypereutrophic Tietê from the tributaries (PCA). Differences in the fish assemblages were also evidenced (nMDS), including a higher richness per sample in tributaries (11 to 14 spp.) compared to Tietê (3 to 4 spp.). Siluriformes with accessory breathing dominated in Tietê and the highly tolerant detritivorous Prochilodus lineatus (the main commercial fish) was the only species found in all sites. The species correlated positively with oxygen in the tributaries and with turbidity, redox potential, and nutrients in Tietê (DistLM) (rainy season). Recovery measures are urgently required. Full article

The European Commission’s “Farm to Folk” (F2F) strategy recommends reducing fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030. In this aspect, the main goal of our study was to verify whether a 20 and even 40% reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilization rate would be sufficient to maintain soil fertility (expressed as dehydrogenase activity—DHA, humic acid substances—HA substances, E4/E6 ratio), and yields of wheat and rapeseed cultivated in strip-till technology. Two fields (10 ha each) were established for wheat and rapeseed cultivation, and soils (0–20 cm) were sampled before sowing and after harvesting. It was found that a 20% fertilization reduction does not adversely affect the biological activity expressed by DHA. Nevertheless, the reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates led to a slight decrease in the E4/E6 ratio, which could serve as a potential indicator of fertilization reduction. DHA, E4/E6 ratio and content of HA substances were also dependent on the crop. Following harvesting, both rapeseed and wheat exhibited a positive correlation between the E4/E6 ratio and the degree of fertilization rate (FR), as well as yield. Full article

Deep learning models can enhance the detection efficiency and accuracy of rapid on-site screening for imported grains at customs, satisfying the need for high-throughput, efficient, and intelligent operations. However, the construction of datasets, which is crucial for deep learning models, often involves significant labor and time costs. Addressing the challenges associated with establishing high-resolution instance segmentation datasets for small objects, we integrate two zero-shot models, Grounding DINO and Segment Anything model, into a dataset annotation pipeline. Furthermore, we encapsulate this pipeline into a software tool for manual calibration of mislabeled, missing, and duplicated annotations made by the models. Additionally, we propose preprocessing and postprocessing methods to improve the detection accuracy of the model and reduce the cost of subsequent manual correction. This solution is not only applicable to rapid screening for quarantine weeds, seeds, and insects at customs but can also be extended to other fields where instance segmentation is required. Full article