Changes In Architecture Research Articles

Understanding interobserver variability of pathologists to improve oral epithelial dysplasia grading.

This study aimed to understand reasons for interobserver variability in the grading of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) through a survey of pathologists to provide insight for improvements in the reliability and reproducibility of OED diagnoses. The study design included quantitative and qualitative methodology. A pre-validated 31-item questionnaire was distributed to general, head and neck, and oral and maxillofacial histopathology specialists worldwide. A total of 132 pathologists participated and completed the questionnaire. Over two-thirds used the three-tier grading system for OED, while about a third used both binary and three-tier systems. Regular reporters of OED preferred the three-tier system and grading architectural features. Continuing education significantly aided recognition of architectural and cytological changes. Irregular epithelial stratification and drop-shaped rete ridges had the lowest prognostic value and recognition scores, while loss of epithelial cell cohesion had the highest. Most participants used clinical information and often sought a second opinion when grading OED. Our study has found that frequency of OED reporting and attendance of CME/CPD can play an important role in grading OED. Variations in the prognostic value of individual histological features and the use of clinical information may further contribute to interobserver variability.

Seed yield as a function of cytokinin-regulated gene expression in wild Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

BackgroundKentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) panicle development is a coordinated process of cell proliferation and differentiation with distinctive phases and architectural changes that are pivotal to determine seed yield. Cytokinin (CK) is a key factor in determining seed yield that might underpin the second “Green Revolution”. However, whether there is a difference between endogenous CK content and seed yields of Kentucky bluegrass, and how CK-related genes are expressed to affect enzyme regulation and downstream seed yield in Kentucky bluegrass remains enigmatic.ResultsIn order to establish a potential link between CK regulation and seed yield, we dissected and characterized the Kentucky bluegrass young panicle, and determined the changes in nutrients, 6 types of endogenous CKs, and 16 genes involved in biosynthesis, activation, inactivation, re-activation and degradation of CKs during young panicle differentiation of Kentucky bluegrass. We found that high seed yield material had more meristems compared to low seed yield material. Additionally, it was found that seed-setting rate (SSR) and lipase activity at the stage of spikelet and floret primordium differentiation (S3), as well as 1000-grain weight (TGW) and zeatin-riboside (ZR) content at the stages of first bract primordium differentiation (S1) and branch primordium differentiation (S2) showed a significantly positive correlation in the two materials. And zeatin, ZR, dihydrozeatin riboside, isopentenyl adenosine and isopentenyl adenosine riboside contents were higher in seed high yield material than those in seed low yield material at S3 stage. Furthermore, the expressions of PpITP3, PpITP5, PpITP8 and PpLOG1 were positively correlated with seed yield, while the expressions of PpCKX2, PpCKX5 and PpCKX7 were negatively correlated with seed yield in Kentucky bluegrass.ConclusionsOverall, our study established a relationship between CK and seed yield in Kentucky bluegrass. Perhaps we can increase SSR and TGW by increasing lipase activity and ZR content. Of course, using modern gene editing techniques to manipulate CK related genes such as PpITP3/5/8, PpLOG1 and PpCKX2/5/7, will be a more direct and effective method in Kentucky bluegrass, which requires further trial validation.

Menstrual cycle-driven hormone concentrations co-fluctuate with white and gray matter architecture changes across the whole brain.

Cyclic fluctuations in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG-axis) hormones exert powerful behavioral, structural, and functional effects through actions on the mammalian central nervous system. Yet, very little is known about how these fluctuations alter the structural nodes and information highways of the human brain. In a study of 30 naturally cycling women, we employed multidimensional diffusion and T1-weighted imaging during three estimated menstrual cycle phases (menses, ovulation, and mid-luteal) to investigate whether HPG-axis hormone concentrations co-fluctuate with alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure, cortical thickness (CT), and brain volume. Across the whole brain, 17β-estradiol and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were directly proportional to diffusion anisotropy (μFA; 17β-estradiol: β1 = 0.145, highest density interval (HDI) = [0.211, 0.4]; LH: β1 = 0.111, HDI = [0.157, 0.364]), while follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was directly proportional to CT (β1 = 0 .162, HDI = [0.115, 0.678]). Within several individual regions, FSH and progesterone demonstrated opposing relationships with mean diffusivity (Diso) and CT. These regions mainly reside within the temporal and occipital lobes, with functional implications for the limbic and visual systems. Finally, progesterone was associated with increased tissue (β1 = 0.66, HDI = [0.607, 15.845]) and decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; β1 = -0.749, HDI = [-11.604, -0.903]) volumes, with total brain volume remaining unchanged. These results are the first to report simultaneous brain-wide changes in human WM microstructure and CT coinciding with menstrual cycle-driven hormone rhythms. Effects were observed in both classically known HPG-axis receptor-dense regions (medial temporal lobe, prefrontal cortex) and in other regions located across frontal, occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes. Our results suggest that HPG-axis hormone fluctuations may have significant structural impacts across the entire brain.

Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Apoptotic Oligosaccharides from Pichia pastoris-Fermented Cress Polysaccharides Ameliorate Chromium-Induced Liver Toxicity.

Oxidative stress impairs the structure and function of the cell, leading to serious chronic diseases. Antioxidant-based therapeutic and nutritional interventions are usually employed for combating oxidative stress-related disorders, including apoptosis. Here, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of oligosaccharides, produced through Pichia pastoris-mediated fermentation of water-soluble polysaccharides isolated from Lepidium sativum (cress) seed mucilage, on chromium(VI)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in mice. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), using Bio-Gel P-10 column, of the oligosaccharides product of fermentation revealed that P. pastoris effectively fermented polysaccharides as no long chain polysaccharides were observed. At 200 µg/mL, fractions DF73, DF53, DF72, and DF62 exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity of 92.22 ± 2.69%, 90.35 ± 0.43%, 88.83 ± 3.36%, and 88.83 ± 3.36%, respectively. The antioxidant potential of the fermentation product was further confirmed through in vitro H2O2 radical scavenging assay. Among the screened samples, the highest H2O2 radical scavenging activity was displayed by DF73, which stabilized the free radicals by 88.83 ± 0.38%, followed by DF53 (86.48 ± 0.83%), DF62 (85.21 ± 6.66%), DF72 (79.9 4± 1.21%), and EPP (77.76 ± 0.53%). The oligosaccharide treatment significantly alleviated chromium-induced liver damage, as evident from the increase in weight gain, improved liver functions, and reduced histopathological alterations in the albino mice. A distinctly increased level of lipid peroxide (LPO) free radicals along with the endogenous hepatic enzymes were evident in chromium induced hepatotoxicity in mice. However, oligosaccharides treatment mitigated these effects by reducing the LPO production and increasing ALT, ALP, and AST levels, probably due to relieving the oxidative stress. DNA fragmentation assays illustrated that Cr(VI) exposure induced massive apoptosis in liver by damaging the DNA which was then remediated by oligosaccharides supplementation. Histopathological observations confirmed that the oligosaccharide treatment reverses the architectural changes in liver induced by chromium. These results suggest that oligosaccharides obtained from cress seed mucilage polysaccharides through P. pastoris fermentation ameliorate the oxidative stress and apoptosis and act as hepatoprotective agent against chromium-induced liver injury.

Exploring the Evolution of Sleep Patterns From Infancy to Adolescence.

Sleep is a critical component of healthy development, particularly during the formative years from infancy through adolescence. Sleep undergoes continuous change throughout life characterized by frequent awakenings and a high proportion of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during infancy, changes in sleep architecture, an increase in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during adolescence, and an eventual decrease in REM sleep in old age. Adequate sleep is therefore essential for cognitive development, especially between ages 10 and 16. Sleep deprivation may negatively affect academic performance, attention regulation, and emotional well-being. Biological factors, such as hormonal changes during puberty, significantly influence sleep patterns, leading to later bedtimes and a tendency for chronic sleep deprivation in adolescents. Environmental factors, including light exposure and screen time, also play a critical role in regulating sleep. This paper examines the evolution of sleep patterns across infancy and adolescence, describing changes in sleep architecture, timing, and regulation. The influence of biological, environmental, and socio-cultural factors on sleep is explored, highlighting how these factors collectively shape sleep behaviors and health outcomes. It also addresses the profound role sleep plays in cognitive development, brain maturation, and emotional well-being. The importance of understanding sleep patterns and their developmental trajectories to address sleep-related issues is emphasized. Promoting healthy sleep from an early age can enhance cognitive and emotional outcomes, contributing to better academic performance and overall well-being in children and adolescents. The findings advocate for further standardized sleep intervention programs globally to prioritize sleep health and support optimal development.

Drainage reorganization and alluvial architecture of endorheic basins: The Lower Cretaceous record of the Chubut Group in the Golfo San Jorge Basin (Patagonia, Argentina)

The size, shape, and organization of depositional systems in endorheic basins are controlled by the tectonic and climatic history of the sedimentary basin and its boundaries. We evaluate the changes in the alluvial architecture of the Matasiete (Aptian) and Castillo (Albian) formations of the Chubut Group (Cretaceous) in the endorheic Golfo San Jorge Basin (Patagonia, Argentina) analyzing a ∼150 km transect along the San Bernardo Fold Belt, subsurface data, and coeval fluvial successions of the Los Adobes Formation in the nearby Cañadón Asfalto Basin. The Aptian Matasiete Formation represents an externally-sourced, high-accommodation fluvial system with its headwaters in the current Cañadón Asfalto Basin, flowing toward the alkaline lake of the Pozo D-129 Formation through N–S oriented sedimentary corridors of tectonic origin. Low sinuosity, fixed channels with ribbon geometries (mean thickness 7.3 m, W/T ratio 14) are encased in red-colored floodplain fines, whereas stratigraphic intervals rich in resedimented tuffs contain braided rivers with W/T ratio up to 90. Deposition of the overlying Albian Castillo Formation occurred in a W-E elongated basin disconnected from the Cañadón Asfalto Basin, comprising aggradational, volcaniclastic floodplain deposits and smaller-scale fluvial channels of narrow-sheet geometries (mean thickness ∼ 3m, mean W/T ratio 45). The Castillo Formation shows spatial variation in fluvial styles and channel sizes, with intermittent to ephemeral rivers of small scale near the headwaters and seasonal, perennial rivers in downstream positions. Alluvial architecture changes between the Matasiete and Castillo formations reflect changes in the configuration of the basin boundaries, subsequent re-organization of the channel networks, and variable supply of volcaniclastic particles to drainage catchments of different hierarchy that evolved in areas with large variation of the preserved thickness. Comparable geomorphic scenarios in the Okavango Macrobasin show multiple base levels (lacustrine, ephemeral pans), several drainage catchments of variable orientation, scale, and behavior (perennial, intermittent to ephemeral), and exotic rivers adjacent to minor-scale courses.

Stratigraphic architecture of fluvial fans shaped by downstream changes in avulsion style

ABSTRACTNatural river diversion, or avulsion, controls the distribution of channels on a floodplain and channel sandstone bodies within fluvial stratigraphic architecture. Avulsions establish new flow paths and create channels through several recognized processes, or styles. These include reoccupying existing channels, or annexation, downcutting into the floodplain, or incision, and constructing new channels from crevasse‐splay distributary networks, or progradation. Recent remote sensing observations show that avulsion style changes systematically moving downstream along modern fluvial fans but, to date, no studies have assessed the significance of these trends on fluvial fan stratigraphy. Here, spatiotemporal changes in avulsion stratigraphy are investigated within the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, deposited in the Cordilleran foreland basin during the Late Jurassic epoch. Measured sections and photographic panels were analysed from 23 locations across the Salt Wash extent. Avulsion style was identified in the stratigraphic record by the basal contact of a channel storey with underlying strata: channel–channel contacts indicate annexation, channel–floodplain contacts indicate incision and channel–heterolithic contacts indicate progradation. Contact types change downstream, such that channel–channel and channel–floodplain contacts dominate proximal locations, while channel–heterolithic contacts become increasingly prevalent downstream. Outcrop results were compared to a numerical model of fluvial fan formation and remote‐sensing analysis of avulsions on modern fans. In both additional datasets, channels in proximal fan positions tend to avulse via annexation, reoccupying abandoned channels, while channels in more distal positions tend to avulse via increasingly significant progradation. These findings suggest a relationship between newly recognized downstream changes in avulsion style and well‐established downstream changes in fluvial fan architecture. Furthermore, this suggests that fan architecture can inform interpretations of ancient fluvial dynamics, including avulsion behaviour, and that avulsions can cause stratigraphically significant and measurable changes to fan architecture.

Impact of Cyclosporine A on Cognitive Functions and Neuronal Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Inflammatory Markers in Rats

Cyclosporine A (CYP-A), a potent immunosuppressive agent, significantly impacts organ transplantation and the treatment of autoimmune disorders, and its ability to control autoimmune reactions and prevent organ rejection has made it indispensable in contemporary medicine. However, its negative effects, such as nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity, limit its usefulness. The study investigated the effects of CYP-A on cognitive and neurological functions in rats over a fifteen-day period. Four groups of six rats each were treated with normal saline (control) or varying doses of CYP-A (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Behavioural assessments included the elevated plus maze (EPM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests used to evaluate memory capabilities and recognition memory respectively, and the Y-maze assessed the exploration of a new environment and navigational skills. Post-experiment, brain tissues were analyzed for apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress markers to assess potential neurotoxicity. Histopathological analysis was also performed to provide further insights into CYP-A's effects on brain tissue. Compared to the control rats, there were significant changes in the memory parameters with two higher doses (50 and 100 mg/kg). The findings indicated that MDA, TNF-α, NF-κB, PGE2, and Caspase-3 levels increased significantly in the CYP-A 100 treatment compared to the control animals. However, a significant drop was observed in CAT, and GSH when comparing the CYP-A 100 group to the control rats. Conversely, comparable alterations were also noted in MDA, TNF-α, PGE2, Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 levels between the CYP-A 100 and other treatment groups (20 or 50 mg/kg). Moreover, the histopathological analysis revealed that as compared to the control rats, CYP-A at three different dose levels (20, 50, or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited various changes. It was noticed that as the dose levels of CYP-A increased, there was a corresponding increase in brain tissue architectural changes. Precisely, the group treated with 100 mg/kg exhibited severe haemorrhages, inflammation, necrosis, and congestion compared to the control animals. In conclusion, CYP-A induces neurotoxicity, leading to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and cognitive deficits. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this neurotoxicity is crucial to mitigating the adverse effects of CYP-A and improving patient outcomes. Further research is needed to develop targeted therapies and enhance the safe use of CYP-A.

Triple-0: Zero-shot denoising and dereverberation on an end-to-end frozen anechoic speech separation network.

Speech enhancement is crucial both for human and machine listening applications. Over the last decade, the use of deep learning for speech enhancement has resulted in tremendous improvement over the classical signal processing and machine learning methods. However, training a deep neural network is not only time-consuming; it also requires extensive computational resources and a large training dataset. Transfer learning, i.e. using a pretrained network for a new task, comes to the rescue by reducing the amount of training time, computational resources, and the required dataset, but the network still needs to be fine-tuned for the new task. This paper presents a novel method of speech denoising and dereverberation (SD&D) on an end-to-end frozen binaural anechoic speech separation network. The frozen network requires neither any architectural change nor any fine-tuning for the new task, as is usually required for transfer learning. The interaural cues of a source placed inside noisy and echoic surroundings are given as input to this pretrained network to extract the target speech from noise and reverberation. Although the pretrained model used in this paper has never seen noisy reverberant conditions during its training, it performs satisfactorily for zero-shot testing (ZST) under these conditions. It is because the pretrained model used here has been trained on the direct-path interaural cues of an active source and so it can recognize them even in the presence of echoes and noise. ZST on the same dataset on which the pretrained network was trained (homo-corpus) for the unseen class of interference, has shown considerable improvement over the weighted prediction error (WPE) algorithm in terms of four objective speech quality and intelligibility metrics. Also, the proposed model offers similar performance provided by a deep learning SD&D algorithm for this dataset under varying conditions of noise and reverberations. Similarly, ZST on a different dataset has provided an improvement in intelligibility and almost equivalent quality as provided by the WPE algorithm.

Influence of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> with different plasmid composition on the erythrocyte membrane in the blood of guinea pigs

Introduction. Based on data on the role of blood erythrocytes in the development and implementation of the vaccine and infectious processes in plague, it was of interest to evaluate changes in erythrocyte surface architecture from the position of searching for informative criteria for the preclinical evaluation of anti-plague vaccines. Aim — using atomic force microscopy to characterize the state of the blood erythrocyte membrane of guinea pigs in response to subcutaneous administration of the vaccine strain Yersinia pestis EV NIIEG and its isogenic derivatives. Materials and methods. For immunization of animals strain Y. pestis EV NIIEG (pYT+, pYV+, pYP+) and its isogenic derivatives Y. pestis KM216 (pYT–, pYV–, pYP+), Y. pestis KM217 (pYT–, pYV+, pYP–), Y. pestis KM218 (pYT–, pYV–, pYP–) were used. Analysis of the erythrocyte membrane was carried out using a Solver P47-PRO scanning probe microscope (NT-MDT, Russia). Results. The most pronounced changes in the surface architectonics of the membrane of guinea pig erythrocytes were established during the first three days of the formation of the immune response to the Y. pestis EV strain NIIEG and its isogenic variant Y. pestis KM217, in the genome of which the pYV plasmid is preserved, administered at a dose of 5 × 108 CFU. A significant increase (p 0.05) in the proportion of transformed cell forms (43.67 ± 3.63% and 37.83 ± 7.03% versus 4.08 ± 0.86% in the control group), root mean square roughness (319 ± 8 nm and 312 ± 7 nm versus 70 ± 6 nm in the control group), Young's modulus (125.73 ± 4.48 kPa and 113.8 ± 5.41 kPa versus 53.03 ± 1.47 kPa in the control group). By the 21st day, the value of these indicators decreased by an average of 2.7, 2.0 and 1.5 times, respectively, indicating restoration of the erythrocyte membrane. Conclusion. The dependence of the changes in the erythrocyte membrane and the rate of their restoration on the plasmid composition of Y. pestis strains has been established. The data obtained contribute to the understanding of the processes of interaction of Y. pestis with the erythrocyte membrane and can be used as additional characteristics in the development of new criteria for preclinical evaluation of plague candidate vaccines.

Interleukin receptor therapeutics attenuate inflammation in canine synovium following cruciate ligament injury

ObjectiveIn the knee, synovial fibrosis after ligamentous injury is linked to progressive joint pain and stiffness. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in synovial architecture, mechanical properties, and transcriptional profiles following naturally occurring cruciate ligament injury in canines and to test potential therapeutics that target drivers of synovial inflammation and fibrosis. DesignSynovia from canines with spontaneous cruciate ligament tears and from healthy knees were assessed via histology (n=10/group) and micromechanical testing (n=5/group) to identify changes in tissue architecture and stiffness. Additional samples (n=5/group) were subjected to RNA-sequencing to define the transcriptional response to injury. Finally, synovial tissue samples from injured animals (n=6 (IL1) or n=8 (IL6)/group) were assessed in vitro for response to therapeutic molecules directed against interleukin (IL) signaling (IL1 or IL6). ResultsCruciate injury resulted in increased synovial fibrosis, vascularity, inflammatory cell infiltration, and intimal hyperplasia. Additionally, the stiffness of both the intima and subintima regions were higher in diseased compared to healthy tissue. Differential gene expression analysis showed that diseased synovium had an upregulation of immune response and cell adhesion pathways and a downregulation of Rho protein transduction pathways. In vitro application of small molecule therapeutics targeting IL1 (anakinra) or IL6 (tocilizumab) dampened expression of inflammatory and matrix deposition mediators. ConclusionSpontaneous cruciate ligament injury in canines is associated with synovial inflammation and fibrosis in a relevant model for testing emerging intra-articular treatments. Small molecule therapeutics targeting IL pathways may be ideal interventions for delivery to the joint space after injury.

Enhancing Software Architecture Adaptability: A Comprehensive Evaluation Method

The field of self-adaptive software is becoming increasingly crucial because software has to adapt its behavior at runtime to keep up with dynamic and constantly evolving environments. The ability of software to modify and adjust itself is known as adaptability, which has been acknowledged as an important quality attribute. As software architecture development represents the initial stage of the design process, architectural design has emerged as a critical development activity. The degree to which the architecture can adapt to changes will be the key factor in determining the adaptability of the software ultimately released to users. Existing metrics for software architectural adaptability typically view adaptability as a positive attribute, meaning that any possibility of change in architectural elements is perceived as an improvement in adaptability. However, the application of adaptability that leads to increased costs or complexity can only be seen as a negative attribute. In other words, the side effects brought about solely for the purpose of achieving adaptability are greatly overlooked; that is, the impacts caused by adaptability exhibit both symmetry and asymmetry for software architectural adaptability. On the other hand, the existing measures of adaptability only define it from the perspective of whether a module will change, without considering changes beyond the topological structure under multiple strategies. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive assessment approach to measure software architecture adaptability. Multiple factors are considered, including the number and types of strategies employed, the cost of completing the adaptation, the extent of changes made to the architectural elements, and the overall impact of the adaptation on the architecture. An extended UML (e-UML) component diagram is presented to model software architectural changes under various types of strategies. Finally, an experiment on the znn.com software is conducted to validate the practical feasibility of our proposed method. Our approach can assist software architects in making informed decisions regarding software architecture design options to improve the adaptability and longevity of their software systems.

Salt-Induced Linker Dehydration Modulates Micellar Structure in Ether-Linked Sulfate Surfactants.

Ether-linked surfactants are widely used in formulations such as liquid soaps, but despite their ubiquity, it is unclear how n-ethylene glycol linkers in surfactants, such as sodium lauryl n-(ethylene glycol) sulfate (SLEnS), influence micellar packing in the presence of NaCl. In the present work, we probe the structure and hydration of ether linkers in micelles comprising monodisperse SLEnS surfactants using contrast-variation small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Using SAXS, changes in micellar structure were observed for SLEnS (n = 1, 2, or 3) arising from the extent of ethoxylation. Scattering profiles indicated a clear transition from elongated cylindrical micelles to shorter ellipsoidal micelles with increasing ethoxylation. With CV-SANS, micellar structure and linker geometries of SLE3S were able to be resolved, indicating that a change in micellar architecture is modulated by dehydration of the tri(ethylene glycol) linker, offering new insights into the role of water and ions in the self-assembly of this key class of surfactants.

Sleep and Neuroaffective Development From Early to Late Adolescence

Sleep is fundamental to human existence—especially during periods of extensive neurodevelopment such as adolescence. Importantly, poor sleep health in the transition into puberty can impact developing neural systems, contributing to the onset and maintenance of emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. This review explores the complex interplay between sleep and neuroaffective development in adolescence, when changes in sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and hormonal fluctuations interact with ongoing brain maturation to impact cognitive and emotional functioning. By synthesizing extant literature and charting future directions for research and intervention, this review elucidates the bidirectional associations between sleep and neuroaffective processes during puberty and highlights how sleep architecture and neurophysiology can inform our understanding of adolescent brain development. Ultimately, this article argues that promoting sleep health and addressing sleep-related challenges, especially in early adolescence, are promising strategies for enhancing well-being and fostering positive neurodevelopmental outcomes across both healthy and clinical populations.

Analysis and Development of an IoT System for an Agrivoltaics Plant

This article illustrates the development of SolarFertigation (SF), an IoT (Internet of Things) solution for precision agriculture. Contrary to similar systems on the market, SolarFertigation can monitor and optimize fertigation autonomously, based on the analysis of data collected through the cloud. The system is made up of two main components: the central unit, which enables the precise deployment and distribution of water and fertilizers in different areas of the agricultural field, and the sensor node, which oversees collecting environmental and soil data. This article delves into the evolution of the system, focusing on structural and architectural changes to develop an infrastructure suitable for implementing a predictive model based on artificial intelligence and big data. Aspects concerning both the sensor node, such as energy management, accuracy of solar radiation readings, and qualitative soil moisture measurements, as well as implementations to the hydraulic system and the control and monitoring system of the central unit, are explored. This article provides an overview of the results obtained from solar radiation and soil moisture measurements. In addition, the results of an experimental campaign, in which 300 salad plants were grown using the SolarFertigation system in a photovoltaic field, are presented. This study demonstrated the effectiveness and applicability of the system under real-world conditions and highlighted its potential in optimizing resources and increasing agricultural productivity, especially in agrivoltaic settings.

QMAP enabled microanatomical mapping of human skin aging.

Aging is a major driver of diseases in humans. Identifying features associated with aging is essential for designing robust intervention strategies and discovering novel biomarkers of aging. Extensive studies at both the molecular and organ/whole-body physiological scales have helped determined features associated with aging. However, the lack of meso-scale studies, particularly at the tissue level, limits the ability to translate findings made at molecular scale to impaired tissue functions associated with aging. In this work, we established a tissue image analysis workflow - quantitative micro-anatomical phenotyping (qMAP) - that leverages deep learning and machine vision to fully label tissue and cellular compartments in tissue sections. The fully mapped tissue images address the challenges of finding an interpretable feature set to quantitatively profile age-related microanatomic changes. We optimized qMAP for skin tissues and applied it to a cohort of 99 donors aged 14 to 92. We extracted 914 microanatomic features and found that a broad spectrum of these features, represented by 10 cores processes, are strongly associated with aging. Our analysis shows that microanatomical features of the skin can predict aging with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.7 years, comparable to state-of-the-art epigenetic clocks. Our study demonstrates that tissue-level architectural changes are strongly associated with aging and represent a novel category of aging biomarkers that complement molecular markers. Our results highlight the complex and underexplored multi-scale relationship between molecular and tissue microanatomic scales.

Peri-ankle muscles architecture and performance changes inpatients with chronic ankle instability: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to identify changes in the architecture and performance of the peri-ankle muscles in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and investigate the relationship between them. In total, 17 subjects were evaluated retrospectively. Each subject underwent anthropometric and isokinetic test, and peroneus longus (PL) and brevis (PB), medial gastrocnemius (MGCM), and tibialis anterior (TA) ultrasound imaging were performed at rest and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) conditions. Regarding muscle architectural variables, the pennation angle (PA) of the MGCM at rest and the PA of the TA, MGCM, and PL in MVC were significantly reduced on the injured side compared to the intact side. There were no significant differences in muscle thickness of PL, PB, MGCM, and TA observed between intact and injured side during both rest and MVC. Regarding muscle performance parameters, significant decreased were observed in the muscle strength for both limbs in all four directions under the two different conditions. A secondary finding was that the relative PA ratio of the TA showed moderate correlation with the relative dorsiflexion ratio at 30°/s. These findings can provide opportunities to better understand how injuries in patients with CAI may be related to changes in ankle and foot function.

Utility-based context-aware multi-agent recommendation system for energy efficiency in residential buildings

A significant part of CO2 emissions is due to high electricity consumption in residential buildings. Using load shifting can help to improve the households’ energy efficiency. To nudge changes in energy consumption behavior, simple but powerful architectures are vital. This paper presents a novel algorithm of a recommendation system generating device usage recommendations and suggests a framework for evaluating its performance by analyzing potential energy cost savings. As a utility-based recommender system, it models user preferences depending on habitual device usage patterns, user availability, and device usage costs. As a context-aware system, it requires an external hourly electricity price signal and appliance-level energy consumption data. Due to a multi-agent architecture, it allows for easy integration of new agents, enabling seamless functionality expansion, or the disabling of existing agents to tailor the system to specific needs. Empirical results show that the system can provide energy cost savings of 18% and more for most studied households.

Effect of localized fertilizer application on deep root development during early growth in upland rice under upland condition

ABSTRACT The effects of localized fertilizer (LF) application on changes in root system architecture (RSA) of upland rice seedlings under upland condition were evaluated, and root traits important for deep root development were identified using three root box experiments (Exps). Fertilizer was homogeneously mixed and broadcasted on the soil surface in two control treatments, while in three LF treatments, it was point-placed at 2.5, 7.5 and 12.5 cm below the soil surface. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer in Exp. 1, phosphorus (P) fertilizer in Exp. 2 and compound fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) in Exp. 3 were used to compare the effects of LF. Localized N and NPK application altered the RSA through root proliferation and increasing root length percentage around the fertilizer-applied area, whereas localized P application had no effect on both root and shoot development. Deep root and shoot development were decreased with localized NPK application compared to homogeneously mixed control treatment but were maintained with localized N application, when applied at deeper soil depths. Furthermore, the increase in deep root length (DRL) was closely related to the increase in both total root length (TRL) and deep root length ratio (DRR). DRR increased with TRL in Exps. 2 and 3, while it was independent from TRL in Exp. 1, suggesting that DRL can be promoted by increasing DRR regardless of TRL. These results showed that localized N application at deeper soil depths could modify RSA of upland rice seedlings grown under upland condition without affecting shoot growth.

Morphological and Pigment Responses to Far-Red and Photosynthetically Active Radiation in an Olive Cultivar Suitable for Super-High-Density Orchards.

Plant density is increasing in modern olive orchards to improve yields and facilitate mechanical harvesting. However, greater density can reduce light quantity and modify its quality. The objective was to evaluate plant morphology, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments under different red/far-red ratios and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) combinations in an olive cultivar common to super-high-density orchards. In a greenhouse, young olive trees (cv. Arbequina) were exposed to low (L) or high (H) PAR with or without lateral FR supplementation (L+FR, L-FR, H+FR, H-FR) using neutral-density shade cloth and FR light-emitting diode (LED) modules. Total plant and individual organ biomass were much lower in plants under low PAR than under high PAR, with no response to +FR supplementation. In contrast, several plant morphological traits, such as main stem elongation, individual leaf area, and leaf angle, did respond to both low PAR and +FR. Total chlorophyll content decreased with +FR when PAR was low, but not when PAR was high (i.e., a significant FR*PAR interaction). When evaluating numerous plant traits together, a greater response to +FR under low PAR than under high PAR appeared to occur. These findings suggest that consideration of light quality in addition to quantity facilitates a fuller understanding of olive tree responses to a light environment. The +FR responses found here could lead to changes in hedgerow architecture and light distribution within the hedgerow.