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Animals
Defining the Role of IgE Against Cross-Reactive Carbohydrates in Dogs
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
The Role of Macrophages in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Therapeutic Potential
Atoms
Gordon Decomposition of the Magnetizability of a Dirac One-Electron Atom in an Arbitrary Discrete Energy State
Geosciences
Environmental Effects of a Hellenistic Earthquake, Helike, Greece
Catalysts
Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Antibiotics

Recent Articles

14 pages, 4085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic and Complete Reference Whole Genome Sequence Analyses of Two Paenibacillus spp. Isolates from a Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Gastrointestinal Tract

by Jessika L. Bryant, Jennifer McCabe, C. Cristoph Klews, MiCayla Johnson, Ariel N. Atchley, Thomas W. Cousins, Maya Barnard-Davidson, Kristina M. Smith, Mark R. Ackermann, Michael Netherland, Jr., Nur A. Hasan, Peter A. Jordan, Evan S. Forsythe, Patrick N. Ball and Bruce S. Seal

Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12010051 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing among mammals around the world, and domestic dogs are no exception. There is no approved cure for canine IBD with limited treatment options. Novel probiotic bacteria discovery from free-ranging animals for the treatment of IBD in domestic pets can likely yield promising probiotic candidates. Consequently, the overall aim was to isolate bacteria from free-ranging animals that could potentially be utilized as novel probiotics. Two bacteria identified as unique Paenibacillus spp. strains by small ribosomal RNA (16S) gene sequencing were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a North American Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). The bacteria were typed as Gram-variable, and both were catalase/oxidase positive as well as sensitive to commonly used antibiotics. The bacteria digested complex carbohydrates and lipids by standard assays. The isolated bacteria also inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus. The whole genome sequence (WGS) length of bacterial isolate ClWae17B was 6,939,193 bp, while ClWae19 was 7,032,512 bp, both similar in size to other Paenibacillus spp. The genomes of both bacteria encoded enzymes involved with the metabolism of complex starches and lipids, such as lyases and pectinases, along with encoding antimicrobials such as lanthipeptides, lasso peptides, and cyclic-lactone-autoinducers. No pernicious virulence genes were identified in the WGS of either bacterial isolate. Phylogenetically, the most closely related bacteria based on 16S gene sequences and WGS were P. taichungensis for ClWae17B and P. amylolyticus for ClWae19. WGS analyses and phenotypic assays supported the hypothesis that the isolates described constitute two novel candidate probiotic bacteria for potential use in dogs. Full article

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17 pages, 2007 KiB

Open AccessReview

Enhancing Maize Production Through Timely Nutrient Supply: The Role of Foliar Fertiliser Application

by Brian Ssemugenze, Akasairi Ocwa, Ronald Kuunya, Costa Gumisiriya, Csaba Bojtor, János Nagy, Adrienn Széles and Árpád Illés

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010176 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Maize, regarded as a staple economic crop, attracts special global attention with the aim to enhance its production. Foliar fertilisation offers a complementary method to traditional soil fertilisation amongst resource-limited agricultural systems, providing a more efficient solution to nutrient deficiencies, especially in suboptimal soil conditions. This study aimed to analyse foliar fertiliser formulation research directions and their application in maize production. A literature search was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) database. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.17). The changes in the publication trends of documents were tested using the Mann–Kendall test. The production effects of foliar fertilisation were independently synthesised. The results showed a strong positive increase in publication trends regarding maize foliar fertilisation (R² = 0.7842). The predominant nutrients that affected maize production were nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese. The timely foliar application of nutrients corrected deficiencies and/or sustained nutrient supply under several abiotic stresses. Foliar application at critical growth stages like flowering and grain filling boosted carbohydrate and protein content, lipid levels, kernel size, mineral content, and the weight of the maize grain. This review identified important research gaps, namely genotype-specific responses, interactions with other agronomic practices, and long-term environmental effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization: Novel Approaches and Field Practices)

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10 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Self-Compassion Scale Short Form for Children Aged 8–12: Validation of the Italian Version

by Valentina Levantini, Iacopo Bertacchi, Antonella Magno, Gianluca Domenico Privitera, Alessia Rinaldi, Nicoletta Zara and Pietro Muratori

Children 2025, 12(1), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12010084 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Background: Although self-compassion has been consistently linked to positive outcomes in adults and adolescents, only a few studies have explored self-compassion in children and early adolescents due to a lack of measures specifically designed for younger populations. Methods: The current study explored the psychometric properties of the Italian translation of the Self-Compassion Scale for Children (SCS-C) in a sample of 230 children (mean age = 10.52, SD = 1.33). Results: The results revealed a two-factor solution for our data, with a positive self-compassion factor and a negative self-compassion factor, which were shown to be internally consistent. The SCS-C scores correlated with the children’s mindfulness, self-esteem, and narcissistic traits in the assumed directions. Conclusions: Overall, our study preliminarily supports the reliability and validity of the Italian version of the SCS-C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Mental Health)

18 pages, 2198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 and HIV: Clinical Outcomes and Inflammatory Markers in a Cohort from a Reference Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by Nathalia Beatriz Ramos de Sá, Karine Venegas Macieira, Mariana Rosa Inacio Coelho, Milena Neira Goulart, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Leonardo Azevedo da Silva Rosadas, Kim Mattos Geraldo, Maria Pia Diniz Ribeiro, Sandra Wagner Cardoso, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Valdiléa G. Veloso, Andressa da Silva Cazote, Dalziza Victalina de Almeida, Carmem Beatriz Wagner Giacoia-Gripp, Fernanda Heloise Côrtes and Mariza Gonçalves Morgado

Viruses 2025, 17(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17010091 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Background: Severe COVID-19 presents a variety of clinical manifestations associated with inflammatory profiles. People living with HIV (PLWH) could face a higher risk of hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19, depending on their immunosuppression levels. This study describes inflammatory markers in COVID-19 clinical outcomes with and without HIV infection. Methods: We analyzed 112 inpatients of the Hospital Center for COVID-19 (INI/FIOCRUZ), including 22 cases of COVID-19 in PLWH (COVID/PLWH group). Plasma samples were tested for a panel of 15 cytokines by Luminex. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from patients’ clinical records. Results: COVID-19 individuals were stratified according to the WHO clinical severity profiles at hospitalization. Significant differences in clinical scores, symptoms (coughs), and the occurrence of HIV infection were found among the groups. Clinical blood parameters and plasma cytokines were analyzed among COVID-19 groups with distinct severity profiles. Critical COVID-19 cases showed higher levels of inflammatory markers (Bilirubin, D-dimer, PCR, and urea, as well as IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, INF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-23, IL-6) than moderate and severe groups. The COVID/PLWH group had lower CD4 counts (64 cells/mm³) and cytokine levels than other COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Overall, critically ill COVID-19 patients exhibited heightened inflammatory responses, while COVID/PLWH demonstrated unique immunological characteristics without increased mortality risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections and Immune Dysregulation 2024-2025)

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22 pages, 3963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Synergistic Effect of Endophytic Bacteria and Metabolites on Yield in Soybean Roots Under Biochar with Nitrogen Fertilization

by Hui Liu, Wanyu Dou, Wenlong Zhang, Yutao Li, Guoxin Shi, Lifang Fu and Lihong Wang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010177 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

The appropriate application of nitrogen fertilizers and biochar to the soil is beneficial for soybean growth, and a combination of biochar and nitrogen can improve low-nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency. However, the effect of the combination of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on soybean roots is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the changes in endophytic bacterial communities and metabolites in soybean roots under different combinations of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer treatments by setting different fertilization levels and using high-throughput sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics techniques. The results showed that applying 20 t/ha of biochar and 180 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer (C2N1) resulted in the highest soybean yield. By studying the endophytic bacterial community in soybean roots, it was observed that the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota, and the dominant genera were Bradyrhizobium, Streptomyces, and Rhizobacter. Moreover, a metabolic pathway analysis revealed that glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis was the most significant metabolic pathway in the C0N1 vs. C0N0 comparison group, and glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most significant metabolic pathway in the C2N1 vs. C1N1 comparison group; they were both associated with regulatory mechanisms such as plant growth promotion and nutrient cycling. Structural equation modeling indicates that both endophytic bacteria and metabolites have a significant positive impact on yield. Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium are observable variables with significant positive effects on endophytic bacteria, while Phe-Thr and 7-allyloxycoumarin are observable variables with significant positive effects on metabolites. Endophytic bacteria not only have a direct impact on crop yield, but also indirectly affect crop yield through their effects on metabolites. This study has important scientific value and guiding significance for improving soybean yields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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11 pages, 2224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pain Perception Threshold in Young High-Altitude Natives After Acute Exposure to Severe Hypoxic Conditions

by Kely Melina Vilca-Coaquira, Angel Gabriel Calisaya-Huacasi, Jeancarlo Tejada-Flores, Henry Oscar Tintaya-Ramos, Mariela Mercedes Quispe-Trujillo, Solanyela Anny Quispe-Humpiri, Rossela Alejandra Rojas-Chambilla, Gilberto Félix Peña-Vicuña, Alberto Salazar Granara, Luis F. Lens Sardón, Alcides Flores-Paredes, Moua Yang, Ginés Viscor and Ivan Hancco Zirena

Oxygen 2025, 5(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/oxygen5010001 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that individuals at high altitudes have a lower pain threshold than those living at sea level. This study evaluates the differences in pain perception among young people living at an altitude of 3800 m and after acute exposure to a severe hypoxic environment at more than 5100 m. Fourteen people (BMI of 22.6 ± 1.2 and age of 23.3 ± 1.9 years) residing in the city of Puno (3825 m) participated in an ascent to the Populated Center of La Rinconada (>5100 m). The unilateral ischemia pain provocation test was used, applying pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer to generate transient ischemia in the arm while the patient opens and closes their hand. Onset, peak, and resolution times of pain, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded. At their residence altitude of 3828 m, the mean hemoglobin was 16.16 ± 2.29, while at 5100 m, mean hemoglobin increased to 17.57 ± 1.74. The average time to pain onset in the right arm was 30.43 s ± 14.15 at 3828 m, whereas at 5100 m above sea level, the pain perception was at 31.00 s ± 19.01. At 3828 m, the average time until pain sensation in the left arm was 19.93 s ± 9.44 and increased to 23.07 s ± 10.83 at 5100 m. During exposure to a severe hypoxic environment, the pain perception threshold was similar between 3828 m and 5100 m above sea level. Full article

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Abstract

Clarifying the correlation between macro–microscopic granular parameters and establishing effective parameter calibration methods for determining granular microparameters is of great importance for numerical simulations of granular flows. Currently, there is a gap in the systematic study of small particles, using sandy soil as an example, and the development of rational and effective calibration methods. Through inter-particle friction experiments, particle–wall friction experiments, uniaxial compression experiments and numerical simulations, we studied the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic parameters. Based on these studies, appropriate empirical formulas were proposed, and based on the correlation of macroscopic and microscopic parameters, a method for calibrating microscopic parameters was presented. This approach uses empirical formulas for macroscopic and microscopic parameters in combination with the constraints imposed by the granular stiffness coefficient to calibrate granular parameters. This study provides a systematic process framework for the calibration of microscopic parameters of small particles, standardizing the parameter calibration process and improving both efficiency and quality. Full article

28 pages, 127916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Pine Wilt Disease Detection Model Integrated with Mamba Model and Attention Mechanisms Using UAV Imagery

by Minhui Bai, Xinyu Di, Lechuan Yu, Jian Ding and Haifeng Lin

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17020255 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2025

Abstract

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a highly destructive worldwide forest quarantine disease that has the potential to destroy entire pine forests in a relatively brief period, resulting in significant economic losses and environmental damage. Manual monitoring, biochemical detection and satellite remote sensing are frequently inadequate for the timely detection and control of pine wilt disease. This paper presents a fusion model, which integrates the Mamba model and the attention mechanism, for deployment on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect infected pine trees. The experimental dataset presented in this paper comprises images of pine trees captured by UAVs in mixed forests. The images were gathered primarily during the spring of 2023, spanning the months of February to May. The images were subjected to a preprocessing phase, during which they were transformed into the research dataset. The fusion model comprised three principal components. The initial component is the Mamba backbone network with State Space Model (SSM) at its core, which is capable of extracting pine wilt features with a high degree of efficacy. The second component is the attention network, which enables our fusion model to center on PWD features with greater efficacy. The optimal configuration was determined through an evaluation of various attention mechanism modules, including four attention modules. The third component, Path Aggregation Feature Pyramid Network (PAFPN), facilitates the fusion and refinement of data at varying scales, thereby enhancing the model’s capacity to detect multi-scale objects. Furthermore, the convolutional layers within the model have been replaced with depth separable convolutional layers (DSconv), which has the additional benefit of reducing the number of model parameters and improving the model’s detection speed. The final fusion model was validated on a test set, achieving an accuracy of 90.0%, a recall of 81.8%, a map of 86.5%, a parameter counts of 5.9 Mega, and a detection speed of 40.16 FPS. In comparison to Yolov8, the accuracy is enhanced by 7.1%, the recall by 5.4%, and the map by 3.1%. These outcomes demonstrate that our fusion model is appropriate for implementation on edge devices, such as UAVs, and is capable of effective detection of PWD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Managing Environmental Sustainability Using Remote Sensing)

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